Gippsland swimmers victorious
The Gippsland Swimming District remained victorious after winning the 2016 Victorian Country 7-10-yearold competition trophy at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre last month.
Gippsland District topped the medal tally with 19 gold, 14 silver and 15 bronze for individual performances. Another eight gold and two silver were earned for relay events.
Gippsland gained an overall point score of 1946 points with Victoria’s Central District in second (696 points) and Ovens and Murray District in third (506 points).
A total of nine Victorian swimming districts competed on the day.
This year’s team of 73 swimmers was formed with 20 swimmers from Traralgon Swimming Club, 15 from East Gippsland Water Dragons, 13 from South Gippsland Bass, 11 from Sale Swimming Club, seven from Warragul Amateur Swimming Club, five from Moe Amateur Swimming Club and two from Morwell Swimming Club.
Coaches for the day were Dylan Muir (South Gippsland Bass), Paul Myers (Warragul) and Tony Davies (Traralgon). Team Managers were Renee Cargill and Peter Haberl (both Traralgon).
The 2016 team captains, Oliver Haberl and Molly Cargill (both Traralgon), were presented with the winning trophy at the conclusion of the meet.
In the history of the competition, Gippsland District has remained undefeated for the past 24 years, after a four year hiatus that followed an initial streak of 11 consecutive titles.
“From 1978-1988 Gippsland was the Champion District at Country 7-10, winning the trophy eleven times,” a Swimming Victoria spokesperson said.
“In 1989 Gippsland Swimming donated the purchase of the competition trophy that was won by Ovens and Murray District for the next four years.
“Gippsland reclaimed the title in 1993 and hasn’t lost it since.”
Team coach Dylan Muir said coaching the 7-10 team is one of his favourite coaching experiences. “Gippsland has a proud and successful history in swimming, producing top level national swimmers, national medallists, Olympians and Paralympians”, Muir said.
“These elite swimmers came through the same pathways as our current 7-10 team and more than likely took part in the 7-10 meet themselves.”
There were many outstanding performances throughout the day, including:
Molly Cargill (10, Traralgon), Claudia Lee (9, Traralgon) and Ashley Nicholes (9, East Gippsland), who each won four individual gold.
Layaleeta Pannu (8, Moe) won three gold and one silver, and Brody Cargill (7, Traralgon) won three gold.
Other medal winners included: Miella Curthoys-Davies (8, Traralgon) one gold and three silver, Oscar Hughes (9, South Gippsland) two silver, Oliver Haberl (10, Traralgon) two silver, Kael Frith (7, East Gippsland) one silver and two bronze, Bianca Zurrer (10, Warragul) one silver and one bronze, Kaja Tierney (10, Traralgon) one silver, Dean Feltis (8, Sale) one silver, Makayla Edlington (7, East Gippsland) one silver, Isabella Tatterson (9, Sale) one silver, Keian Curthoys-Davies (10, Traralgon) two bronze, Olivia Baillie (9, Traralgon) two bronze, Gabriel Paolemilio (8, Traralgon) two bronze, Makaylen Di Sisto (7, Moe) two bronze, Lukas Kempff (7, East Gippsland) one bronze, Jaelina Kiley (10, South Gippsland) one bronze, Nicolette Wight (10, South Gippsland) one bronze, and Brodie Rowand (10, Sale) one bronze.