CHASING GLORY: Bendigo YMCA Divers coach Heather Tyter and Victoria Country titles competitors Xavier Bartolo, Syd Campbell, Shelby O’Keefe, Frances Leach, Anna Purtill, Alex Whitelock and Rembrandt McCarthy take a rest during training at Bendigo Aquatic Centre. Picture: BRENDAN McCARTHY
Bendigo YMCA Divers coach Heather Tyter has no hesitation in placing big expectations on her squad for this weekend’s Victorian Country Championships.
“Our kids are looking strong, so I’m expecting 11 gold. I’m just ambitious and competitive, but I think we’ll do well,” Tyter said.
The Bendigo YMCA is squad ranked the number one country club in Australia.
Five Bendigo divers will travel to Mildura for this weekend’s championships.
Eleven-year-old national platform champion and Victorian titleholder in all three board events, Abby Rowley leads the squads hopes.
Rowley has dived with the state schools team the past two years and was awarded the Diving Victoria prize for the most improved female diver last year.
Alex Whitelock, 17, is a strong chance in platform dives, while 14-year-old Anna Purtill is new to diving, but is aiming to qualify for the national titles at Easter.
The youngest of the group, Xavier Bartolo, is the 1m and 3m state 11-and-under champion and a top chance at Mildura Waves.
Bartolo will also dive from the platform and was selected in the Victorian schools team last year.
The final diver sure to impress and inspire is 71-year-old Syd Campbell who will be diving in the 50-plus Masters age group.
“Syd dived when he was a boy here in Bendigo, he’s now 71 and he’s come back to diving, he’s been back about eight months,” Tyter said.
“He’s doing a brilliant job. He’s already qualified to go to nationals, but he wants to re-qualify in Mildura.”
The championships includes the Mildura Memorial RipNTear, which is open to all divers.
The event will be held over both days this weekend.