Aussies Announce Robust Roster Headed To Junior Pan Pacs

The 2016 Junior Pan Pacific Championships are set to take place August 24-27th in Hawaii, where the young talent of big swimming guns Japan, Canada, New Zealand, the United States and Australia will take to the pool on the heels of the Olympic Games.

Australia just announced its robust line-up, headed by 2016 200m breaststroke National Champion Matthew Wilson and World Junior Record Holder Minna Atherton. Of the 30-strong roster, 19 swimmers hail from Queensland, while 5 were selected from New South Wales, 4 stem from Victoria and two were chosen from Western Australia.

Queensland’s Atherton represents Brisbane Grammar and currently holds the WJR in the women’s 50m backstroke and 100m backstroke events. While competing at her nation’s Olympic Trials, Atherton held her own against huge stars Emily Seebohm and Belinda Hocking, finding herself with a bronze medal in the 100m back (59.59) and 4th place in the 200m back events (2:08.23). While racing in the latter, Atherton notched a new Australian Age Group and All Comers Record for 15-year olds.

At just 17 years of age, Wilson, from New South Wales, earned the men’s 200m breaststroke title just .26 shy of the Rio qualifying standard while competing in Adelaide last month. He still raced his way to a new Australian Age Group and All Comers Record for 17-year olds in both the 100m and 200m breaststrokes, giving the Aussies some promise in the void left by now-retired Olympic medalist Christian Sprenger.

Of the well-rounded roster headed to Hawaii, Australia’s Gold Coast National Youth Coach Glenn Beringen stated, “This is a very exciting group – swimmers who could have quite easily been going to Rio.”

“Such is the depth in some of our events – the likes of Matt Wilson, Minna Atherton and Laura Taylor all won medals at the Open Nationals. They will certainly be on the radar as we get closer to 2018 and 2020.”

Beringen continued, “And in saying that the contribution of the Australian Commonwealth Games Association makes this team possible and on behalf of the team and Swimming Australia we acknowledge their support.”

“The Junior Pacs has been a breeding ground for future Olympians and I can see the tradition continuing from this year’s group.”

Australian Dolphins Swim Team, 2016 Junior Pan Pacific Championships, Hawaii, August 24-27:
MEN
Jordan Brunt (Southport Olympic, QLD)
Jack Cartwright (St Peters Western, QLD)
Daniel Cave (Melbourne Vicentre, VIC)
Vincent Dai (SOPAC, NSW)
Daniel Jacobson (Albany Creek, QLD)
Leon MacAllister (Carlile, NSW)
Ethan McAleese (Rockingham, WA)
Alex Milligan (UWA West Coast, WA)
Max Osborn (TSS Aquatics, QLD)
Nathan Robinson (St Peters Western, QLD)
David Schlicht (MLC Aquatic, VIC)
Louis Townsend (Rackley, QLD)
Jacob Vincent (Miami, QLD)
Jacob Whale (Flyers, QLD)
Matthew Wilson (SOPAC, NSW)
Elijah Winnington (Bond, QLD)
Bradley Woodward (Mingara Aquatic, NSW)

WOMEN
Minna Atherton (Brisbane Grammar, QLD)
Molly Batchelor (Melbourne Vicentre, VIC)
Sarah Beale (Acacia Bayside, QLD)
Gemma Cooney (River City Rapids, QLD)
Francesca Fitzhenry (Trinity Grammar, NSW)
Julia Hawkins (Nunawading, VIC)
Eliza King Rackley (QLD)
Elli Mackay (St Peters Western, QLD)
Kaylee  McKeown (USC Spartans, QLD)
Mikayla Messer (Chandler, QLD)
Kirrily Siebenhausen (Nudgee College, QLD)
Laura Taylor (TSS Aquatics, QLD)
Ariarne Titmus (Nudgee College, QLD)

Team Leader: Jamie Salter
Head Coach: Glenn Beringen
Coaches: Dean Boxall (St Peters Western, QLD), Shaun Crow (Acacia Bayside, QLD) Damien Jones (Rackley, QLD), Adam Kable (SOPAC, NSW), Ian Pope (Melbourne Vicentre, VIC)
Support Staff: Kirsty Greening (Manager), Cecilia Nguyen (Manager), Elise Bereza (Psychology), Luke Eggleston (Doctor), Cory Prout (Physiotherapist) Tom Barton (Physiotherapist), Laura Gray (Massage Therapist), Nick Smith (Performance Analysis), Simon Pearson (Performance Analysis), Erin McLeave (Physiology).