Swimmers storm home in titles

By Tania Martin
MONBULK is well on its way to discovering the next big star of the pool.
Its team of 11 swimmers recently took the pool by storm at the State Short Course Championships, on 13 and 14 September.
The emerging swimmers all finished in the top 50 in the state in their individual events, while the team was ranked just outside that at 54th.
Led by coach Ross Price and his assistant Joel Tay, the team proved to be real contenders.
Sue Pinchbeck of Monbulk Aquatic Club said the coaching staff had worked really hard with the swimmers to get such a big team to the championships.
She said it was just three years ago that the team consisted of one or two lone swimmers.
“It’s great to see how far the club has come in such a short time under the guidance of a great coaching team,” she said.
The state carnival saw three new team members, Jess Banks, Ryan Pinchbeck and Graeme Duff, take to the pool.
All swimmers competed in several events over the weekend with star performances by Jess Banks, who achieved personal best times in all her events.
Banks showed star quality when competed in the 100m backstroke and then immediately backed up for her 400 individual medley, achieving a six second personal best and ranking 18th.
Pinchbeck, who was competing in his first state event, also managed to record personal best performances in both the 100m and 200m backstroke events, ranking 12th in the state the 200m.
Caitlin Latto had a heavy program of six events over the two days, but despite the work load, managed to finish in the top 20 in all events for 17year olds.
Damon Darvidis had a great swim in his 100m breaststroke, blitzing his own personal best time, coming 21st overall.
He also went on to compete in the 200m breaststroke and the 100 and 200individual medley events.
Mitchell Lowe, who had the heaviest load over the two day event competing in eight events, managed to finish in the top 32 in all events with his stand out performance in the 400 individual medley event ranking number 10.
Hilary Duff competed in her favourite events, the 100m and 200m breaststroke as well as the 100m backstroke and 200IM where she achieved a personal best time.
Kathryn Hender who is a gun butterflier competed in both the 100m and 200m butterfly events coming 11th in the 200.
Duff, the third first time competitor, qualified for the 100m breaststroke and finished 31st overall.