TigerSharks go for gold

By Gavin Staindl
NINE Casey TigerSharks, including medal hopefuls Josh Beaver and Matson Lawson, will venture to Sydney this week for one of the biggest swim meets of their lives.
Beaver and Lawson are tipped by coach Ben Hiddlestone to become the first TigerSharks to reach an open final at national level when they begin racing in the National Open Champions on Friday.
“This is the biggest meet of their life,” Hiddlestone said.
“They are in it to win it.
“They have been to open champs before but this is the first time they are in with a definite final chance and a medal chance.”
Last year Beaver finished 14th in the 100-metre and 200-metre backstroke but he and Lawson will start this week’s 100-metre and 200-metre backstroke races as top 10 contenders.
“Last year Beaver and Dylan Warren (11th in the 100-metre freestyle) were our top swimmers and the rest finished in the fifties and sixties … but this year is totally different,” Hiddlestone said.
“If they can make a final, it will be the first time a TigerShark has done so.”
The nine-member squad, the biggest TigerShark squad to qualify for the championships, will fly to Sydney on Thursday.
“They’re not really nervous at all,” Hiddlestone said.
“They are joking around and definitely enjoying the extra hour sleep-in they’ve been getting.
“We’ve been tapering now and their taper times have been pretty good.”