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.

2021/2022 Scoreboard

Score after Round #3: 5/03/2022

White 3 vs 0 Maroon

Points
Round White Maroon Winner
Round 1 - 6/11/2021 832 806 White
Round 2 - 20/11/2021 946 893 White
Round 3 - 5/03/2022 1,050 1,001 White

2021/2022 Teams

Maroon "Turner" Team

Abdelraheem, Ameena
Alvarez, Lucas
Assi, Darla
Casey, Laura-Belle
Edwards, Margaret
Hada, Joab
Hope, Katie
Hum, Ren Jie
Johnston, Eden
Johnston, Emma
Johnston, Hannah
Johnston, Jude
Johnston, Patricia
Johnston, William
Ozols, Helen
Palise, Ella
Pradhan, Avani
Shrestha, Jay
Shrestha, Nevah
Shrestha, Ruby
Shrestha, Summer
Somarchand, Keira
Ton, Ethan
Vicic, Daniel
Vicic, Michael
Wood, Glenda

White "Emery" Team

Abdelraheem, Aisha
Abdelraheem, Zayd
Assi, Gabriella
Assi, Joseph
Cohen, Melissa
Hada, Jacob
Jayasinghe, Jhanvi
Johnston, Anna
Johnston, Ian
Johnston, Leah
Johnston, Peter
Murray, Kylee
Oliver, Timothy
Nguyen, Steven
Ozols, Vanessa
Palise, Lily
Sakurovs, Alison
Shrestha, Lisa
Shrestha, Niushka
Shrestha, Shreya
Shrestha, Unish
Ton, Chloe
Tovkach, Leanne
Vergara, Carlos
Vicic, Matthew
Vicic, Sophia
Wilson, Ian