Traralgon Make It Eight In 2008

 Traralgon Swimming Club has once again cemented itself as the top Victorian Country Club by taking out the Monaghan Shield for the eighth year at the Victorian Country Championships held in Portland over the Australia Day long weekend.  A team of 51 swimmers travelled to Portland to record a resounding win by over 1100 points from nearest rivals Kings Mornington and Geelong Swimming Clubs who both had a large contingent of competitors.  Traralgon were also winners of the Napthine Shield for the highest point scoring male and female teams.  Traralgon swimmers amassed a total of 35 gold, 27 silver and 24 bronze medals and broke 6 Country Event records throughout the Championships. 

 Further accolades were extended to Traralgon swimmers Jeremy Saunders, Elliot Shaw, Kirsten Lieshout and Jeremy Meyer.  Jeremy Saunders was named the winner of the Bruce Carter Trophy for the highest point scoring swimmer of the Championships totalling nearly 250 points and winning 5 gold, 4 silver and 4 bronze medals in individual events.  Elliot Shaw claimed the Rob Godfrey Trophy as the most successful 13 and under swimmer at the Championships winning 2 gold, 1 silver and 1 bronze medal.  Australia Day medals went to both Kirsten Lieshout and Jeremy Meyer for the best individual performances for female and male swimmers on Australia Day.

The Traralgon men’s team dominated the older age groups and had all three placegetters in individual events on seven occasions across the Open and 18 & over events.  In two of these events Traralgon swimmers placed 1^st to 4^th and in the Open 100m backstroke Traralgon had six out of the eight finallists positions.  

 Special mention goes to Erin Roberts who at the age of 9 was the youngest Traralgon competitor at the Championships achieving individual qualifying times in the 11 & under category in all four events offered.  Alex Tsebelis was another junior swimmer who at the age of 7 was the youngest member swimming for Traralgon in relays and competed in the men’s 12 and under relays.

 Traralgon’s Head Coach Brian Ford was thrilled with the clubs’ achievement stating, “To win one Country Championship is a challenge in itself. To win 8 over the last 9 years is a compliment to the fierce determination of the swimmers, the programming by the coaches and the dedication of the parents.  Portland was an outstanding meet for the Club and we are all very proud of the achievement." 

Jeremy Saunders 18 swam an amazing 30 events over the three days, making 13 finals and medalling in each of them, which makes it no surprise that he won the Bruce Carter Trophy for the gaining the most number of individual points.  This feat comes only a week after competing at the Victorian Open and Age Championships where Jeremy brought home 3 gold and 2 silver individual medals together with breaking 8 Out of Gippsland and 2 Country Victorian records.  Jeremy was also awarded the male 17/18 years Age Group Champion at the Victorian Championships, a title he has won for an astonishing six years consecutively.  At the Country Championships Jeremy set two new Country Event records by winning the Open 200m individual medley in a time of 2.12.90 and in his last individual swim of the meet he claimed another Country Event record in the Open 200m freestyle in a winning time of 1.59.81.  Jeremy also claimed a further three gold medals in the Open 200m breaststroke, Open 100m freestyle and 18 & over 200m individual medley.  Jeremy won four silver medals in the Open 200m backstroke, 18 & over 50m breaststroke, Open 100m breaststroke and Open 100m backstroke.  Rounding out Jeremy’s medal tally were four bronze medals in the 18 & over 50m butterfly, 18 & over 50m backstroke, 18 & over 50m freestyle and Open 100m butterfly. 

Ben Geard 26 also followed on from an impressive showing at the Victorian Championships where he became the first Gippsland swimmer to break the 24 and 30 second barrier in the 50m freestyle and 50m breaststroke respectively.  Along the way Ben broke 6 Out of Gippsland and one Victorian Country record.  Ben had similar success in Portland where he won a medal in every final he competed in and broke the Country Event record by winning the 18 & over 50m breaststroke in time of 30.59.  His second Country Event record for the meet came by winning the blue ribbon event, the 18 & over 50m freestyle in a time of 24.53.  Ben won additional gold medals in the 18 & over 50m backstroke and the Open 100m backstroke.  Ben won a silver medal in the 18 & over 50m butterfly and a bronze medal in the Open 100m breaststroke. 

