Swimming squad ready
Top Wimmera swimmers will represent District 12 at the Victorian Country Interdistrict competition in Melbourne on Sunday.
District 12 leaders announced the team at a meet at Stawell on Saturday, with each swimmer receiving a cap.
The team consists of 47 swimmers who will be led by coach Jo Donnan, Ararat, and team man- agers Des Bolton, Horsham, and ‘Mouse’ Maddix, Ararat.
Cath Perry, Ararat, will officiate at the meet.
District 12 publicity officer Jenny Ough said the district committee selected the Wimmera team.
“To be eligible to be selected for the Wimmera team, swimmers need to be registered with Ararat, Stawell, Horsham, Grampians, St Arnaud or Warracknabeal clubs,” she said.
“The best swimmers for each age group, who are available on the day to compete, were selected. Unlike the championship meets, swimmers do not have to achieve qualifying times in order to swim.”
Mrs Ough said swimmers would aim to achieve new personal bests at the meet.
“For some of the team it will be the first time they have swam outside of the district and so will be a fantastic experience,” she said.
“Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre has one of best pools in the state and being given a chance to compete here is a wonderful opportunity.”
About 400 swimmers from 10 districts across Victoria will compete. The competition will comprise 68 events run over one session. Each district can provide two swimmers for each event and one relay team per relay event.
Events are age-group based, with age groups being 10 years and under, 11-12 years, 13-14 years, 15-16 years and 17 years and over. There are also mixed multi-class events.
Mrs Ough said the Victorian Country Interdistrict meet was a good lead-up to the Wimmera championships, which will be at St Arnaud pool on March 3.
Wimmera Victorian Country Interdistrict team – 10 and under: Boys, Kai Knight, Stawell, Tom Urquhart, Grampians, Marley Sutherland, Ararat, Edward Hausler, Warracknabeal, Jack Lanyon, Horsham; girls, Asha Dale, Ararat, Jorja Clode, Horsham, Billie Donnan, Ararat, Ella Reichelt, Horsham. 11 to 12: Boys, Aidan Medlyn, St Arnaud, Eoghan Purser, Ararat, Nicholas Hausler, Warracknabeal, Jesse Amos, St Arnaud, Jason Matuschka, Horsham; girls, Lily Bolton, Horsham, Leah Eilola, Warracknabeal, Eloise Wills, Ararat, Dakota Healy, Stawell, Sienna Walsgott, Horsham. 13 to 14: Boys, Riley Burke, St Arnaud, Deacon Briggs, Horsham, Josiah Keam, Warracknabeal, Heath Johns, Warracknabeal; girls, Maddix Hughes, Horsham, Ivana Donnan, Ararat, Rhiana Keys, Warracknabeal, Amber Mcclure, Horsham, Casey Knights, Stawell, Claudia Lanyon, Horsham. 15 to 16: Boys, Jordan Grant, Ararat, Angus Tickner, Horsham, Jack Cameron, Ararat, Jaxon Healy, Stawell, Dylan Cole, Horsham, Marcus Donnan, Ararat; girls, Imogen Amos, St Arnaud, Havanah Madex, Ararat, Montanna Connelly, Horsham, Ashlee Medlyn, St Arnaud, Emma Abraham, Ararat. 17 and over: Boys, no swimmers available; girls, Keshia Roche, Warracknabeal, Leanne Burke, St Arnaud, Maddison Hendy, St Arnaud, Hannah Jennings, St Arnaud, Sarah Marchment, Warracknabeal. Multi-class: Girls, Erin Kearns, Warracknabeal, Maywadee Townsend, Horsham.