Medals galore: From left, Casey Tiger Shark Victorian Age Short Course medallists Craig Watson, Trent Lindsey, Bradley York, Eric Lopez, and Jay Etheve show off their spoils.By Marc McGowan
THE Casey Tiger Sharks produced several stellar performances at the Victorian Age Short Course Championships at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre earlier this month.
The 35-strong team of youngsters won four gold medals, eight silver medals and two bronze medals.
Craig Watson, 13, was the star of the show, collecting three gold medals and three silver medals, with a state and all-comers record in the 100-metre individual medley to boot.
The other medallists were Bradley York (one gold and one silver), Trent Lindsey (one silver and one bronze), Ryan Smith (one silver), Eric Lopez (one silver) and Jay Etheve (one bronze).
Tiger Sharks head coach Ben Hiddlestone said the best thing about the championships was the team atmosphere.
“I guess when it comes down to it, it’s an individual sport, but the team atmosphere was great,” he said.
Hiddlestone was understandably full of praise for Watson, but also singled out York’s performance.
York competed in the Australian Open Short Course meet in Hobart last month and was Casey’s sole representative.
He produced personal bests in each of his three events, the 50-metre, 100-metre and 200-metre backstroke, as he rubbed shoulders with Grant Hackett and other stars of Australian swimming.
“It’s a good effort for a 16-year-old, competing against guys like Matt Welsh,” Hiddlestone said.
The fortunes of the club have improved drastically since Hiddlestone took over the coaching reins in December 2004, after doing his apprenticeship under swimming coach legend Denis Cotterell on the Gold Coast.
He has introduced tougher training regimes for the Casey swimmers and the results have reflected the hard work.
