Swimming
SMNE Speedo Sprint Heats
On Saturday 1 February, 28 Pymble girls participated in the SMNE Speedo Sprint Heats meet. The day was filled with personal bests, incredible swims, and outstanding team support from everyone involved.
The Speedo Sprint Heats is one of the most exciting meets of the year, providing young swimmers with the opportunity to experience the competitive side of swimming in a dynamic and fun environment. It also gives the most experiences swimmers the chance to practice their race plans in preparation for Junior State in March.
The top four swimmers in each event qualified for the Speedo Sprint Finals, which will be held at Sydney Olympic Park on Saturday 1 March where the fastest swimmers from each area will race against each other.
We are proud to announce that Pymble has qualified seven girls for the finals in March, with another six swimmers named as area reserves.
Congratulations to all the swimmers who participated in last weekend’s meet, and a special mention to our Speedo Sprint Finalists: Amélie Berg (Year 6), Luxi Lun (Year 5), Mia Hong (Year 3), Leah Ji (Year 3), Olivia Sun (Year 3), Rose Wang (Year 5), and Georgia Friedel (Year 8).
Well done to all our Pymble swimmers who competed:
Jennifer Chen (Year 5), Isabella Croll (Year 7), Makayla Cui (Year 3), Carla Eibach (Year 8), Jade Mao (Year 8), Priscilla Miller (Year 7), Annette Ng (Year 5), Charlotte Sadler (Year 8), Sarah Kranes (Year 8), Crystal Li (Year 5), Oriana Fenton (Year 8), Penelope Hargraves (Year 8), Emma Wang (Year 6), Erin Wei (Year 6), Alexis Whitton (Year 8), Genevieve Wong (Year 7), Chenxuan Yu (Year 8), Olivia Yu (Year 5), Chloe Zhang (Year 7), Victoria Ko (Year 7), Hailey Zhang (Year 5), and Alicia Gon (Year 4).
A big thank you to our coaching team, Michelle, Nicola, and Sara for helping and supporting the team through the meet and a special thank you goes to our amazing parent team!
Sara Petronzio
Swimming Coach
igsa Camp: Unity, Strength, and the Moana Spirit
Our igsa camp was an incredible experience, bringing the team together with a shared goal – building unity, strengthening our bond, and preparing to win igsa. But this camp wasn’t just about training, it was about lifting a team-first mindset, pushing each other to new heights, and embracing the journey toward our ultimate goal.
Our captain, Lily Lockhart (Year 12), set the tone with the inspiring theme of Moana, symbolizing courage, resilience, and the power of teamwork. The team was split into four groups, each embodying the spirit of the theme:
- Wave Finders
- Demigods
- Moana Wave Warriors
- Maui’s Tide Turners
The camp was filled with unforgettable moments, from beach training sessions at Manly, to embracing the sun, saltwater, and waves, every moment captured the Moana spirit. Highlights included beach volleyball, high-energy relays to fire our competitive spirit, and an exhilarating surf session, with each activity reinforcing the importance of perseverance, resilience, and trust in one another. With this strong foundation, we’re ready to dive into our first igsa session this coming Friday, bringing the energy, determination, and unity we cultivated at camp into the pool.
A huge thank you to our dedicated coaches, Rafa, Sara, Nikki, and our Head Coach, Leanne, for their leadership and commitment. Special appreciation also goes to Brigette and Lewis for their efforts behind the scenes, ensuring everything ran smoothly.
The igsa journey has begun, and our team is well on its way to achieving greatness! “Like Moana, we are navigating the waters ahead with courage, teamwork, and an unstoppable spirit!”
Forster Camp: Elevating Our Game
After a successful igsa camp, we picked up the rest of the team and headed off to Forster, ready to take things to the next level. This camp was all about strengthening our mindset, pushing our limits, and coming together as one united team.
Camp Mantras
“I Get To” – Training is not an obligation, it’s an opportunity. Every session is a chance to grow, improve, and embrace the journey with gratitude and purpose.
“Progression Over Perfection” – Success isn’t about being flawless; it’s about consistent progress, learning from every experience, and improving each day.
“Trust the Process” – Great results don’t happen overnight. It’s about believing in the plan, staying committed, and putting in the work to achieve long-term success.
Highlights from the Camp
The team was divided into smaller groups, each led by a captain, which fostered leadership, accountability, and a sense of ownership. Action-packed beach sessions, a trivia night, skits, and relays brought a fun, competitive edge, with each team earning points to fuel motivation and build stronger connections.
The Water Warrior award became the goal for every swimmer. At each pool session, this title was given to the swimmer who gave their absolute best, pushed their limits, and inspired the entire team with their effort and attitude. Earning Water Warrior wasn’t just about performance, it was about demonstrating resilience, commitment, and setting the standard for the team. Each Water Warrior earned massive points for their team, creating even more motivation and competitive spirit.
Goal-setting sessions were a highlight, helping swimmers define their personal targets for the season ahead. This was a powerful opportunity to focus on growth, performance milestones, and the mindset needed to achieve their goals.
Forster camp reinforced our core values of growth, courage, trust, respect, and teamwork, and the belief that we rise by lifting each other. With a united team and a clear vision, we are more than ready to take on the season ahead!
A huge thank you to Nikki for your care and support, Rafa for your energy and commitment, Leanne for your leadership and expertise, and Lewis for organizing and making it all happen. And a big shout out Brigette, pretty sure you did more laps to the shops than our swimmers did in the pool!
Rafael Rodrigues
Engine Swimming Coach