By JARROD POTTER
DIFFERENT paths have brought Casey TigerSharks trio Josh Beaver, Matson Lawson and Mitch Pratt to the peak of Australian swimming.
The TigerSharks swimming trio will represent Australia at 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games following impressive swims at the Australian Swimming Championships.
Matson Lawson, 21, from Langwarrin, had struggled in the lead-up to the championships with a back injury and the death of his grandmother taking an immense toll on him.
“I’m really happy to make it,” Lawson said.
“I had a pretty bad prep leading up to it, so it’s a relief that I am still able to qualify and just to look forward.
“In December, we had a death in the family – my grandmother – and that shook it up a lot and I injured my back in February, so everything that could go wrong did go wrong.
Despite a tough lead-in to the series, Lawson touched the wall in 1.56.35 – over two seconds quicker than the mark he set to make the Australian team for the London Olympic Games – and he credits his support network of friends, family and his coach Ben Hiddlestone for carrying him through to his successful campaign.
“I’ve got a great support crew in my extended family, friends, my fellow squad members – they were always there for me,” Lawson said.
“Ben was always there as someone I could talk to, so it was good to have that crew there and I felt safe.”
Josh Beaver, 21, from Tooradin, finished third behind Olympians Mitch Larkin and Casey TigerSharks team mate Lawson and the trio will compete for gold in the 200-metre backstroke.
“I was just glad to make the team,” Beaver said.
“It’s very special (making the Australian team), something I’ve never done before and something I’ve always wanted to do, it feels absolutely amazing.”
It vindicates his decision to stay in the pool after a turbulent 2013 almost brought a self-inflicted end to his swimming career following injuries and personal issues arising.
“It’s good to put everything that’s happened behind me and get on with the show,” Beaver said.
Mitch Pratt, 18, from Cranbourne South, has gone from strength-to-strength in the last year – securing the junior 200m butterfly Australian record and finishing second in the same discipline to Grant Irvine on Thursday night.
Pratt had to wait for the team announcement to find out whether he’d make the squad, but when the call went through to TigerSharks head coach Ben Hiddlestone, Pratt was overwhelmed by the thought of earning his place in the national swimming team.
“It’s pretty surreal really – I couldn’t believe when I touched the wall and turned around and I was under the time to go; I was in shock,” Pratt said.
“I always dreamt about it but I never thought it would be a realistic shot.”
“Ben told me last night (Sunday) at about 8pm when the confirmation came through that I’ve been selected on the Commonwealth Games team.
“I was in two places – wanted to cry, but I didn’t want to cry – but I knew all the training we had done in the last 12 months had been worth it.”
The three swimmers all wanted to attribute their success to the hard work of TigerSharks head coach Ben Hiddlestone and credited him for getting them into peak form heading into the Australian championships.
“I definitely look up to him (Hiddlestone) as a father figure,” Lawson said.
“Not having a dad myself, I never met my dad, I definitely give him a father figure role in my life and try to learn as much as possible from him and look up to him.”
The Glasgow Commonwealth Games run from 23 July to 3 August.
