CORLETTE superfish Rafe Grant has produced some of his finest performances in the pool at elite level.
The 13-year-old schoolboy underlined his potential with a swag of medals at the recent NSW Country Swimming Championships at Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre.
Rafe and elder brother Stefan, 14, proved the golden boys of the Nelson Bay Swim Club after collecting an impressive eight medals between them.
Both siblings broke through for their first major titles with tremendous displays in the freestyle, butterfly and medley disciplines.
Rafe continued his exceptional season by claiming triple gold in the 13yrs Boys 400m, 800m and 1500m freestyle finals plus silver in the 200m freestyle.
Not to be outdone, versatile Stefan showed why he is rated one of the state’s brightest endurance swimming prospects by winning gold in the 14yrs Boys 200m butterfly and picking up silver medals in the 800m and 1500m freestyle finals and 400m medley race.
Nelson Bay Swim Club’s Head Coach Tom Davis told News Of The Area that his quality squad performed “exceptionally well” at the three day event,
“The most pleasing part was watching three new team members in 11-year-old Jacinta Scott and 10-year-olds Marlie Ross and Roz Davis, all qualify for their first major championship and record their best times,” he said.
“They had a great time together and supported each other and the older kids.
“Alexis Scott managed a couple of top 20 swims with a personal best time in her 50m backstroke in another season of solid improvement.
“Our six swimmers, who are now preparing for the National Age Championships in April, all featured in the medals which is extremely pleasing.”
In a first for the club, the girls team of Bonnie Norton, 16, Lara Budd, 15, Isabella Hol, 16, and Hanna Mounter, 15, secured a bronze medal in the medley relay.
Bonnie and Lara collected individual medals in the breaststroke events while Isabella also snared bronze in the Girls 50m butterfly final.
The talented Mounter clinched gold in the 200m medley plus medals in the 50m and 400m freestyle and 100m butterfly, before falling ill and having to withdraw from the remainder of her races.
The team now has another solid four week block of training before heading to the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre to compete at the Australian Age Swimming Championships between 11-18 April.
By Chris KARAS
You can help your local paper.
Make a small once-off, or (if you can) a regular donation.
We are an independent family owned business and our newspapers are free to collect and our news stories are free online.
Help support us into the future.
