Casey Tiger Shark backstroker Brad York became the club's first swimmer to make a semi-final at the Australian Open Championships in Sydney last week.

The 19yearold competed against some of Australia's best swimmers, including Beijing Olympic silver and bronze medallist Hayden Stoeckel.

Speaking to the Journal from Sydney after his swim, York said it was his best-ever performance and paid tribute to his coach, Ben Hiddlestone.

"My mum started me in swimming lessons but I only got into it seriously when I joined the Tiger Sharks. I was pretty crap until Ben came to the club and changed my technique and got me training harder," York said.

"This is the best I've ever done at national level.

"I want to keep improving my times and have a shot at making the Australian team, just like so many other guys who are not as famous as some of our other swimmers, but who are working just as hard to achieve their dreams."

Hiddlestone said York was an emerging talent.

"Brad is in the top 15 in Australia right now and he's still developing.

"At 19, he was the second-youngest swimmer in his event at the nationals and was racing against much older and better known swimmers.

"His next goal is to make national finals; he's only 0.05 of a second away. He's got some good years ahead of him and will only get better."

The Tiger Sharks' emergence at the national level was also highlighted by the performance of 15-year-old freestyle swimmer Aleysha Tokai at the Youth Olympics in Sydney earlier this year.

Hiddlestone said the teenager was named as a reserve for the Australian team and was included three weeks before the event after a teammate broke her shoulder.

"She was a 15yearold racing against people like former world record holder and Olympic gold medallist Libby Trickett.

"She did more than just fill in as a reserve - she was in finals every night and finished up with two fourth placings, and a relay medal."

Hiddlestone said the Tiger Sharks were making their name as one of the strongest swimming clubs in Australia.