Champion effort for TigerSharks

By Gavin Staindl
FOR a club that has never had a swimmer make a national open final, the Casey TigerSharks have done exceptionally well.
The local swim club had three swimmers qualify for four finals at last week’s National Open Championships in Sydney and only missed out on a medal by one place.
Matson Lawson, Josh Beaver and Steph Demestichas were all watched live on free-to-air television as they pushed to become some of the youngest medal winners at the championships.
Lawson and Beaver went fourth and fifth respectively in the 200-metre backstroke before Beaver returned to the pool to clinch eighth in the 100-metre backstroke.
Meanwhile, Demestichas surprised many to finish seventh in her pet event, the 1500-metre freestyle.
While Dylan Warren finished 11th in the 400-metre freestyle semi-finals and Tyrone Dobrunz swam a one-second personal best in the 200-metre breaststroke, it was more of an educational meet for the remaining five Casey members, who will begin preparing for Olympic trials this time next year.
“It was a good educational week,” TigerSharks coach Ben Hiddlestone said.
It was also a personal best for the Casey TigerSharks who improved on last year by qualifying eight swimmers to the annual event.