Andrew Cameron 18 had a hectic schedule over the three days of competition with 13 events, making 11 finals and winning medals in 8 of the events.  Andrew won the gold medal in the Open 200m butterfly; an event he specialises in, and with a time of 2.10.90 was only .5 of a second outside his own Country Event record.  Andrew had further success by winning the Open 400m freestyle and the Open 200m backstroke.  Andrew claimed the silver medal in the Open 100m butterfly, missing the gold medal by only 0.01 seconds.  Andrew also won the silver medals in the Open and 18 & over 200m individual medleys.  Making up his medal tally Andrew won the bronze medals in the Open 100m freestyle and Open 100m backstroke. 

 Jeremy Meyer 16, was another swimmer who competed in the two successful weeks of competition at the Victorian Championships in Melbourne and backed his performances up with great results at the Country Championships.  Jeremy won both the gold medals in the Open 100m breaststroke and 16/17 years 100m breaststroke with times of 1.07.12 and 1.08.58 respectively and in the process was awarded the Australia Day medal for the best performance by a male in an individual event on Australia Day.  Jeremy also won silver medals in the Open 200m breaststroke and 16/17 years 100m backstroke.  Jeremy claimed the bronze medals in the Open 200m backstroke and 16/17 years 200m individual medley.  Jeremy swam in a total of 9 finals. 

 Stephanie Morgan 15 won all the butterfly events on offer in her age group and in the Open category.  Stephanie set a new Country Event record of 2.22.75 by taking out the gold medal in the Open 200m butterfly and also won the 14/15 years 100m butterfly in a Country Event record time of 1.05.49.  Stephanie claimed her third gold medal in the Open 100m butterfly. 

 Caitie Mitchell 20 was a consistent swimmer when she made finals in eight events and won medals in six of them.  Caitie won the gold medal in the 18 & over 50m breaststroke and 18 & over 200m individual medley.  She won silver medals in the 18 & over 50m freestyle and Open 100m breaststroke.  Two further bronze medals were won by Caitie in the Open 200m breaststroke and Open 200m individual medley.

Elliot Shaw 13 was the winner of the Rob Godfrey Trophy for the most outstanding 13 & under swimmer of the meet producing four individual medals from the five finals in which he competed.  Elliott won both the 13 years 100m backstroke and 100m butterfly in exciting finishes.  He won the silver medal in the 13 years 100m freestyle 1.01.38 in another close tussle and his bronze medal from the Championships came when he placed third in the 13 & under 200m individual medley.

 Kirsten Lieshout 16 excelled in the breaststroke events winning both the Open 100m breaststroke and the 16/17 years 100m breaststroke.  Kirsten also finalled in the Open 200m breaststroke placing 5^th and 16/17 years 200m individual medley placing 8^th.

 Sarah Berryman 15 swam in a total of 8 finals and won 1 gold, 1 silver and 2 bronze medals.  Sarah snatched victory by .5 of a second in the 14/15 years 200m individual medley in a winning time of 2.33.01.  Sarah won the silver medal in the 14/15 years 100m freestyle.  She also won two bronze medals in the Open 400m freestyle and 14/15 years 100m backstroke.

 Ashley Di Ciero 11 had an exciting win in the 11 & under 50m backstroke and with a time 37.09 claimed the gold medal, his first medal at a Country Championship event.  Ashley also swam in three relay teams, two of which made the finals.

 Brayden Waltham 15, was another swimmer who finalled in each of the events he competed in, totalling 9 individual finals.  Brayden had success by winning silver medals in the 14/15 years 100m butterfly, 14/15 years 100m backstroke and 14/15 years 200m individual medley.  A bronze medal was won from the outside lane in the 14/15 years 100m breaststroke.

