Battle of the private schools takes to the pool: AIC swimming championship

A Brisbane school team trained by a coach who made international headlines during the Tokyo Olympics has held onto its incredible winning record at this year’s AIC swimming championship, but it didn’t go unchallenged.

The Saints went marching in – again – as St Peters Lutheran College claimed its sixth successive AIC senior swimming championship.

With open swimmers Josh Staples, Rob Thorpe and Nick Nankervis leading the charge, St Peters pushed to victory.

Marist College Ashgrove, who last won the title in 2016 ahead of the start of St Peters’ run, challenged strongly, very strongly.

But the depth of St Peters, under Olympic coach Dean Boxall, again proved one mountain range too many for the chasing AIC schools.

Marist College Ashgrove claimed the junior championship (403) from Villanova College (347.50 and St Peters Lutheran College (328).

Senior championship final points: St Peters (650), Marist Ashgrove (600.75), Iona College (458.25), Villanova College (440), St Laurence’s College (369.50), Ambrose Treacy College (285.50), Padua College (256.50), St Patrick’s (229.50, St Edmund’s College (168).

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Marist College Ashgrove set the scene for a grandstand finish by winning both the 12 years 200m freestyle relays, with Rocco Holmes and Toby Banner anchoring the wins.

Villanova finished second and third, while Padua and Iona both scrambled placings on those two events.

Then Ashgrove’s momentum continued by claiming the 14 years freestyle relay anchored by Taj Cook, and also the 15 years race in an AIC record (Edward Wild, Jake Edye, Ben Player, Joseph Cervetto).

But St Peters’ record breaking victory in event No. 115 – when Harrison Hauff, Marcus Moncur, Robert Thorpe and Hunter Milgate combined – kept their school ahead.

There was a great spirit at the meet.

Saints then marched in to win the 11 years 4x50m (anchored by Cade Williams), but Marist and Villanova kept plugging away regardless.

Appropriately the meet finished with St Peters’ Jye Bennion crashing into the wall first in the open 4x50m, leading his team of Hugh Dolle, Nic Nankervis and Joshua Staples to victory.

Earlier the medley races, laying the bedrock of success, was a win for St Peters. Though Marist College and Villanova also snuck through for wins, which was a sign of things to come.

Marist had a nice win in the 16 years medley.

St Peters won the open 200m (Nick Nankervis, Ben Jye, Josh Staples and Hugh Dolle) then the 15 years (Jacob Raine, Mravec Fredrick, Ethan Ramsay, Tom Di Brito), the 12 years boys (Marcus Raine, Kasey Guthrie, Luke Aldridge, Sam Nankervis) and the 13 years (Lucas Wang, Fred Moroney, Jim Hu, Archie Quinn).

St Patrick's Event No. 64 50m freestyle winner Sam Megaw.

St Peters also finished second in the 11 years, and third in the 14 years medley.

But Marist College claimed the 16 years medley (Noah Coco, Tom Hicks, Alex Pedroni, Hayden Barnes) and the 14 years (Isaac Farrelly, Archer Mellifont, Josh Mason, Ryan O’Toole).

However Villanova supporters had plenty to cheer with a great win in the 11 years (Isaac Haywood, Will Gregory, Ashton Lewis, Dom Bukowski) and some placings.

Joshua Staples of St Peters with second place getter Dougal Richmond from St Laurence's College.

Those early gains were like swimming gold to the respective teams.

World junior swimming championship selection Josh Staples (St Peters, 200m IM) and Ethan Scheimer (St Peters, 11 years 100m freestyle) maintained St Peters path, but Marist’s Nic Osborn claimed the 12 years 100m freestyle before Saints’ Marcus Raine returned St Peters to the winners circle.

Ambrose Treacy College had a win and a record by Andre Venter

Iona’s Kobe Sergeant (13 years 100m free) did a great job as did Ashgrove’s Archer Mellifont (14 years 100m free) and his Marist mate (Hayden Barnes, 16 years 100 freestyle), but St Peters did win the 15 years event (Tom Di Brito).

Then Iona College young gun Ben Goedemans polished off Iona’s 100m free campaign with a stirring victory.

Villa (Jonah Frare, Ashton Lewis) won their events in the 50m breaststroke, while Marist pair Tex Higginbotham and Nic Osborn won their races. Higginbotham would later win his 50m freestyle sprint.

And there was a huge cheer from the Ambrose Treacy College crew when Andre Venter burst through to win the Division 1 13 years 50m breaststroke – in an AIC record. What a performance it was from the youngster.

Iona College ace Ben Goedemans with his mates.

There was another nice moment for Ambrose Treacy when Xavier Coulahan finished second to St Peters’ champion Staples in the 100m breaststroke. That was no small feat.

St Peters Charlie Moroney had his moment with a 11 years 50m free win, and St Patrick’s College’s Archie Fraser won his freestyle sprint (11 years).

St Peters Lutheran College swimmers captains Nick Nankervis, Josh Staples and Rob Thorpe with AIC's Peter Elmore.

After Sam Jones (Villa) had a win in the 12 years 50m freestyle, Marist went bang, bang, bang with Christian Manning (Marist), Rocco Holmes (Marist) and Jack Davis (Marist) all winning.

Iona College were second in the 12 years medley.

There was a huge cheer when Laurie’s Luka Anich claimed victory in his sprint, while Iona’s Toby Willis won his event.

Things got really serious again when junior Aussie swimmer Staples hit the water in the 400m freestyle, winning in a high class field from Iona’s Goedemans. Third was Archie Bathe of Marist College Ashgrove.

Villa then staged a mighty effort in the 13 years and 14 years freestyle events. Villanova’s Jack Stewart won his 13 years swim and so did teammates Isaac Bowen, Oliver Jacobs, Hugo Patterson and also Luis Stagg – before Ambrose’s Venter had another win.

Marist duo Isaac Farrelly and Ryan O’Toole then interrupted Villa’s succession of wins in their 14 years 50 freestyle events.

Family ties – St Peters Lutheran College brothers Leo and Charlie.

Ashgrove’s Coco had more success in the 16 years 50m flat to the floor freestyle, followed by his Marist mate Tom Hicks in his sprint before the big, tall Hugh Dolle restored order for St Peters with a surging 50m victory.

Ashgrove and St Peters exchanged placings in the 50m backstroke with Coco (Ashgrove) winning from Ben Maynard (St Peters), and Dolle (St Peters) winning from Darcey Salter (Ashgrove).

Peter Elmore with the year 5 aggregate winners.

Leigh James’ grand meet then continued for Ashgrove when he won his 100m backstroke in the event after Nic Nankervis (St Peters) had beaten Patrick Lavin (St Laurence’s College).

Will Gregory then gave Villanova top billing in his 11 years butterfly race.

Wow – what a win by the Villa 11 years medley side.

Records tumbled in the 12 years 50m butterfly when Marist’s Nic Osborn won, and in the next race when Luke Aldridge (St Peters) broke his record.

And another record came crashing down when Di Brito (St Peters) hit the wall first.

Marist College Ashgrove swimmers support on pool deck.

Iona’s Kyan Muir had a nice moment with a podium finish (second) behind St Peters Jye Bennion, while the first placings kept coming from Dolle who was a one man pennant machine.

Iona College had a great meeting finishing third, and Ambrose Treacy presence at the meet for the first time was warmly received as they punched above their weight.