Whales Challenge

The Whales Challenge is a 3 meet intra-club series.

For the Whales Challenge, members are divided up into two teams and compete for their team. The Teams are named after two of the club's former State Champions, who later in their swimming careers went on to represent Australia.

Swimmers must wear their club cap in their team colour while competing to get points for their team.

Entries are submitted as usual for a normal Saturday morning. Teams will be posted on the club notice board.

Maroon "Turner" Team

The Maroon "Turner" Team is named after Darren Turner. In 1977, Darren became Merrylands' first State Champion when he won the Boys 10yrs & Under 100m Backstroke at the NSW State Winter Championships. He also finished with Bronze in the 100m Freestyle at the same meet. During his time at the club, Darren set 21 club championship records, and also won the 50m Backstroke at the NSW Shell Age Series.

After leaving Merrylands, Darren went on to become one of the world's best open water swimmers, winning the 1989 Australian Marathon Swimming Championships, and representing Australia on the 1989 Australian Marathon Swimming Team Tour of the USA.

White "Emery" Team

The White "Emery" Team is named after Mitchell Emery. Mitchell won the 10yrs 100m Breaststroke at the 2001 NSW State Age Short Course Championships and also finished with silver in the 50m Breaststroke. Mitchell also won the 50m Breaststroke at the Shell Age Series, and set 11 club championship records.

Mitchell started playing Water Polo while at the club, and went on to become one of Australia's top Water Polo players, representing Australia at the 2015 FINA World Championships and 2016 Rio Olympic Games.

2018/2019 Teams

Maroon "Turner" Team

Abdelraheem, Aisha
Assi, Darla
Assi, Joseph
Baini, Joseph
Baker, Hayley
Durand, Kyle
Edwards, Graham
El Riachi, Charlie-Rose
El-Chami, Abraham
Evans, Cameron
Festo, Ethan
Garg, Adaa
Gillett, Aiden
Gillett, Natasha
Hallit, Analise
Johnston, Anna
Johnston, Hannah
Johnston, Jude
Johnston, Peter
Johnston, William
Khoury, Sophia
Macpherson, Kayla
Macpherson, Helen
Maroun, Elissa
Masterton, James
Moran, Kiri
Nader, Mason
Nguyen, Steven
Owens, Kalan
Portelli, Mia
Portelli, Oscar
Pradhan, Avani
Qin, Alice
Shrestha, Jay
Shrestha, Nevah
Shrestha, Rabin
Shrestha, Ruby
Shrestha, Unish
Thakare, Shreyas
Tovkach, Leanne
Vicic, Daniel
Vicic, Sophia
Wood, Glenda

White "Emery" Team

Abdelraheem, Ameena
Assi, Gabriella
Bachhal, Siyona
Baini, Ella
Casey, Laura-Belle
Cohen, Melissa
Edwards, Margaret
El-Chami, Bilal
El-Turk, Jospeh
Evans, Michael
Fehir, Chevelle
Garg, Shaurya
Gillett, Joshua
Hada, Joab
Johnston, Emma
Johnston, Ian
Johnston, Leah
Johnston, Tricia
Khouri, Anthony
Khoury, Breeanah
Laurenzi, Matthew
Leckie, Lauren
Macpherson, Rafa
Malkoun, George
Maroun, Veronica
Menhem, Elie
Murray, Kylee
Nader, Pare
Nassif, Jacob
Omayoglu, Atilla
Portellie, Bridgette
Sakurovs, Alison
Shrestha, Lisa
Shrestha, Niushka
Shrestha, Summer
Shrestha, Uma
Taylor, Ben
Tomkinson, Reece
Tovkack, Emily
Vicic, Matthew
Vicic, Michael
Wilson, Ian