By JUD MULLINS OVENS clinched the house title at Wangaratta High School's 109th swimming carnival, held at the Wangaratta Sports and Aquatic Centre on Friday. It was the 11th triumph for Ovens since 1953, its first since 2020, and only its second in the last 20 years. Ovens dominated the event, finishing on 443 points to win easily from defending champion and winner of eight of the last 10 years, King (357), followed by Wareena (352) and Merriwa (282). The talented Ovens year 12s earned a whopping 194 points themselves to be the most prolific cohort across the school, with the boys earning 120 of those points. King year sevens (122 points), Merriwa year nines (112), Merriwa year sevens (96) and Ovens year sevens (93) were the next strongest groups. Principal Dave Armstrong presented the 14 Ovens house captains with the shield at the school's performing arts centre, with senior captains Tom Ford, Ned O'Kane, Clare Collins and Claire Christison holding it aloft, flanked by their younger counterparts. Of the 13 age group champion medals awarded, Ovens and Wareena gathered the most (four each), followed by King (3), and Merriwa (2). They went to: 13 boys - Noah Anderson (Wareena) and Ollie Fisher (Merriwa); 13 girls - Imogen Rocchiccioli (King); 14 boys - Henry Lloyd (Wareena) and Mason Skermer (Wareena); 14 girls - Havarna Long (Ovens); 15 boys - Oskar McGahan (Ovens); 15 girls - Inanay Gilson (Merriwa); 16 girls - Lillian Hooper (King); 17 boys - Merlin Tzaros (Wareena); 17 girls - Milly O'Kane (King); 18+ boys - Ned O'Kane (Ovens); 18+ girls - Isabelle Hooper (Ovens). A new star was born at the carnival, with year seven student Imogen Rocchiccioli winning every race by a number of body lengths using immaculate technique, even the 50m butterfly. Year 11s Merlin Tzaros also won all of his races, and year 10 Lillian Hooper was also undefeated, however Jada Ryan almost got her in the 50m backstroke, which was an incredible dead heat in the best race of the carnival. A number of age group champions made significant history. Last year's top 10-in-Australia triathlete Merlin Tzaros won his fifth straight title, and Lillian Hooper her four in a row. Both are now one step closer to the 'straight flush' (six titles), which only 12 have ever accomplished. Milly O'Kane and Isabelle Hooper both now have three in their quivers, while Oskar McGahan and Ned O'Kane are now two-time champions. Milly's title has seen her climb to eighth on the school's all-time leaderboard of combined age group champion wins (swimming and athletics). With five carnivals remaining for the year 10 student, she has a total of five, just three shy of leader Rowan Barrow who has eight (six swimming, two athletics). Year 12s Tom Ford, beaten to the medal this year by Ned O'Kane, remains on seven, equal second all-time with Brianna Archer and Xanthea Dewez. He can still level with Barrow, if he wins at the athletics carnival in August. Fittingly, Barrow was a special guest at the carnival to present the age group champion medals. Now physical education teacher at Wangaratta District Specialist School, Barrow is a six-time champion, multiple-time state gold medallist swimmer, and holds the most all-time records at the high school's swimming carnival with seven. She was also a four-time state triathlon champion. Year 9 student Inanay Gilson also joins that illustrious 'both carnivals' list, boasting a total of three, with seven carnivals remaining. In a great sign for WHS sport, the school's year seven cohort scored the most points (392) of any year level on the day, even the year 12s (391) who were one point behind. The year nines (221) were the third most active, in front of the year 11s (166).
