UniSC is home to the USC Spartans Olympic and Paralympic swimming squad
Jenna Jones (UniSC student)
Owner of 11 age records as a junior, Jenna will contest her first Commonwealth Games in the 50m freestyle S13. One of six children, Jenna was born in 2001 in Maitland, New South Wales and competed in the Rio 2016 Paralympics in five events.
Emily Beecroft (UniSC student)
One of triplets, Emily was born in Victoria in 1999, before later moving to Queensland. After finishing fourth in the 100m freestyle S9 at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in 2018, she is hoping to go at least one place better in Birmingham. Won two medals at the Tokyo Paralympics.
Liam Schluter
A silver medalist in the 200m freestyle S14 at the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast, Liam began swimming at Kawana Aquatic Centre on the Sunshine Coast at age two. Liam came from a multi-sport background, competing in rugby league, golf and tennis before swimming.
Alexandria Perkins
Alex Perkins is local Sunshine Coast swimmer who debuted on the Australian Dolphins team at the 2022 Commonwealth Games and 2022 World Championships. Alex has also been selected in the 100m Butterfly at the 2024 World Championships. Alex is balancing a successful swimming career with her Physiotherapy degree.
Matthew Lamb
Matt Lamb moved over from Perth to study Sport Science and swim at USC. Matt also is involved in the Sport for Thought program at USC. Matt is an Age National medalist and finalist in multiple events.
Ruan Van Der Riet
Ruan is originally from Perth is currently studying and swimming at USC. Ruan is currently ranked 5th in the 200m Butterfly in Australia.
Zac Incerti
Zac Incerti is the senior member of the USC Swim Team competing in 2 x World Championships, 2 x Commonwealth Games and 1 x Olympic Games. Zac has two Silver medals from the 2021 Olympic games. Zac was originally from Broome, moved to Perth and now to the Sunshine Coast to further his swimming career.
Zachary Tabuai
Zac is balancing his Law degree and a swimming career at USC. Zac is a Age National medalist in the 100m and 200 freestyle and Open National finalist.
Joshua Moore
Josh Moore is a local Sunshine Coast swimmer who is starting his degree in 2024 at USC. Josh is an Age National medalist and QLD representative who has been part of the USC Swimming program for the past two years.
Abbey Connor
Abbey is a Butterfly specialist who has competed at the 2022, 2023 and 2024 World Championships in the 200m Butterfly. Abbey is originally from Sydney and has moved to the USC to further her swimming career.
Tom Novakowski
Tom Nowakowski is a sprinting specialist from the Gold Coast who also works for Swimming Australia. Tom debuted on the Australian Dolphins team in 2022 in the Commonwealth Games and Work Championships in the 50m Freestyle.
Abbey Connor
Abbey is a Butterfly specialist who has competed at the 2022, 2023 and 2024 World Championships in the 200m Butterfly. Abbey is originally from Sydney and has moved to the USC to further her swimming career.
Lia Belle Wiese
Lia-Belle is currently studying occupational therapy and enjoys balancing her study around her swimming training commitments at USC. Lia-Belle is an Age National medalist in the 200m, 400m freestyle and 200 IM.
Tom Novakowski
Tom Nowakowski is a sprinting specialist from the Gold Coast who also works for Swimming Australia. Tom debuted on the Australian Dolphins team in 2022 in the Commonwealth Games and Work Championships in the 50m Freestyle.
Lakeshia Patterson
Bailey Armstrong (Open Water)
Coaching team
Harley Connolly
USC Spartans Head Coach, Paralympic
Mick Palfrey
USC Spartans Head Coach - Olympic
A former Paralympic swim competitor who also collected bronze at the World Championships, Palfrey made his debut as an Australian swim coach at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India. He recently spent nine years as head swimming coach at the West Australian Institute of Sport.
Michael Sage
Hub Assistant Coach
Casey Akins
Paralympic Scholarship Coach
Casey has been the Assistant Coach at the UniSC based hub since 2021 working with the Para Swimming Program. Casey began this role though a QAS GEN2032 coaching scholarship, to develop her high performance coaching skills. She was recently appointed her first Australian team coaching position as a team coach at the 2023 World Para Swimming Championships in Manchester.