Tamworth City Swimming Club coach Nicholas Monet is excited to see what his charges can produce in the new year after a strong performance from the Sharks' contingent at the senior state age championships.
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Connor Roberts lead the way as the club again showed it boasts some of the top swimmers in the state.
After starring at last year's championships, winning four medals including gold in the 16 years 200m individual medley, Roberts battled illness during the meet and a disrupted preparation, but still managed to swim his way to silver in both his 100m and 200m breaststroke events.
He also made a few other finals, while Brinez Lantz made the final of his 100m and 200m breaststroke and Amelia Simm likewise.
The baby of the Sharks team, the latter made a big splash, her performance one of the highlights of the carnival for Monet.
"She (Simm) was our swimmer of the meet," he said.
"Because of her young age it was her first time competing at this level."
"She did very well, particularly at this level."
The 13-year old just missed the medals in the 200m breaststroke, finishing fourth, and was sixth in the 100m.
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Along the way she achieved national qualifying times in the 100m and 50m (she had already qualified in the 200m) and swam a personal best almost every time she hit the water.
"She's got very good potential," Monet said.
"She'll be very competitive there (nationals)."
It was a busy meet for the youngster. As well as her individual swims, she was also part of the girls relay teams. Qualifying for an unprecedented (from a club perspective) five relays spanning from 12-14 years through to 12-18 years, the efforts of Simm, Clementine Monet, Evelia Lantz, Grace Milgate and Alex Hayes was another big highlight.
"I was very happy," Monet said.
"It's the first time we've had girls' relay teams at this level."
"They swum huge pb's and the way they swum as a team was very good."
The swimmers will now turn their attention towards the Tamworth City carnival on Sunday January 12, as they head into a big cycle of work ahead of some bigger meets later in the season.
"For some swimmers the Country Championships is the target, and for some it's the nationals," Monet said.
So far Roberts, Simms and Hayes have achieved nationals qualifying times.
"It's a good period for me to increase the kilometres and also the intensity," he said.
"It's easier because there is no school in between."
Some of the swimmers will also be lending their hands to a bit of coaching, helping out at the club's annual swim camps.
The first camp is for adults and will run from January 6-10. That will be followed by a youth camp from January 13-16.
