By JARROD POTTER
TOORADIN has a Commonwealth Games medallist in its midst with Josh Beaver bringing home two medals already from the Glasgow competition.
Glasgow will forever remain a proud memory for Casey TigerSharks trio Josh Beaver, Matson Lawson and Mitch Pratt with the three swimmers making their mark in the Green and Gold.
Beaver, 23, won bronze in the 100m backstroke in a dead-heat with England’s Liam Tancock and the result put Beaver’s name up in bright lights as he got to step onto the podium for his first international medal.
He also picked up a silver medal as part of the medley relay team – having competed in the heats earlier on Tuesday.
“It’s absolutely amazing, being a part of such a team in such a recognised event, competing for the green and gold is great,” Beaver said.
“I was shocked to be honest, I knew I had a chance but to actually do it (win a medal), was crazy.
“The event summary came up and I was fourth from the top, then realised I was equal third so it was special.”
Beaver and Matson Lawson, 24, from Langwarrin, brought two more medals back to Casey ARC and Casey RACE as they excelled in the 200m backstroke – touching in for silver (Beaver) and bronze (Lawson) in an Australian trifecta.
Cranbourne’s Mitch Pratt showed he’s a future force to contend with at the international level as he finished fifth in the 200m butterfly to round out the success for the TigerSharks.
Casey TigerSharks coach Ben Hiddlestone was able to watch his charges excel in the pool – with three top-five ranked swimmers in the Commonwealth – and said it was a great feeling to have the trio of TigerSharks in Glasgow.
He also said the success could keep coming with Beaver part of the qualifying process for the medley relay.
“It’s an absolutely awesome result by the guys,” Hiddlestone said.
Sharing the City of Casey success were Berwick shooter Laetisha Scanlan – earning gold in the women’s trap – and Lalita Yauhleuskaya – who earned a bronze medal after a stellar finish to the 25-metre pistol bronze medal match.
