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.

2022/2023 Scoreboard

Score after Round #1: 10/12/2022

White 1 vs 1 Maroon

Points
Round White Maroon Winner
Round 1 - 22/10/2022 881 707 White
Round 2 - 10/12/2022 803 816 Maroon
Round 3 - 11/03/2023

2022/2023 Teams

Maroon "Turner" Team

Abdelraheem, Aisha
Assi, Gabriella
Davis, Kyran
Edwards, Margaret
Festo, Aiden
Hannan, Luke
Havea, Coralie
Hope, Katie
Jambazian, Sevana
Johnston, Peter
Johnston, Anna
Johnston, Emmanuelle
Johnston, Ian
Johnston, Leah
Krga, Anastasia
Murray, Kylee
Oliver, Timothy
Palise, Liam
Sakurovs, Alison
Shrestha, Lisa
Terry, Samantha
Vergara, Carlos
Vicic, Matthew
Zhu, Leo

White "Emery" Team

Abdelraheem, Ameena
Assi, Darla Valentina
Assi, Joseph
Casey, Laurabelle
Evans, Cameron
Hannan, Patrick
Hum, Ren Jie
Jambazian, Talia
Johnston, William
Johnston, Eden
Johnston, Hannah
Johnston, Patricia
Johnston, Jude
Krga, Nikolai
Palise, Ella
Palise, Lily
Shrestha, Jay
Shrestha, Ruby
Tovkach, Leanne
Vicic, Daniel
Wilson, Ian
Wood, Glenda
Zhu, Lillian