USA Swimming has released its National Junior Team roster for the 2019-2020 season, headed by top 25 world rankers Justina Kozan and Jake Foster.
The National Junior Team compiles the top junior athletes in the country. You can see full selection criteria here, but we’ve summarized the high points below:
- Athletes must be 18 or younger as of September 1, 2019.
- Long course meters times from January 1, 2019 through August 31, 2019 are included. (No relay leadoffs, time trials, swim-offs or intermediate splits count, though).
- Athletes who make the senior National Team are not allowed to make the Junior National Team.
- Athletes who have competed individually in an Olympic event at the Olympics, Pan Pacs or World Championships are not eligible.
- The top two eligible athletes in each event will make the team, and the top four in the 100 and 200 frees.
- Additional athletes will make the team if their world ranking is inside the top 75 (for girls) or top 100 (for boys).
- The roster will feature at least 26 boys and 26 girls and no more than 40 boys or 40 girls (for pool swimming – open water is selected separately).
Full 2019-2020 U.S. Junior National Team
This season, 40 girls and 31 boys made the roster for pool swimming. Six girls and six boys made it for open water.
National Junior Team swimmers with the highest world rank, per what’s listed on the official roster:
Girls:
- Justina Kozan (22nd in 200 IM)
- Isabel Gormley (23rd in 400 IM)
- Claire Curzan (24th in 100 fly, 27th in 100 back, 30th in 200 back)
- Rye Ulett (24th in 200 back)
- Claire Tuggle (26th in 400 free)
Boys:
- Jake Foster (25th in 400 IM, 30th in 200 IM, 43rd in 200 breast)
- Jason Louser (37th in 400 IM)
- Mikey Calvillo (39th in 400 IM)
- Wyatt Davis (41st in 200 back, 42nd in 100 back)
- AJ Pouch (44th in 200 breast)
What does this mean exactly? Does the junior team actually compete as a team at meets? I know they get to go to Olympic training center for camp but is there actual meets they attend as a team?
So technically a 19 year old could be on the jr team if their birthday is September 2nd???
Huge shout out to Sandpipers of Nevada and Coach Ron Aitken! Amazing to have 5 swimmers on the team and the youngest, Katie Grimes, 13yrs old.
Congratulations to Matt Fenlon and his legendary Badger coach, John Collins, building talent for decades !
Actually Matt Fenlon built his talent at Rivertown Aquatics, not Badgers.
LOL. Wasn’t trying to disparage any former teams. Fact is John gets his swimmers to the next level. Just check out the schools his seniors have attended / are attending / will be attending.
Carson and Luca?
Can’t be on both the senior and junior national teams.
Oh sorry Braden. I thought that meant swimming at senior worlds . I get it now
That moment when: Your younger brother on the senior national team and you on junior national team
Both guys worked really hard to be where there are at. There’s no need to disparage one of them for not making the national team
Classy
Perhaps my older brother should comment, but I thought it was funny not an attempt to disparage.
I am sure they are both Happy to be on Team Usa – not so many get to that level
When did it change from the top 6 in each event to the new format? Wouldn’t it make more sense to have the National Junior Team selection mirror that of the National Team just 18 and Under?
Top 2 per event, top 4 for relay events 100 and 200 free. And additional spots to athletes who are ranked top 75 in the world ( girls ) or top 100 in world ( boys )
Happened a while ago. 3 years.