Star swimmer scoops silver

By Marc McGowan
THREE silver medals to teenage prodigy Sam Wilkins have given the Haileybury Waterlions a blistering start to this week’s Australian Age Championships in Sydney.
The 14-year-old sensation collected two silver medals on Monday in the 200m individual medley and 100m butterfly before snatching silver in the 200m backstroke on night two.
Queensland superstar Mikkayla Maselli-Sheridan beat Wilkins to victory in all three events – among the four gold she has won already – after claiming seven gold at last year’s installment.
Several other Waterlions have gone close to medals.
Eighteen-year-old Roy Pearce finished fourth – only two hundredths of a second off a medal – in the 400m individual medley on Tuesday, only for officials to inform him he had been disqualified for moving on the starting blocks.
Haileybury head coach Wayne Lawes immediately lodged the mandatory $100 appeal bond and Swimming Australia officials reinstated Pearce’s placing on Wednesday morning after viewing extensive video footage.
Ally Woodlock, 17, and Tom Moreton, 18, were the Waterlions’ other individual finalists after finishing fifth and sixth respectively in their 100m backstroke events.
Moreton’s effort was even more noteworthy considering a hip injury has restricted his training since January.
It was the first time he has reached a national final in his 11-year competitive swimming career in what is his last year of eligibility at this level.
Haileybury also enjoyed success in relay competition, with its 14-and-under boys’ 4 x 100m freestyle team of Harrison Baker, 14, Ben Dade, 13, Leon Dong, 13, and Tyson Lawes, 14, placing fifth.
Pearce, Sam Nixon, 17, Moreton and Indra Grant, 16, combined to finish seventh in the 18-and-under 4 x 100m freestyle relay.
Lawes is delighted with his swimmers’ start to the championships and hopes they can maintain their momentum.
He also said common sense prevailed with officials’ decision to overturn Pearce’s disqualification.
“It emotionally drained him a bit and he had to get up for the relay three events after he found out (he had been disqualified),” Lawes said.
“He’s dropped 12 seconds this year in that event and has done his VCE as well – it’s a great effort.”
The meet runs until Saturday.