USA Swimming Names 24 Swimmers to 2018 Open Water Select Camp

USA Swimming has announced a lineup of 24 swimmers for its 2018 National Open Water Select Camp that will take place at the Pleasant Prairie RecPlex in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin from August 23rd-26th. The group includes 12 male and 12 female swimmers.

At the camp, swimmers will learn about open water strategies, open water technique, nutrition, and recovery from a side of the sport where, generally, local coaches have far less experience and where strategy is far more complex than in pool swimming.

The Pleasanat Prairie RecPlex sits on the shores of Lake Andrea southeastern Wisconsin, about midway between Milwaukee and Chicago. The whole facility sits on 425 acres, and is the largest municipally-owned recreational facility in North America.

In addition to a coaching staff of experienced open water coaches, the camp will be led by current and former U.S. National Team open water swimmers David Heron, Emily (Brumemann) Klueh, and Ashley Twichell. Klueh participated in the Open Water Select Camp as an athlete in 2009 and Twichell did so in 2011. The 29-year old Twichell is the defending World Champion in the 5km open water race.

Swimmers were chosen for the camp on the basis of both results of the Junior races at the 2018 Open Water Nationals, and times in the pool 1500.

Men’s Roster

• Brice Barrieault (Sandpipers of Nevada)
• Drew Clark (University of Florida)
• Brendan Driscoll (Greater Tampa Swimming Association)
• Brendan Firlie (SwimMAC Carolina)
• Dane Florea (University of Missouri)
• Sawyer Grimes (Sandpipers of Nevada)
• Christopher Lindley (North Texas Nadadores)
• Gabriel Machado (Boise YMCA Swim Team)
• Andrew Matejka (Gator Swim Club)
• Michael Messner (University of Minnesota
• Mason Nyboer (Tiger Aquatics)
• Luke Thornbrue (Hillsboro Swim Team)

Women’s Roster

• Julissa Arzave (South Bay Aquatics)
• Anna Auld (East Coast Aquatic Club)
• Chloe Freeman (Sandpipers of Nevada)
• Meghan Joram (University of Pittsburgh)
• Abigail Kilgallon (Scarlet Aquatics)
• Rachel Klinker (Lexington Dolphins)
• Grace Kowal (Ohio State University)
• Ashley Neas (SwimAtlanta)
• Nicole Stiles (Crow Canyon Country Club Sharks)
• Ashley Strouse (Scottsdale Aquatic Club)
• Morgan Tankersley (Greater Tampa Swimming Association)
• Liberty Williams (Riverside Aquatics Association)

Coaches & Staff

• John Payne (TAC Titans) – Head Coach
• Meredith Carroll (Brad Akins YMCA Barracudas) – Assistant Coach
• Joey Ferreri (Bearcat Aquatics) – Assistant Coach
• John Flanagan (Kamehameha Swim Club) – Assistant Coach
• Aaron Mahaney (University of  Montevallo) – Head Manager
• Jon Bescher (New Wave Swim Team) – Assistant Manager
• Katie Crider (New Trier Aquatics) – Assistant Manager
• Morgan Weinberg (USA Swimming) – Camp Director

12 male and 12 female athletes selected (or 12 athletes from each gender).

• The top two available male and the top two available female finishers will be selected off of the results of the 2018 Junior 5K National Open Water Championships;
• The top two available male and the top two available female finishers will be selected off of the results of the 2018 Junior 7.5K National Open Water Championships;
• Then, six male and six female athletes who are under 23 at the time of performance will be selected off of the top 2017 times in the SWIMS database based on USA Swimming Power Points in the 1500 meter freestyle;
• Lastly, two male and two female athletes who are under 18 at the time of performance will be selected off of the top 2017 times in the SWIMS database based on USA Swimming Power Points in the 1500 meter freestyle.

Other Criteria:

• Only Long Courses times are considered;
• Qualification timeframe (for pool selection): January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2017
• Athletes must be currently registered with USA Swimming;
• Athletes must be US citizens & have not represented any other FINA Federation at international competition;
• Athletes who have previously attended a National Open Water Select Camp or National Team/National Junior Team Open Water Camp are not eligible for camp;
• Athletes who have represented USA Swimming internationally in an Open Water competition are not eligible for camp;
• An athlete who turns down the opportunity to attend camp would be eligible the following year if he/she still meets the criteria. An athlete who accepts the invitation and does not attend is not eligible the following year unless an alternate was able to attend in his/her place.