Debutants buy-in to Warrnambool Swimming Club's 2020 country championship goal

Co-captain Sophie Thomas will lead the host club at the three-day meeting, which kicks off at Aquazone on Friday.

Warrnambool, which will have a contingent of 60-odd swimmers, is determined to finish atop the teams' points leaderboard.

"At countries we really need to think about lifting everyone up, so if someone comes back from a race and they're not really stoked (with how they went), which does happen, make sure you're the first one to go up to them and bring them back up," she told the team meeting on Thursday morning.

"Even if they're not in your squad - countries is a really good time to start meeting other people and I think we as a club really pride ourselves on that.

"For me, coming from a smaller club, when I moved to Warrnambool (five years ago) it was like 'whoa', it was like a shock at countries with how loud we are.

"Those at your first countries will see that we all chant and clap everyone up onto the blocks for their final when they're getting announced and I reckon that's a really, really cool feeling.

"I want to make finals because I want to have everyone cheering for me like that."

Thomas is one of 20 swimmers aged over 18 who will represent Warrnambool at the three-day meet.

It's hoped they will inspire its nine country long course debutants - Jude De Silva-Smith, 11, Josh McKenzie, 11, Ramius Karcew, 11, Evie McCosh, 12, Gemma Bond, 11, Molly Mansbridge, 12, Fionn Ginley, 13, Emma Hannagan, 13, and Maggie Hintum, 17.

Young mates Josh McKenzie and Ramius Karcew go to school in different parts of the south-west but met through swimming.

McKenzie travels from Timboon to train while Karcew goes to school in Woodford.

The pair is excited to jump into the pool for its first test at country championship level.

McKenzie said the experienced swimmers would help the younger ones feel settled.

"They can help give you tips and they're good to watch, just to see what you can do better," he said.

Karcew will race - just a few months after joining the club.

"I was at Splash Factory and they told me that I should try it out," he said.

He is excited to swim in front of his friends and family and will endorse the club's 'silly socks' uniform policy as it tries to stand out from the crowd.

"I reckon we (as a club) should go pretty good seeing as it's at our home club," Karcew said.

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