Once again the Wyndham City Sharks led the way as the strongest swimming club in Melbourne’s West at the Victorian Age Swimming Championships. Held at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre in Albert Park from the 17th to the 22nd of December, the young Sharks gobbled up a multitude of medals and personal bests over six full days of racing. A team of 39 athletes led by coaches Paul Taylor, Peter Botheras and Jeanette Goonan scooped the pool to end with nineteen individual medals, two medal winning relay performances and a total of 66 finals appearances.
Heading our school of Sharks was fifteen year old sensation Natalie Vercher. Natalie, an experienced campaigner at this level of competition, finished as Victorian Champion in the girls 15 years 100m and 200m Freestyle events, also snatching the silver in the 50m Freestyle. Natalie has qualified to swim in all three events at the 2012 Olympic Games Trials from the 15th to the 22nd of March, along with another five of her Shark teammates: Alicia Danaher (19), Dylan May (18), Marko Ivosev (18), Jordan Kirby (16) and Andrew Jarvis (15).
Young guns Ryland Brian, Joshua Furnival and Shae Straw-McMahon were all Victorian Champions in their respective events.
Ryland had an exceptional meet, winning the boys 11 and under 200m Backstroke and finishing with five individual medals along with two relay medals. At the presentation ceremony on the final night of competition, Ryland was crowned the Age Champion for the boys 11 and under age group. It has been a number of years since a Shark has taken out this prestigious award at the Victorian Championships whereby his multiple medals and top ten finishes ranked him as the highest ranked 11 and under boy in Victoria.
Twelve year old Joshua Furnival made his mark at the Championships, winning gold in his favorite event the 200m Butterfly. He also managed to finish 2nd in the 200m Individual Medley and 3rd in the 100m Butterfly, as well as accompanying teammates Ryland Brian, Robbe Dilissen and Cameron Reid to third place in the boys twelve and under Medley and Freestyle relays.
Shae Straw-McMahon, the Shark’s pocket dynamo, exploded into action to win the Victorian Title in the girls 11 and under 50m Freestyle event. She also managed to finish 6th in the hotly contested 100m Freestyle at the Championships.
Further outstanding efforts came from Andrew Jarvis in the boys 15 age group. He racked up four individual medals in the 100m Butterfly (silver), 100m Backstroke (silver), 200m Backstroke (bronze) and 50m Freestyle (bronze).
Additional Sharks to make the dais were 15 year old Dylan Sadler (silver – boys 200m Butterfly), Marko Ivosev (bronze – boys 17/18 200m Butterfly) and Jordan Kirby (boys 16 200m Individual Medley).
The Sharks now set their sights towards the upcoming Olympic Trials and the Australian Age Championships – the biggest events on Australia’s swimming calendar.
Wyndham City Sharks State Sprint 2012
The 2012 Victorian Sprint Championships were held on the 11th and 12th of February at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre. More than 40 Sharks qualified to swm at the two day competition, combining to finish with a total of seven medals and 25 final appearances (including both Wyndham relay teams).
Gold medal went to young guns Zach Arnold (boys 15 years 50m Freestyle), Joshua Furnival (boys 12 year 50m Butterfy) and Andrew Jarvis (boys 15 years 50m Butterfly). Other podium finishes were Andrew Jarvis - 2nd boys 15 years 50m Freestyle & 50m Backstroke, Dylan May - 2nd boys 17/18 50m Breaststroke and Jesse May - 2nd boys 14years 50m Breastroke.
Other Sharks to make finals were: Ryland Brian, Natalie Vercher, Petar Shelev, Caitlin Eccles, Cameron Reid, Jackie Santi, Mark Evans, Marko Ivosev, Anne Livermore, Shae Straw-McMahon and Michael Shelev.
Wyndham City Sharks Short Course Championships 2011