 Matthew Dinsmore 17 had a shortened program due to school commitments but swam exceptionally well winning silver medals in the Open 100m freestyle, 16/17 years 100m freestyle and 16/17 years 200m individual medley and a bronze medal in the 16/17 years 100m breaststroke.

 Sven Eriksson 19 swam in four finals with a second placing in the 18 & over 50m freestyle and two bronze medals in the 18 & over 50m breaststroke and 18 & over 200m individual medley.

 Courtney Ford 22, also swam in four finals claiming two bronze medals in the 18 & over 50m butterfly and 18 & over 50m backstroke.

 Mitchell Jones 11, one of the younger competitors had success in both the 11 & under 50m freestyle and 11 & under 50m butterfly winning bronze medals in each of them.  Mitchell missed out of a third bronze medal in the 11 & under 50m backstroke by a mere 0.07 seconds finishing 4th.

 Other individual finalists included Charley Askew, Elizabeth Bacchetti, Tim Bedford (1^st Country final), Tim Blackwood, Brenton Ford (missed out on a bronze medal by only 0.05 in 18 & over 200m individual medley), Daniel Golcic, Leigh Jones, Alice Lieshout, Samantha Lynn, Alyce Milkins, Dale Mitchell, Andrew O’Connor, Maggie O’Keefe, Kristie Smith, Jye Thompson, Georgia Tsebelis.

 Swimmers who achieved the qualifying times to compete at this event or supported Traralgon by swimming in relay events were: Olivia Brady, Aoife Coughlan, Luke Di Ciero, Katrina Eriksson, Jonathon Hayes, Mathieson Jenkin, Cameron Juha, Jacob Lampitt, Aaron Lynn, Jessica Norwood, Matthew Norwood, Bridie O’Keefe, Erin Roberts, Sam Roberts, Alexander Spehar, Stephanie Spehar, Abbie Stockdale, Zoe Trembath, Alex Tsebelis, Peta Whitby.

 Traralgon swimmers had great success in the relay events winning 10 gold, 6 silver and 2 bronze medals. Gold medals were achieved in the women’s and men’s 17 & over 200m medley and freestyle relay, women’s and men’s Open 400m medley relay, men’s Open 400m freestyle relay, men’s 16 & under 200m medley and freestyle relay, and women’s 16 & under 200m medley relay.

 Silver medals came in the women’s 16 & under 200m freestyle relay, men’s 17 & over 200m medley and freestyle relay, men’s Open 400m medley and freestyle relay, women’s Open 400m freestyle relay.

 Two bronze medals were won in the women’s 12 & under 200m freestyle relay and women’s Open 400m medley relay.

 Individual Results
Jeremy Saunders 18, 1st Open 200m breaststroke, 1^st Open 100m freestyle, 1^st Open 200m individual medley (Country Event record 2.12.90), 1^st 18 & over 200m individual medley, 1^st Open 200m freestyle (Country Event record 1.59.81), 2^nd Open 200m backstroke, 2^nd 18 & over 50m breaststroke, 2^nd Open 100m breaststroke, 2^nd Open 100m backstroke, 3^rd 18 & over 50m butterfly, 3^rd 18 & over 50m backstroke, 3^rd 18 & over 50m freestyle, 3^rd Open 100m butterfly.

Ben Geard 26, 1^st 18 & over 50m backstroke, 1^st 18 & over 50m breaststroke (Country Event record 30.59), 1^st 18 & over 50m freestyle (Country Event record 24.53), 1^st Open 100m backstroke, 2^nd 18 & over 50m butterfly, 3^rd Open 100m breaststroke.

