St Xavier’s swimming contingent reaches next level

Nine swimmers from St Xavier’s Primary School (Gunnedah) qualified for the NSW Primary Schools Sports Association (NSWPSSA) swimming championships, after excelling at last week’s NSW Catholic Primary Schools (CPS) championships at Sydney Olympic Park.

Matilda Ramien, Wyatt Shorter and Fitzgerald brothers Banjo and Jimmy qualified in individual events while Matilda, Wyatt and Banjo also qualified in relay teams, as the top-three placegetters in each event progressed to the next level.

The St Xavier’s boys and girls 11-13 years relay teams placed first at the NSWCPS championships, with the boys team featuring Wyatt, Banjo, Thomas Beer and Lewis Mainey while the girls team comprised Matilda, Millie Lyle, Belle Nichols and Pippa Wark.

Banjo earned gold in the 50m backstroke and butterfly, and placed second in the 50m freestyle as he swam in the 12 years boys division.

In the same division, Wyatt earned silver in the 50m breaststroke and bronze in the 50m backstroke after a swim-off was needed in the backstroke due to equal-third placegetters.

Jimmy earned silver in the 50m backstroke and bronze in the 50m butterfly and 200m individual medley (IM), as he swam in the 10 years boys division.

In the 11 years girls division, Matilda placed third in the 50m freestyle and butterfly.

St Xavier’s swimmers Rosie Galton, Georgina Grimm, Georgie Warmoll, Archie Bergholcs, Deuk Bergholcs and Samuel Wark also competed in the NSWCPS championships, without gaining a top-three placing.

The NSWCPS championships were divided into the MacKillop (southern NSW) and Polding (northern NSW) regions, with St Xavier’s in the Polding region.

The schools competed based on their diocesan location, ensuring broad participation and representation in state fixtures held by the NSWPSSA.

Matilda, Millie, Belle, Pippa, Banjo, Jimmy, Wyatt, Thomas and Lewis will return to Sydney Olympic Park on April 28 for the NSWPSSA swimming championships.