A group of local swimmers between the ages of 11-17 from the Wangaratta Amateur Swimming Club will head to Bendigo this weekend to compete in the 2025 Victorian Short Course Country Swimming Championships.

The swimmers, Emmy Brettig, Ingrid Brettig, Emily Chandler, Max Chandler, Harry Chandler, Alice Colson, Isabelle Daye, Darby Hunter, Patrick Hunter, Logan Pace and Spencer Jackson, will be competing in approximately 30 events that they have had to qualify for.

Coach Deb Hogg said heading into the weekend the swimmers are feeling pretty relaxed and it is business as usual on deck at training.

"I think most have been before to various state meets so they know the process and they know that it's all about focusing on their events when they get there and not thinking about it too far in advance," she said.

The swimmers have been training four or five sessions per week, with some of the older competitors including gym sessions.

Hogg said they have a solid work ethic at their club and that is evident in these swimmers.

"They really apply themselves and their dedication to their time is very impressive," she said.

"I'm a school teacher and these kids not only do really well in their sport but they tend to do really well at school because they learn how to be dedicated and focused as a result of swimming and playing all the sports, it's great to see so many kids that are focused on doing well.

"They learn lifelong skills, the motivation, setting goals, applying themselves and the delayed gratification that comes from hard work is something that they learn in swimming but then they take out when they go to work, university, and various other places in the in the outside world."

Hogg said the Wangaratta Sports and Aquatic Centre have been incredibly supportive of the club.

"Obviously we can't train if we don't have a pool, WSAC have been great with their support in helping our swimmers get to where they are," she said.

Hogg said the club was proud to have swimmers representing their club at this great event and thank them for their great achievements in making this event.

"We've got a really good team of coaches that have a lot of experience and we have a really strong committee that focuses on promoting junior sport and letting kids be the best they can and I think that's really important In junior sport," she said.