By JARROD POTTER
IDENTIFIED as swimmers to guide the next generation, the Casey TigerSharks Swimming Club had a number of athletes selected for the Swimming Victoria Development Squad.
Nine TigerSharks will join the development squad for a series of camps and screenings throughout the rest of the year, leading up towards Age National Championships in early 2015.
TigerSharks head coach Ben Hiddlestone said it was pleasing to have swimmers at all levels stepping up to the state-level system.
“It’s very good to have a couple at the open level; we can’t create dynasties as we can’t draft kids like in football,” Hiddlestone said.
“We get what we get at those young levels, so to be continually progressing kids through that talent pathway is a major goal of the TigerSharks.
Leading the charge is Victorian 400-metre individual medley record holder Holly Brettle, 20, from Beaconsfield, who earned her place in the VIS (Victorian Institute of Sport) squad.
“Basically she just missed out on major Australian team and that’s what Holly wants to get into.
“To make this squad – you haven’t made the team, but you are working hard and they don’t want to waste money on swimmers who are old or aren’t going to potentially swim for Australia – so it’s good to know Holly is around the mark.
“Picked off her race results alone (with no consideration to her recent broken hip)… she has a significant chance of making it to Rio.”
The likes of the Faoro siblings – Jessica and Matthew – Shaun Banzon, Nic Galileos and Bowen Gough have earned their places in the talent development programs through their all-round credentials.
“They’re very good swimmers and are picked off whether they medalled or placed in individual medley,” Hiddlestone said.
“They’re good all-round swimming indicators for talent.”
TigerSharks’ coach Julie Janz has also been selected as an assistant coach for the SV development squads.
On the road to the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, the training sessions are piling up for Casey TigerSharks trio Mitch Pratt, Josh Beaver and Matson Lawson.
Hiddlestone said the boys are “suffering… painfully suffering” but making big leaps in the pool.
SWIMMING VICTORIA DEVELOPMENT SQUAD
TARGET FOR VIS SQUAD: Holly Brettle
GOLD TALENT: Bowen Gough, Shaun Banzon.
SILVER TALENT: Nic Galileos, Jessica Faoro, Kyle Young.
JUNIOR TALENT: Matthew Faoro, Jack McDonald, Joshua Yong.
