Tilak High School could emerge as one of the dark horses of this year’s National Schools Swimming Championships, with several promising swimmers tipped to challenge strongly in the pool.
Among them is returning breaststroke specialist Jordan Wedlock, a swimmer from Seal’s Swimming Club. Head Coach Nina Naivalu believes he could become one of the standout athletes of the competition.
“He’s a natural breaststroker, that boy,” Naivalu said.
“He left swimming, and now he’s coming back to do a comeback.”
Wedlock is among a talented Tilak High School squad that also features Adi Mathea Qomate and Savannah Roxburgh. Swimmer Naivalu expects to perform strongly throughout the championship.
The Lautoka-based school has quietly built momentum during preparations despite western swimmers having limited access to proper facilities compared to schools in Suva.
While many eastern schools train in Olympic-sized 50m pools, Tilak High swimmers have spent most of their preparation inside a 25m pool in Lautoka.
Still, Naivalu believes the hunger shown by the athletes has helped close the gap.
“They are eager to match up with the clubs here in Suva,” she said.
The coach revealed several swimmers under the Seal’s Swimming Club already have overseas exposure, with Wedlock previously representing Fiji in New Zealand.
Others have also competed in school competitions in Australia.
Naivalu said school championships create a completely different atmosphere from normal club meets.
“In the cub competitions, everybody knows who is who,” she explained.
“But in the schools, no one knows who is who. Everyone wants to be a champion.”
She believes that unpredictability could work in Tilak High’s favour.
With returning talent, growing confidence and strong determination from Western swimmers, Tilak High School may become one of the schools many competitors will be watching closely once the racing begins.
The championship is scheduled to run from today until Saturday at the Damodar City Aquatic Centre.
