Martindale Swimmers Off To State

BY JEM ANSHAW

Four students from Martindale Public School will be heading to the big smoke to swim in the PSSA State Finals next week.

After beating out the competition at three levels, Abeline Hall, Adelaide Richards, Rhiannon O’Hara and Lucy Waters are heading to Homebush on April 1.

The freestyle relay team said they have been doing some training in at Denman pool, and their biggest goal is to beat Ellerston Public School in the Small Schools competition.

“The first round we had no one to race against, so we had to race against another small school,” Lucy Waters said of the first round in Singleton.

After Singleton they competed in Scone and then Newcastle for the regional round.

Each of the girls will swim a 50 meter length, and this will be the first time some of them have swum at the Sydney Olympic Pool.

While they did admit some nerves about competing in the Olympic pool, they are looking forward to the opportunity.

“It is really exciting, because we came out of 11 students and we made it to state,” Lucy said.

This excitement is shared by school principal Shannon Rivers who said they are always looking for opportunities for the students to explore different activities.

“I am super proud that even though we are little we get these wonderful opportunities to get our kids out there,” she said.

“It is very special; we are very proud of them and very excited for them as well.”

Hollydene Estate have stepped in to sponsor the girls by supplying matching swimmers and caps for the State Final event held on April 1.