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.

2024/2025 Scoreboard

Score after Round #1: 2/11/2024

White 1 vs 0 Maroon

Points
Round White Maroon Winner
Round 1 - 4/11/2024 1,583 1,171 White
Round 2 - 21/12/2024
Round 3 - 15/03/2025

2024/2025 Teams

Maroon "Turner" Team

Assi, Gabriella Rose
Brancatisano, Daniel
Brancatisano, Ruth
Casey, Laurabelle
Chan, Marcus
Edwards, Margaret
Farshad, Alireza
Gartshore, Felix
Hannan, Luke
Hannan, Pavla
Havea, Coralie
Itaoui, Mia
Jambazian, Sevana
Jambazian, Varant
Johnston, Eden
Johnston, Hannah
Johnston, Jude
Johnston, Leah
Johnston, Simon
Lucena Johnston, Benjamin
Mansour, Gabriel
Massoud, Ishaq
Morera, Jaden
Murray, Kylee
Okorovik, Max
Ou, Xavier
Palise, Liam
Shrestha, Lisa
Shrestha, Niushka
Sutherland, Koder
Terry, Samantha
Tovkach, Leanne
Tran, Eli
Vergara, Carlos
Vozenilkova, Petra
Wood, Glenda
Zhu, Lillian

White "Emery" Team

Assi, Joseph
Brancatisano, Grace
Brancatisano, Stephen
Chan, Damien
Condon, Jack
Dlesk, Tomas
Hannan, Lara Elizabeth
Hannan, Patrick
Itaoui, Aisha
Jambazian, Christian
Jambazian, Stefan
Jambazian, Talia
Johnston, Anna
Johnston, Emmanuelle
Johnston, Ian
Johnston, Patricia
Johnston, William
Lucena Johnston, Lucas
Mansour, Zena
Massoud, Zakriya
Meldrum, Narnia
Okorovik, Nina
Palise, Ella
Palise, Lily
Sakurovs, Alison
Shrestha, Jay
Terry, Lucas
Urbonas, Jokubas
Vicic, Matthew
Wilson, Ian
Zhu, Leo