Matthew Pender has had a phenomenal year in the water.
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The 16-year-old from Aberglasslyn burst onto the national scene in May and followed this up at the same Adelaide pool in September.
It started with gold and bronze medals at the Australian Age Championships in the 200 and 100 metre backstroke races for 16-year-old boys.
A few months later at the School Sport Australia Swimming Championships the talented teenager was at it again and claimed seven medals – four gold, two silver and one bronze - as well as two meet records.
To cap it all off in December the student at All Saints College, St Joseph’s Campus, Lochinvar, was nominated for Maitland’s young citizen of the year as part of the annual Australia Day awards.