Andrew Cameron 18, 1^st Open 400m freestyle, 1^st Open 200m butterfly, 1^st Open 200m backstroke, 2^nd Open 200m individual medley, 2^nd Open 100m butterfly, 2^nd 18 & over 200m individual medley, 3^rd Open 100m freestyle, 3^rd Open 100m backstroke, 4^th 18 & over 50m backstroke, 4^th Open 200m freestyle, 7^th 18 & over 50m butterfly.

Jeremy Meyer 16, 1^st Open 100m breaststroke, 1^st 16/17 years 100m breaststroke, 2^nd Open 200m breaststroke, 2^nd 16/17 years 100m backstroke, 3^rd Open 200m backstroke, 3^rd 16/17 years 200m individual medley, 7^th Open 400m freestyle, 8^th 16/17 years 100m freestyle, 8^th 16/17 years Open 200m freestyle.

Stephanie Morgan 15, 1^st Open 200m butterfly (Country Event record 2.22.75), 1^st 14/15 years 100m butterfly (Country Event record 1.05.49), 1^st Open 100m butterfly, 8^th Open 100m freestyle, 8^th 14/15 years 200m individual medley.

Caitie Mitchell 20, 1^st 18 & over 50m breaststroke, 1^st 18 & over 200m individual medley, 2^nd 18 & over 50m freestyle, 2^nd Open 100m breaststroke, 3^rd Open 200m breaststroke, 3^rd Open 200m individual medley, 5^th 18 & over 50m butterfly, 8^th 18 & over 50m backstroke.

Elliot Shaw 13, 1^st 13 years 100m backstroke, 1^st 13 years 100m butterfly, 2^nd 13 years 100m freestyle, 3^rd 13 & under 200m individual medley, 8^th 13 years 100m breaststroke.

Kirsten Lieshout 16, 1^st Open 100m breaststroke, 1^st 16/17 years 100m breaststroke, 5^th Open 200m breaststroke, 8^th 16/17 years 200m individual medley.

Sarah Berryman 15, 1^st 14/15 years 200m individual medley, 2^nd 14/15 years 100m freestyle, 3^rd Open 400m freestyle, 3^rd 14/15 years 100m backstroke, 7^th 14/15 years 100m breaststroke, 7^th Open 100m freestyle, 8^th Open 200m individual medley.

Ashley Di Ciero 11, 1^st 11 & under 50m backstroke.

Brayden Waltham 15, 2^nd 14/15 years 100m backstroke, 2^nd 14/15 years 100m butterfly, 2^nd 14/15 years 200m individual medley, 3^rd 14/15 years 100m breaststroke, 5^th 14/15 years 100m freestyle, 6^th Open 100m backstroke, 8^th Open 400m freestyle, 8^th Open 200m backstroke, 8^th Open 100m butterfly.

Matthew Dinsmore 17, 2nd Open 100m freestyle, 2^nd 16/17 years 100m freestyle, 2^nd 16/17 years 200m individual medley, 3^rd 16/17 years 100m breaststroke, 4^th Open 100m breaststroke, 7^th Open 200m freestyle, 8^th 16/17 years 100m backstroke.

Sven Eriksson 19, 2^nd 18 & over 50m freestyle, 3^rd 18 & over 50m breaststroke, 3^rd 18 & over 200m individual medley, 4^th 18 & over 50m butterfly.

Courtney Ford 22, 3^rd 18 & over 50m butterfly, 3^rd 18 & over 50m backstroke, 4^th 18 & over 200m individual medley, 5^th Open 100m backstroke.

Mitchell Jones 11, 3^rd 11 & under 50m freestyle, 3^rd 11 & under 50m butterfly, 4^th 11 & under 50m backstroke.

Brenton Ford 20, 4th Open 200m individual medley, 4^th 18 & over 200m individual medley, 7^th Open 200m backstroke.

Andrew O’Connor 20, 4^th Open 100m backstroke, 5^th Open 100m butterfly, 6^th 18 & over 50m backstroke.

