Strong showing from Mt Barker Amateur Swimming Club at Sunsmart Country Pennants

The Mt Barker Amateur Swimming Club ventured to Northam earlier this month to compete at the annual Sunsmart Country Pennants swim meet. Twenty-one swimmers made up the Mt Barker squad and they were supported and joined by their support crew and coaches. Mt Barker finished third overall in the C-grade pennant after a stack of medals and personal bests were recorded over the weekend. Adam Large shined in his 50m freestyle event, finishing in under 30 seconds for the first time. Sam Western, 14, placed in the top six for the male swimmers with a sixth-place finish in both the 50m freestyle and 50m backstroke. Dylan Zijlstra, 18, finished second in the top six male swimmers for the 50m breaststroke while 12-year-old Kate Mitchell was named in the top achievers list for the two-day event. Hannah Osborne returned home with the Aqua Technics Rising Star Award for the region. The coveted gong is awarded to a swimmer who regularly achieves personal best times that are considered to be of a high standard in a discipline or stroke while demonstrating leadership in and out of the water. Multiclass swimmer Kaleb Glass, 12, provided heartening inspiration for his teammates, competing in a multi-class event for the first time in the pennants. Glass is visually impaired and swam with his approved Paralympic blacked-out goggles during his backstroke. Mt Barker head coach Ligia Galvez said a strong sense of team spirit helped guide their club to a successful meet. “I wish that as a veteran swim mum and as a current coach, my swimmers and their families are able to form bonds like we have, and make cherished memories and lifelong friendships,” she said. “That they get to love the camaraderie and the family that is Mt Barker Swimming Club. “Three young ones swam at their first competition ever, eager and nervous, one reluctant one surprised themselves. “The relay teams bonded and supported each other in every race. “The leadership and friendship that is forged, the resilience that is built through swimming is like nothing else.”