NUDGEE WINS GPS SWIMMING

Story Added : April 2006

With a one point victory, Nudgee swimmers brought the house down on Friday 10th March at GPS Swimming at Chandler. 500 Nudgee students supported the GPS swim team who beat TSS, breaking their two year winning streak.

“We’ve placed second to TSS for the past two years,” said Nudgee Director of Activities, Mr Peter Todd. “We want to resume our 12 years in a row series of wins.”

Nudgee won with 301 points, but it was a nail-biting end of the evening, with a 45 minute decider before the winner was announced. TSS and BGS both had swimmers disqualified in the changeover in the relay. The GPS protest committee heard their appeals, but dismissed them. Technology let down a Nudgee swimmer and the back-up timer was called upon to verify his place. Nudgee’s appeal was successful.

“The result was due to overall team effort,” said head swimming coach Mr Matt Brown. “Our depth came through in the relays. We went into the under 13 medley and freestyle relays 22 points down.”

It’s a great reward for Matt Brown, who has worked towards consolidating Nudgee’s strong local program.
Blair Walkington was Nudgee’s swimmer of the night, winning three individual championships. Teammates Nick Johnson swam a great 200 freestyle after struggling early in the meet; and Josh Amberger also swam the 200 freestyle well, making his PB by 5 seconds.

Nudgee Old Boy, Ophthalmologist Dr Mark Loane, spoke to the boys prior to the swimming carnival. Not only was he rated the 9th most important Wallaby in history, picked for the all time Bledisloe Cup team, and touted as the dominant rugby player of the 70’s – he was also regarded as a top swimmer while he was at the College. He told the boys the Christian Brothers reasoned that to be happy and successful, boys needed a good mind, a good soul and a good body. They argued that sport taught loyalty, perseverance and strength – and they were very wise,” he said.

Mr Buchanan also spoke about the importance of holding onto dreams and of working towards those dreams. He presented medallions to the players selected in the Australasian XI – one of whom was Year 11 Nudgee boy, Chris Lynn - as well as individual awards. Congratulations Chris!

Nudgee’s Under 15 champion, Chris Griffiths (Photo supplied by Sporting Images)