Swimming WA coach says short course team ‘most talented in years’

SWIMMING WA short course state team head coach Will Scott says this year’s talent pool of swimmers has increased for the first time in years.

The best swimmers in the 13-14 and 15-16 girls, and 14-15 and 16-17 boys were selected in the team after achieving good results at the 2017 State Open and Age Short Course Championships at HBF Stadium last week.

State champions UWA-West Coast Swimming Club led the way with 11 representatives, while Bayswater-based Central Aquatic Swimming Club member Adrian Rogers was chosen in the 16-17 boys group.

The team will compete at the National State Team Championships in Canberra from September 22-24, followed by the Australian Short Course Swimming Championships in Adelaide from October 26-28.

Scott said he was happy to work with the team in his second year as head coach.

“Overall, in all of the younger age groups, there has been a solid increase in the ability of the team; both male and female,” he said.

“The swimmers themselves want to show what they can do and show the rest of the country how much they have improved and that is really exciting.

“Usually we end up in about fourth position somewhere near Victoria and this year, we are trying to be as close to the top as we can.”

Scott said Rogers had been progressing well.

“He has shown really good progression with his coach Wayne (de Lacy) in the last six months which is great to see,” he said.

“Wayne used to coach Sally Foster, so he knows what he is doing when it comes to youngsters.

“(I’m) very excited to see Adrian swim so fast in sprint events and being able to pad out on the distance work too.”

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