Scotch College

Scotch swimmers shine in national championships

JOHN JACKOWSKI • TEACHER IN CHARGE, JUNIOR SWIMMING

On August 8, two Scotch students – Mark Koh of Year 7, and Jacob Clark of Year 10 – travelled to Hobart to represent Victoria in the National Schools’ Swimming Championships.

Mark Koh swam in a total of four events: two individual events (50m and 100m freestyle) and two relays, swimming a personal best in both his individual events. Mark’s best result was a fourth place in the coveted 100m freestyle, with a new personal best of 60.37 seconds, beating home the number two under 13 swimmer from NSW. The gold was won by Te Haumi Maxwell from NSW with a new under 13 100 metres record of 56.36 seconds, with second and third places going to swimmers from Queensland in 57.40 and 58.76 seconds respectively.

Jacob Clark was entered in a total of 10 events but had to withdraw from the longer more physically draining events due to a virus that had spread through the Victorian side. His highest placed individual result was fifth place in the 100m butterfly, 50m freestyle and 100m freestyle, as well as gaining fourth place in each of his four relay events.

The national championships were held over three days, with a visit to the Port Arthur historical convict site in between to serve as an educational and relaxing day for the competitors. Both Scotch boys enjoyed the trip and are grateful for an experience that has benefited their swimming. GS

Luke’s outstanding achievements

Words: KEIRON JONES

Luke Woodard of the Class of 2006, whose achievements were outlined in the September edition of Great Scot, received a Premier’s Award for Visual Communication and Design, not Design Technology, as reported in September. He also received a Monash University Engineering Excellence Award Scholarship for a five-year double degree in Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Design.

These are outstanding and quite rare achievements, especially as Luke completed Visual Communication and Design in Year 11, where he also attained the maximum score of 50. GS

Nick plunges to new heights

Year 10 student Nick Paltoglou excelled in the National Age Diving Championships, held earlier this year. Competing in the 16–18 years category, Nick came second in the platform dive, third in the three-metre springboard and fourth in the one-metre springboard, and also won the 14 and over synchronised dive.

Nick trains six times a week, and enjoys the discipline of training and the thrill of competing. For variety, he is a clarinetist in the Symphonic Wind and the Military Band. GS