By JARROD POTTER
FIVE Casey TigerSharks brought back state championships from the Swimming Victoria Age Swimming Championships late last year.
Bowing out of the junior ranks on a high, Australian Youth Olympic Festival and FINA Junior World Championships representative Mitch Pratt was in scintillating form – setting the quickest time of the season for the men’s 200-metre butterfly.
Pratt, 18, from Cranbourne South, won gold medals in the 100m and 200m backstroke, 100m and 200m butterfly, silver in the 400m freestyle and bronze in the 200m freestyle to cap off his junior swimming career at the state level.
“Really good,” Pratt’s coach at Casey TigerSharks Ben Hiddlestone said.
“He got down to 1.58 in the 200 fly which is the best time in Australia for open men in the season so far, a season leading time which was good and swam really well in the heats which is great to see.
“It was his last age meet and treating it like an open meet… did really well.”
Shaun Banzon was named under-14 male swimmer of the meet for his efforts across a wide range of events including wins for the 100m and 200m breaststroke and 4×50 medley relay, silver in the 400m individual medley, and 4x50m freestyle relay and bronze medals in the 100m butterfly, 400m freestyle and 200m individual medley.
Shaun did a great job across multiple events – PB’ed in every swim he did,” Hiddlestone said.
“He was the overall age champion of Vic and his 200m breaststroke time puts him third overall for all time in Australian age swimming – number three for a 14-year-old and it was a Victorian record and a very good time.
“Nick Galileos, Matthew Faoro and Jacob Crozier shared in the boys under-14 4x50m medley relay success with the team touching in at 1.57.70.
“Jacob crozier anchored the swim and we managed to medal,” Hiddlestone said.
“With Shaun included they were unbelievable – two seconds better than the next team.”
Hiddlestone also highlighted the efforts of Jack MacDonald and Matthew Faoro in their individual events – claiming a bronze medal each for the 200m breaststroke for the under-12 and under-13 boys respectively.
The next challenge for the TigerSharks is the 2014 Swimming Victoria Open Championships, held from 17-19 January at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre.
