The heavens opened in welcome as the swimmers arrived ensuring all were thoroughly wet before they even entered the water for their warm up.

This didn't deter the courageous team and by the time the students were marshalled for the first event the rain had ceased.

The form for the carnival was mixed events and Oxley was competing against Oakhill College, Redlands, Santa Sabina, St Pius X College, St Patricks College, St Andrews and neighbours Chevalier College.

Though the team wasn't at full strength due to the boys ISA basketball teams playing in Bathurst, the Oxley competitors ensured that they filled every race possible going out of their comfort zones to swim unfamiliar, and unnatural in the case of butterfly, strokes.

The four Year 7 competitors Abbey Marnoch, Alexie Cribbin-Blencoe, Campbell de Montemas and Campbell Fahey were fantastic in their first Oxley outing swimming above and beyond what was expected of them.

Fahey and Marnoch swam in their own age relay and then stepped to complete the team for an older age group.

The whole team was supportive of each other and the fun atmosphere of the carnival ensured that all swimmers had a great night.

Oxley shared a bus with Chevalier College and the students as always enjoyed each other's company.

Mixed school relay teams were formed when a year group didn't have enough swimmers and it was great to see the maroon and gold caps blend.

The students not only shared their lanes, goggles and snacks but lots of laughter as well.

The next representative outing for Oxley College is the SHSS (Southern Highlands Secondary Schools) Twilight Carnival at Bowral Swimming Centre on Monday, March 4 followed by the ISA (Independent Sporting Association) Carnival at Sydney International Aquatic Centre on Wednesday, March 27.