Above: The competition was a big success for 13-year-old Athan Mavrelis, who claimed one silver and one bronze medal.By Marc McGowan
IT WAS a case of another meet and another swag of medals for the Casey Tiger Sharks on Saturday.
Fresh from dominating the Oasis Otters Twilight Encouragement Meet the previous weekend, the Tiger Sharks held their own competition at the Casey Arc, and it was a raging success.
The biannual Casey Tiger Sharks Twilight Encouragement Meet went to a new level on the weekend, with $1400 worth of prizes on offer.
With major sponsors Engine and Cranbourne Betta Electrical on board, the club was able to award iPods to the winners of the four individual medley events and Engine swimming apparel to freestyle victors.
All races attracted some sort of sponsorship from local businesses.
Twelve-year-old pocket rocket Olivia Raiti was the star of the show with five gold medals, which included triumphs in all disciplines and the 200-metre individual medley.
It has been a big week for Raiti, who has also been elevated into the national squad at Casey.
Tiger Sharks coach Ben Hiddlestone praised Raiti’s performance and expects her to make a successful transition to her new training group.
“We’re hoping she can have a good impact at the state championships that are coming up in (January),” he said.
“The national squad atmosphere is infectious, just with the work ethic they have … being a little fish in a big pond, you really do have to improve.
“There is no pressure on her to keep up, but she will benefit from the professionalism of the senior squad.”
Other multiple gold medal-winners were 10-year-old Bridget Bicsak (three gold, two silver and one bronze), seven-year-old Jake Duggan (three gold and one silver), eight-year-old Elise Corbett (three gold and one bronze) and 10-year-old Arnon Lodder (two gold and one silver).
Hiddlestone was also impressed with the efforts of eight-year-old Benjamin Lodder (one gold and three silver), 13-year-old Alexandra Collingwood (gold in the 50m breaststroke) and 12-year-old Stephanie Beaver (three silver and one bronze).
“It’s good to see the younger ones being able to be competitive and win some races against other clubs’ younger ones,” Hiddlestone said.
“They are the club’s future crop of state and national competitors and they’re doing a good job and look to be on track.”
Individuals who have won medals at state level are not eligible to compete in encouragement meets.
Casey raised more than $5000 from the competition and the money will go directly back to the club to buy more equipment.
