Year 11 student Caitlin Maughan and Year 10’s Grace Hull asked Mr Bothe in December to be their paddler for the 19.25km race after they heard of his history in long distance swimming.
‘We were very hopeful, and when he said ‘yes’, we were very excited,’ Caitlin said.
Mr Bothe said he was incredibly humbled to be asked by the girls to be part of the race.
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READ NOW‘Unfortunately Grace had to be withdrawn at the last minute due to her WA Institute of Sport commitments, but another Sacred Heart student, Ruby Warne in Year 11, stepped up with only three days to go,’ he said.
‘I loved it. I was very proud of the girls; it was perfect conditions with a gentle breeze and azure blue ocean.’
Mr Bothe said the team swam a time of 5hr 54min, under their six-hour goal. Three other Sacred Heart students swam in other teams and the solo winner, Paul Laver, was a former Sacred Heart student.
Mr Bothe and the girls trained up to four times a week and 15-year-old Grace, a member of the WAIS swimming program, competed at the recent national competition held in Geelong.
‘I was thrilled to be part of the iconic WA event once more,’ Mr Bothe said.