Olympians Emma Weber, Matt King, Jake Mitchell on U.S. Roster for World University Games
Results from the recent U.S. National Championships were used to select American teams bound for the World Championships, World Junior Championships and World University Games. USA Swimming has now revealed the group heading to Germany for the university championships in July.
The group includes three swimmers who have competed for the U.S. on the Olympic level: breaststroker Emma Weber, sprint freestyler Matt King and mid-distance swimmer Jake Mitchell. Weber will swim the 50 and 100 breast with King in the 50 and 100 free and Mitchell in the 200 free. Weber had a chance of reaching the World Championships in a swim-off on the final day of Nationals, but she lost to McKenzie Siroky. Mitchell, however, won a swim-off minutes earlier to secure his place on this team in the 200 free.
The women’s roster includes six swimmers from the five-time NCAA champion Virginia Cavaliers: Weber, sprinter Maxine Parker, IMer Leah Hayes, butterflyer Tess Howley, mid-distance swimmer Cavan Gormsen and breaststroker Katie Christopherson. Weber, Hayes, Parker and Christopherson all missed making Worlds by one spot, as did NC State backstroker and butterflyer Leah Shackley, Texas distance swimmer Kate Hurst.
Shackley, coming off an impressive Nationals in which she finished third in both the 100 and 200 back, will be the busiest swimmer at the meet as she races those events plus the 50 back and 100 fly in addition to relay duties. She will be joined by NC State teammate Kennedy Noble in all backstroke events.
For the men, Texas is the most represented program between backstroker Will Modglin, breaststroker Nate Germonprez, distance freestyler Alec Enyeart, sprinter Camden Taylor and versatile incoming transfer Baylor Nelson. Enyeart will swim the 400, 800 and 1500 free while the other swimmers set for three individual races apiece are NC State backstroker Daniel Diehl and North Carolina breaststroker Ben Delmar.
The coaching staff will be led by longtime Louisville head man Arthur Albiero. The staff of assistants includes Florida’s Annie Lazor representing the U.S. as a coach for the first time. Lazor was the Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist in the 200 breaststroke. She retired two years later to join the Gators’ staff and has made a clear impact in that time span. The other assistant are NC State’s Daniel Kalupski, Indiana’s John Long, Texas’ Trevor Maida and Virginia’s Jake Shrum.
The World University Games begin July 16 in the Rhine-Ruhr region of Germany, with the swimming starting July 17 in Berlin.
The full roster is posted below and linked here.
