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.

2017/2018 Teams

Maroon "Turner" Team

Assi, Joseph
Baini, Ella
Baker, Hayley
Blessing, Brody
Chemuel, Christopher
Cohen, Melissa
Crabb, Benjamin
Durand, Kyle
El Riachi, Charlie-Rose
Evans, Michael
Gillett, Aiden
Gillett, Joshua
Hemakumara, Elianna
Johnston, Anna
Johnston, Jude
Johnston, Patricia
Johnston, Peter
Johnston, Sarah
Khoury, Breeanah
Leckie, Lauren
Menhem, Elie
Nader, Pare
Qin, Alice
Seruvatu, Jaylan
Shrestha, Lisa
Shrestha, Niushka
Shrestha, Unish
Tovkach, Emily
Tran, Danny
Vicic, Matthew
Wilson, Ian
Wood, Glenda

White "Emery" Team

Assi, Darla
Baini, Joseph
Casey, LauraBelle
Crabb, Dyana
Edwards, Graham
El-Chami, Bilal
Gillett, Natasha
Hada, Joab
Hemakumara, Ethan
Johnston, Ian
Johnston, Leah
Johnston, William
Khoury, Sophiah
Macpherson, Helen
Murray, Kylee
Nader, Mason
Nguyen, Steven
Sakurovs, Alison
Seruvatu, Elijah
Seruvatu, Margaret
Seruvatu, Tatiana
Shrestha, Jay
Shrestha, Nevah
Shrestha, Ruby
Shrestha, Summer
Taylor, Ben
Tomkinson, Reece
Tovkach, Leanne
Turner, Noah
Vicic, Daniel
Vicic, Michael
Vicic, Sophia