By Gavin Staindl
AFTER finishing last year as the state’s third-best swim club, the pressure is now on the Casey TigerSharks to retain that title.
A squad of over 20 TigerSharks will travel to the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre to compete in the state open championships beginning on Friday.
The state’s best clubs are decided based on a point system, combining points earned in last month’s state age championships as well as Friday’s state open championships.
As a result of last month’s meet, the TigerSharks enter this Friday with a commanding 200-point lead over fourth-placed rival Haileybury.
But the third-placed Casey team will be hampered by the loss of Ellie Cole who is competing overseas.
Last year Cole took home four gold medals and earned Casey’s highest points tally, but coach Ben Hiddlestone believes his brigade of youngsters will fill the void left by Cole.
“The guys are getting older and more mature,” Hiddlestone said.
“I am fairly confident we’ll be able to hold onto third, I can’t see them (Haileybury) mowing us down,” he said.
Hiddlestone will be banking on his proven performers in Dylan Warren, Matson Lawson, Josh Beaver, Steph Demestichas and Brad York to gain the bulk of the points.
Apart from being one of the club’s best chances at a medal, 17-year-old Lawson also has the added pressure of being seeded first in the 200m backstroke, but the experienced junior said that won’t cause any added problems.
“It is the first time I’ve been seeded number one but I’m not too fussed about it, I can only do my best,” Lawson said.
