Swimming Squad
St Mary's College Swimming Squad for Years 5–12: Monday, Wednesday and Friday 6:45–7:45am at Wattle Creek Aquatic Centre, coaches, squad levels, $95 per term pool entry, CSSA and carnival dates, what to bring and how to join.
The Swimming Squad is a year-round, before-school training program for students in Years 5–12 who want to improve their swimming, prepare for the College and CSSA carnivals, or simply start the day with a good session. Training is at the Wattle Creek Aquatic Centre (25 Aquatic Drive, five minutes from the College) and is coached by the Centre's head coach alongside College staff. No trial is required — any student who can swim 50 metres of freestyle without stopping may join.
Who can join
Years 5–12. Junior swimmers (Years 5–6) train in the Development lane with their own coach and must be dropped off and signed in by a parent. The squad is capped at 60 swimmers; there is currently a short waitlist for the Development lane only.
Season
The squad trains every term (Weeks 1–10 in Terms 1, 2 and 4; Weeks 1–9 in Term 3, finishing Friday 11 September 2026 so swimmers can rest before athletics). The peak of the season is Term 1: the College Swimming Carnivals in late February and the CSSA Swimming Championships in March.
Training
| Day | Time | Venue | Transport |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 6:45–7:45am | Wattle Creek Aquatic Centre, 25 Aquatic Drive | Parents drop off at the Centre; College bus returns swimmers to the College at 8:00am, arriving 8:10am |
| Wednesday | 6:45–7:45am | Wattle Creek Aquatic Centre | As above |
| Friday | 6:45–7:45am | Wattle Creek Aquatic Centre | As above |
Swimmers should be on the pool deck by 6:40am. Parents may collect their child from the Centre at 7:50am and take them to school instead of using the return bus — tick the option on the Portal permission form. Breakfast is available at the Harbour Café from 8:00am (Senior) and Junior swimmers eat in the Hall Annexe with Mr Ben Hartley's OSHC staff until the 8:15am yard supervision begins.
Coaches and squad structure
| Squad | Who | Focus | Coach |
|---|---|---|---|
| Performance | Years 9–12, CSSA finalists | 3,000–3,500m per session, race preparation | Mr Craig Mitchell (Head Coach, Swimming Australia Development Coach) |
| Age | Years 7–10 | 2,000–2,500m, stroke technique, turns | Ms Sophie Lam (Assistant Coach) |
| Development | Years 5–6 and new Senior swimmers | 1,200–1,500m, four strokes, starts | Mrs Fiona Grant |
Swimmers may attend one, two or three sessions a week; Performance squad swimmers are expected at all three.
2026–27 competition calendar
| Date | Event | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Thursday 26 February 2026 | Junior Swimming Carnival (Years 3–6) — completed | Wattle Creek Aquatic Centre |
| Friday 27 February 2026 | Senior Swimming Carnival (Years 7–12) — completed | Wattle Creek Aquatic Centre |
| Thursday 19 March 2026 | CSSA Swimming Championships — completed (College 3rd of 12) | Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre |
| Friday 30 October 2026 | Squad Time-Trial Night 5:30–7:30pm (families welcome) | Wattle Creek Aquatic Centre |
| Thursday 25 February 2027 | Junior Swimming Carnival | Wattle Creek Aquatic Centre |
| Friday 26 February 2027 | Senior Swimming Carnival | Wattle Creek Aquatic Centre |
| Thursday 18 March 2027 | CSSA Swimming Championships | Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre |
Carnival results and House points are on the Swimming Carnivals page.
What to bring
- Bathers (one-piece or jammers; College swim cap $15 from the Uniform Shop — compulsory), goggles, towel
- Full school uniform for the day (not sport uniform, unless it is your PE day) and a bag for wet gear
- Drink bottle; a small snack for after training
- Kickboard, fins and pull buoy are provided by the Centre
Cancellations
The Aquatic Centre is indoor and heated. Sessions are cancelled only if the Centre is closed (an SMS is sent to parents by 6:00am), on days of Total Fire Ban (no College transport operates), or on public holidays and student-free days. There is no training on Monday 2 November 2026 (student-free day) or Tuesday 3 November (Melbourne Cup).
Selection
None — the squad is open. Selection for the CSSA Championships team (40 swimmers) is based on times from the College Senior Swimming Carnival and Term 1 time trials.
Cost
$95 per term pool entry, charged to your fee account via the Parent Portal at the start of each term (this covers lane hire and Centre entry for up to three sessions a week). Swimmers joining mid-term are charged pro rata. The return bus is included. CSEF may be applied to this charge for eligible families — see Fees & Payments. Swimmers withdrawing from the squad must notify Mr Ferraro before the start of the term to avoid the charge.
How to join
Complete the Swimming Squad form on the Parent Portal (Forms → Sport). New swimmers may trial for two sessions free of charge before committing. Term 4 squad entries close Friday 2 October 2026.
Contact
Mr Luke Ferraro, Director of Sport — sport@stmaryswc.vic.edu.au — (03) 9555 0100. Head Coach Mr Craig Mitchell can be contacted through the Sports Centre office. Junior (Years 5–6) swimmers: Mr Daniel Ruiz, juniorsport@stmaryswc.vic.edu.au.