The Casey TigerSharks’ Australian Age Championships team – (back from left): Jacob Kennedy, Liam Etheve, Cameron Hill, Dylan Warren, Craig Watson and front: Tyrone Dobrunz, Stephanie Demestichas, Josh Beaver, Olivia Raiti and Aleysha Tokai. Absent: Natalie Dobrunz. 29140 Picture: Stewart ChambersBy Marc McGowan
CASEY TigerSharks coach Ben Hiddlestone is hoping his swimmers can propel the club inside the top 30 in the country at next week’s Australian Age Championships in Sydney.
The TigerSharks finished 32nd at last year’s national championships and won their first medals at that level.
They had seven finalists who made a combined 14 finals at the competition.
That performance followed now 16-year-old Craig Watson becoming the club’s first national finalist in 2007 and he will again be one of its top competitors.
But much has changed over the past 12 months.
Inaugural national medallist Trent Lindsey has retired from the sport, while Casey’s other medallist from last year, McKenzie Cunningham (virus), and multiple national finalist Jemma Phillips (chronic fatigue syndrome) have missed most of the season.
Brad York, another key member of last year’s Australian Age Championships squad, has graduated to open-level swimming and reached a semi-final at last month’s Australian Swimming Championships.
Their absences played a major role in the TigerSharks having only 11 swimmers – one less than last year – qualifying to compete in the Harbour City next week.
But Hiddlestone still expects further improvement from his up-and-coming club.
“I think we’ll have more finals this year, but maybe less kids (making finals),” he said.
“We’ve just been unlucky with a bit of health and other stuff, but overall our progression as a club is getting better and better.
“We’re taking less kids, but I really hope to beat 32nd this year and Surrey Park, our rival sister-brother club.”
Australian junior team member Aleysha Tokai, 15, breaststroker Tyrone Dobrunz, 14 and freestyler Stephanie Demestichas, 14, will lead the club’s charge.
Hiddlestone is also tipping multiple finals appearances for 16-year-old backstroker Josh Beaver and all-rounder Watson.
“I’m excited about ‘The Beaver’ – little Josh Beaver. He’s not a big fella, but he’s quick, he’s been doing better training than he’s done before and he’s confident,” he said.
“I reckon he’s a bit of a dark horse, a dark pony. I’m really looking forward to seeing him swim.
“Craig’s got that star quality. He’s got the physical qualities, but he’s also got the mindset, the dedication, the speed – he’s got unbelievable speed – and he’s multi-skilled.
“He’s almost top 10 in three strokes. The 200m individual medley is looking good for him as well. We’ll keep doing that until we’re really sure that we’re specialising in the right one.”
The other Casey representatives are Jacob Kennedy, Liam Etheve, Cameron Hill, Dylan Warren, Olivia Raiti and Natalie Dobrunz.
The Australian Age Championships, which runs from 13 to 18 April, is being held over six days for the first time rather than the usual five-day program.
Hiddlestone believes the decision will help his swimmers – particularly those with a busy program – but is confident they have done the work in training regardless.
“They’ll get through it with power bars, massage, sleep and iPods,” he said. “(United States swimming star) Michael Phelps had 17 races at the Olympics, including heats, semis and finals.
“He also had interviews and massive amounts of stress and emotional highs and lows – these guys have got nothing compared to that.
“They do a minimum of nine kilometres a day. It’s an old saying – ‘train hard, fight easy’. If you train harder than what your race or fight is then it’s going to seem easier.”
Hiddlestone also praised Swimming Australia officials’ decision to ban the controversial racing suits at age-group level.
“We’re excited that it’s back to a level playing field. It’s the best thing Australian swimming has done in a long time,” he said.