Jye Thompson 16, 4^th 16/17 years 100m butterfly.

Georgia Tsebelis 10, 4^th 11 & under 50m freestyle.

Dale Mitchell 19, 4^th 18 & over 50m freestyle.

Elizabeth Bacchetti 18, 5^th 18 & over 200m individual medley, 7^th Open 200m individual medley.

Alice Lieshout 14, 5^th 14/15 years 100m backstroke, 7^th 14/15 years 200m individual medley.

Daniel Golcic 12, 5^th 12 years 100m backstroke.

Leigh Jones 13, 6^th 13 years 100m breaststroke, 6^th 13 years 100m butterfly.

Alyce Milkins 16, 6^th Open 200m individual medley, 6^th 16/17 100m breaststroke.

Samantha Lynn 13, 6^th 13 years 100m breaststroke.

Charley Askew 16, 7^th Open 100m freestyle, 7^th 16/17 years 100m freestyle.

Maggie O’Keefe 10, 7^th 11 & under 50m freestyle.

Tim Blackwood 24, 8^th 18 & over 50m backstroke, 8^th Open 100m backstroke.

Tim Bedford 16, 8^th 16/17 years 200m individual medley.

Kristie Smith 17, 8^th 16/17 years 100m butterfly.

 Relay Results

1^st women’s 17 & over 200m medley relay (Courtney Ford, Caitie Mitchell, Alyce Milkins, Kristie Smith)
1^st women’s 17 & over 200m freestyle relay (Courtney Ford, Caitie Mitchell, Elizabeth Bacchetti, Kristie Smith)
1^st women’s Open 400m medley relay (Sarah Berryman, Kirsten Lieshout, Stephanie Morgan, Charley Askew)
1^st women’s 16 & under 200m medley relay (Sarah Berryman, Kirsten Lieshout, Stephanie Morgan, Charley Askew)
1^st men’s 17 & over 200m medley relay (Tim Blackwood, Ben Geard, Andrew O’Connor, Sven Eriksson)
1^st men’s 17 & over 200m freestyle relay (Sven Eriksson, Brenton Ford, Matthew Dinsmore, Dale Mitchell)
1^st men’s 16 & under 200m freestyle relay (Jeremy Meyer, Jye Thompson, Brayden Waltham, Tim Bedford)
1^st men’s 16 & under 200m medley relay (Brayden Waltham, Jeremy Meyer, Jye Thompson, Tim Bedford)
1^st men’s Open 400m medley relay (Andrew O’Connor, Ben Geard, Andrew Cameron, Matthew Dinsmore)
1^st men’s Open 400m freestyle relay (Jeremy Saunders, Ben Geard, Andrew O’Connor, Brenton Ford)
2^nd women’s Open 400m freestyle relay (Charley Askew, Sarah Berryman, Caitie Mitchell, Stephanie Morgan)
2^nd women’s 16 & under 200m freestyle relay (Charley Askew, Stephanie Morgan, Alice Lieshout, Sarah Berryman)
2^nd men’s 17 & over 200m medley relay (Brenton Ford, Jeremy Saunders, Andrew Cameron, Matthew Dinsmore)
2^nd men’s 17 & over 200m medley relay (Ben Geard, Andrew O’Connor, Jeremy Saunders, Andrew Cameron)
2^nd men’s Open 400m medley relay (Jeremy Saunders, Jeremy Meyer, Brayden Waltham, Sven Eriksson)
2^nd men’s Open 400m freestyle relay (Matthew Dinsmore, Sven Eriksson, Andrew Cameron, Jeremy Meyer)
3^rd women’s Open 400m medley relay (Courtney Ford, Caitie Mitchell, Alyce Milkins, Kristie Smith)
3^rd women’s 12 & under 200m freestyle relay (Stephanie Spehar, Aoife Coughlan, Maggie O’Keefe, Zoe Trembath)

SPONSORS

Copyright ® www.traralgonswimming.org.au