Summer of firsts

By Gavin Staindl
THE Casey TigerSharks have topped off a trailblazing summer by winning five gold medals and finishing in the top 15 at the National Age Championships in South Australia last week.
In the final major event for the long course season, the TigerSharks continued their summer of firsts by registering the club’s first ever relay gold medal at a National Age Championships and finishing in the nation’s top 15 for the first time.
TigerShark swimmers Dylan Warren, Josh Beaver, Matson Lawson and Craig Watson dominated the under-19s’ 4×200 metres freestyle relay and returned two nights later to take out their second gold in the 4×100 metres individual medley.
Beaver also bagged a double in the individual medal stakes, claiming gold in the under-19s’ 100 and 200 metres backstroke.
Fifteen-year-old Mitch Pratt rounded off the gold medals with a first in the 200 metres freestyle.
After qualifying 25 competitors to the weeklong event, a vast improvement on last year’s total of 18, the TigerSharks stamped their authority on the competition, finishing 12th overall.
“Last year people saw us as a great club in terms of improvement but didn’t expect anything big from us,” Hiddlestone said. “Not any more.”
“They now expect us to be bigger and better.
“Many people noticed how many we had at this year’s event and how well behaved and disciplined they were. They are not surprised to see us doing well any more.
“It is the first time ever that we have won a relay and we won two of them.
“That means we have good depth rather than relying on just one genetically talented athlete. It shows that the four kids are well trained.”
Although the long course season has drawn to a close, Hiddlestone was quick to point out that there are only 46 weeks left until Olympic trials.
While that may seem distant to most, for the TigerSharks there is little time to waste.
“We will go back to training tonight (Wednesday),” Hiddlestone said.
“It is totally different to footy or anything, this is all year round.
“Although it is the end of their season they get four or five days’ break then they’ll be back into it.
“Because there are no competitions to work towards, pool sessions become a rebuilding phrase where we focus on technique and take the edge off the hard work.
“I call it the panel beating stage.”