CO-CURRICULAR 169 ST PATRICK’S COLLEGE STRATHFIELD LUMEN 2024 SWIMMING CAPTAIN The start of our 2023/2024 swimming season began with a splash! Throughout this summer, the boys attended numerous swimming carnivals to compete against other schools and achieve new personal bests. Under the guidance of Miss Kent, the boys marched forth, ready to undertake the first carnival of the season on 10 November last year. SPC hosted this carnival, competing against some of the Christian Brothers schools. As our first carnival of the season, it allowed us to set benchmarks for future PBs in upcoming events. It was a fun occasion for the boys, offering them a chance to showcase their training and embrace the St Pat’s spirit of energy and fellowship. Many squad members broke previous records, and the excitement was clear from the many new times achieved. The most notable swimmer of the night was Jack Taylor, with his time of 24.29 in the 50-metre freestyle, breaking a record that had stood for over five years. The competition was tough, but the squad pushed ahead, prepared for the second carnival at Trinity. The Trinity Grammar carnival was held on 24 November, giving the squad two extra weeks of training. With no shield up for grabs at this event, it was all about individual competition—boys from all schools chasing personal bests and striving to place first in their races. This would be our final carnival of the 2023 season before moving into the 2024 season, where we welcomed new faces to the squad and future swimming prodigies. The new year brought three different carnivals for the squad to showcase the new skills and techniques taught by our coach. The first competition was the St Patrick’s College Invitational, which featured four Christian Brothers schools and proved to be a challenging meet. Unfazed and ready, the squad delivered numerous personal bests and outstanding swims that night. Special mentions go to Jack Taylor for breaking both the 50-metre freestyle and butterfly records, and to Austin Hall for swimming a sub-30-second time in the 50-metre butterfly. The atmosphere was unforgettable, with the boys cheering loudly and pushing one another to give their best during the relays. This energy helped the 17s and Opens relay teams to take out first place and bring home the Senior Shield Trophy. We were ecstatic—proud of our efforts and fired up for the next carnival. Our second carnival was hosted by Cranbrook and offered a unique and enjoyable experience. This meet involved six schools divided into three groups (two schools per group) competing to accumulate the most points in both individual and combined races. St Pat’s teamed up with Meriden to earn as many points as possible. This format gave the boys a new perspective on teamwork, as they worked alongside Meriden to form some of the fastest relay teams of the night. The most exciting race for the boys was the 6x50-metre freestyle relay, where the top three swimmers from each school teamed up to compete. The spirit and energy of the cheering were unmatched, highlighting the strong sense of brotherhood at St Pat’s. Jaiken Poon Swimming Captain The third carnival—the biggest competition of our swimming season—was the ISA Championships. Our school faced off against 16 other ISA schools, including some national-level swimmers. Despite the tough competition, our boys were not fazed. Highlights of this meet include: • Jack Taylor, who broke his own 50-metre freestyle record with a time of 24.21, • Sebastian Reinitz, who swam 34.23 in the 50-metre breaststroke and placed third, • And our very own swimming prodigy, Sebastian Natalegawa, who won the 100-metre freestyle in 1:12, beating second place by a remarkable seven seconds. ISA was a groundbreaking experience for the squad—especially for the Year 11s. The energy shifted as soon as the SPC army walked in. The support from the stands lifted the squad’s morale and pushed every swimmer to the wall. This swimming season has taught the squad many lessons and provided some of the most unforgettable memories. I’d like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the parents who brought the boys to training—waking up at 6am in the freezing cold is no easy feat, and we’re grateful for your dedication. To Mr Brennan and Miss Kent—thank you for organising all the carnivals and making sure each boy could swim in their events. Without you, this swimming season would have been chaos. I’d also like to thank Mr Boggs and Mr Calavassy, who worked alongside to ensure all carnivals were run smoothly and efficiently. To the Year 12 boys sitting in front of me who have been swimming with me since Year 7—thank you. You’ve stood by both me and Declan’s side through it all, and I’m going to miss the camaraderie we share. Of course, this job wouldn’t have been possible without my vicecaptain, Declan Trainor, who brought positivity and energy, lifting the squad’s morale with his charisma and encouragement. Good luck to the future swimming fraternity at the College! Jaiken Poon (Swimming Captain), Declan Trainor (Swimming Vice Captain), Yun Yi
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