Swim duo head for nationals

By Gavin Staindl
CASEY TigerSharks Sam Russo and Mitch Pratt are the latest swimmers to be selected for national competition after they impressed selectors at a meet last weekend.
After both reaching the podium in numerous events at the Victorian Age Short Course Championships at MSAC, Russo, 15, and Pratt, 16, were selected to join the Victorian squad competing at the nationals in Canberra in a fortnight.
It is the second time Pratt has qualified for the event after finishing first in the 100 metres and 200m butterfly, while also making the final in the 100m and 200m freestyle and the 100m backstroke.
Russo, who will make his debut for Victoria, won the 200m backstroke and reached the final in the 100m backstroke and 200m freestyle.
Pratt said he is happy with his form and cannot wait to compete in a national competition again.
“Most of the time you are competing for yourself or your club, so this is basically the only time in the year you get to represent your state,” Pratt said.
“(Coach) Ben (Hiddlestone) thinks I’m going well for my age.
“I still need a little bit of improvement to keep me on track but it’s good now. Going to nationals as a part of the state team is a real good experience … and I’m just glad to be on the team.”
The duo’s selection in the Victorian team capped off a successful weekend for the TigerSharks that saw the Casey-based team solidify its ranking as the state’s third-best swim club.
The TigerSharks finished the championships on 1359 points, 300 points ahead of the fourth-placed Waterlions.
The meet also served as a springboard for some of the TigerSharks’ youngest members to make a splash.
Sophie Li took out three medals over various freestyle and backstroke events in the 11-and-under category, while Jake Duggan was also a standout in the 11-and-under age group.
Duggan took home seven medals, including three golds in the 100-metres freestyle, 50-metres freestyle and 100-metres individual medley.