34 of our swimmers competed in this years State Championships with Surrey Park finishing 5th in the Victorian Club point score.
Each December, Surrey Park’s young Age group swimmers contest for the “Holy Grail” of swimming in Victoria – The State Championships.
This year the Club fielded a team of 29 swimmers in individual events, with another 5 added as Relay Only swimmers. The goal was to surpass last year’s 8th Place on the coveted Club point score.
We attained this goal and then commenced our rise up the ladder. Our final position was a highly creditable 5th Victorian Club. Surrey Park is now moving back to the Top 3 position in Victoria. A position attained a few years back.
1st = Nunawading 2nd = Melbourne Vicentre 3rd = MLC Aquatic 4th = Bayside 5th = Surrey ParkThere were a huge number of “Personal Best” times swum by our team – a measure of our improvement. These PBs also provided swimmers reaching Finals the opportunity to fight for the Podium results.
Surrey Park’s overall medal tally for individual events was 8 Gold – 10 Silver – 7 Bronze. 4 Swimmers become State Champions, 2 of whom, Ryan Lobo and Alex Hillman, won a staggering 3 Gold medals each! Another 4 swimmers attained Silver or Gold medals and 12 swimmers contested a State Championship final!
The following swimmers were successful in gaining Podium places or qualified for Finals:
| Ryan Lobo | 3 Gold, 2 Silver, 1 Bronze | 8 Finals |
| Alex Hillman | 3 Gold | 4 Finals |
| Laura Davy | 1 Gold, 2 Silver, 2 Bronze | 7 Finals |
| Dani Smithson | 1 Gold | 6 Finals |
| Aidan Gleeson | 3 Silver, 1 Bronze | 8 Finals |
| Hamish Langford | 1 Silver | 2 Finals |
| Chantelle Underwood | 2 Bronze | 6 Finals |
| Connor Xu | 5 Finals | |
| Sophie McLeish | 2 Finals | |
| Ciara Walsh | 1 Final | |
| Lewis Clarke | 1 Final | |
| Spencer Robarts | 1 Final |
Special mention to Ryan Lobo, who was also named the Boys 13 Years Age Group Champion.
The Club’s relay teams were also very competitive, with 7 top 10 finishes. In addition the Boys 12/Under Freestyle and Medley Relays both won Silver medals and the Boys 14/Under Freestyle Relay which achieved Bronze. Special congratulations to the following relay swimmers:
12/Under Boys – Alex Hillman, Lewis Clarke, Sam Mathieson, James Liu and Spencer Robarts!
14/Under Boys – Aidan Gleeson, Ryan Lobo, Cooper Cheesman and Jonty Pote!
I would like to congratulate ALL the Surrey Park Coaching staff on a great result from our Age group swimmers – Keep up the good work guys!
To our parents and volunteers: swim carnivals and training requirements would not continue without your constant support.
Matt Brown Director of Coaching