The 12-year-old Year 7 McCarthy Catholic College student excelled in Sydney last weekend, winning gold and three silver medals in her 12 year age division at the NSW All Schools Swimming Championships in the Sydney Olympic Aquatic Centre (SOPAC).

She won gold and broke a record in the 100m backstroke final, winning in 1min 9secs, which was also her personal best.

She also won silver medals in the 50m and 100m butterfly as well as silver in the 50m backstroke. 

She also swam finals in the 50m and 100m freestyle on a busy weekend.

Delighted with her efforts, she is now preparing for the Pacific All Schools Games in Adelaide in November.

Mikaela said she’s been swimming since five years of age and has been a member of the Tamworth City Sharks swimming club in all that time.

McCarthy Catholic College sports co-ordinator Matt Feltrin reckoned it an outstanding effort from the Year 7 student.

“It’s a great result for Mikaela and for the school,” he said.

“To be recognised from a small school and town and do so well is a great result for Tamworth and McCarthy College.

“She was also the 12 Year age champion (at the NSW All Schools) and I think she was also age champion at last year’s primary titles.”

It has been a good week for McCarthy Catholic College, with Max Chillingworth also named in the State CCC Under 18 basketball team this week.

The Year 11 student went ever so close to making the NSW Country Under 18s as well.

“It’s a busy time for us in basketball too, with four teams off State CC finals in Sydney next term,” Feltrin said. “We won the Year 7/8 girls last year while the Year 7/8 boys were runners-up.”

Today McCarthy sends three hockey teams to the NSW CCC Hockey Carnival in Grafton with Andrew Davy and Geoff Denton in charge of two girls’ sides (young Open and Under 16s) and Isaac Farmilo coaching an Under 16 boys’ team.