Mt Barker Community College narrowly edge out rivals at interschool swim carnival

Mt Barker Community College have taken home the silverware, narrowly prevailing by 29 points in the first interschool swimming competition in Katanning in several years. Dozens of students from Esperance, Katanning, Denmark, Albany and Mt Barker dove into Katanning Aquatic Centre last Wednesday to compete for the title at the 2021 Great Southern Secondary School Sporting Association Swim Carnival. The 11-12 champion boy Ben Murgatroyd and champion girl Maddilyn McGrinder were both from Esperance Anglican Community School and gave the school a strong chance to win the meet. Despite their incredible individual efforts, it was runner-up champion boy Luke Wallinger and runner-up champion girl Rosin Healy, who held the cup up for Mt Barker at the end of the day, thanks to an impressive all-round team performance throughout all age groups. Esperance and Mt Barker swapped places throughout the day but the pair finished well clear of their rivals. Mt Barker emerged victorious with 1323 points, ahead of Esperance on 1294. Harry Foreman, from Katanning Senior High School, did his town proud with an impressive 59 points to finish runner-up in the Year 9 boys overall standings. He led the way for Katanning as he helped lift his side to a solid third place overall in the standings with 862 points, edging out Denmark Senior High School (771 points) and Bethel Christian School (574). KSHS health and physical education teacher Graham Treloar said his side performed well to secure third place overall. “It was rewarding to be able to take a larger team into the event, as travel considerations to the Mt Barker Swimming Pool often limit the number of swimmers,” he said. “The event was a great success, which is particularly encouraging considering it is the first time the GSSSSA Interschool Carnival has been held in Katanning in recent history.” The KSHS Swimming Carnival — a whole-school event that mixed championship races with novelty games to cater for students of all abilities — was held the previous week. The winners from each category at the carnival helped decide the makeup of their team for the interschool event.