Looking at the American Squads for 2007 International Competition

CRANBURY, New Jersey, September 7. LAST week, USA Swimming announced the individuals who will represent the United States at next year’s World Championships, Pan American Games and World University Games. Here’s an analysis of those teams, which remain subject to change in the coming months.

World Championships

This squad is absolutely loaded on the male side, although that fact is hardly surprising. The American men will be favored to win all three relays and the 800 free relay of Michael Phelps, Ryan Lochte, Peter Vanderkaay and Klete Keller could take down Australia’s world record in the event. That foursome, of course, came up just short of the global standard at the Pan Pacific Championships.

Off the top, there are four events in which the United States appears highly capable – if not favored – of producing a gold-silver finish: Ian Crocker/Michael Phelps (100 butterfly); Aaron Peirsol/Ryan Lochte (100 backstroke/200 backstroke); Michael Phelps/Ryan Lochte (200 individual medley). Phelps is adhering to the program he followed at the Athens Olympics.

The U.S. squad is also in good hands in the 100 and 200 breaststroke with Brendan Hansen and look for Cullen Jones to continue his meteoric rise and give reigning world champion Roland Schoeman all he can handle in the 50 freestyle. Expect Klete Keller to make medal runs in the 200 and 400 freestyles aside from handling the anchor duties on the 800 free relay.

For the women, the depth is not as impressive as their male counterparts. Nonetheless, any squad headlined by Natalie Coughlin and Katie Hoff is sure to be a major player. With Hoff and Whitney Myers, the U.S. could pull off a one-two finish in the 200 individual medley. Meanwhile, strong gold-medal opportunities also sit with Coughlin in the 100 backstroke, Hoff in the 200 free and 400 I.M. and Katie Ziegler in the distance freestyles. Expect Amanda Weir to be a factor in the 100 free.

Pan American Games

If he decides to contest the meet, Gary Hall Jr. will provide a solid gauge as to where he stands in his chase for another Olympic title in the 50 freestyle. With Randall Bal and Peter Marshall slotted for the 100 backstroke, the United States stands a first-rate chance of occupying the top two slots on the medal podium. As for Robert Margalis, he’ll be viewed as a favorite in the 400 I.M. and 1,500 free.

The female roster is stacked with rising talent, athletes who figure to be regular international contributors for the foreseeable future. Leah Gingrich and Kirsten Groome are top-flight distance freestylers and Courtney Kalisz (200 fly) and Caitlin Leverenz (200 breast) are fellow teenagers who earned medals at the recently concluded World Youth Championships in Brazil.

World University Games

A member of the University of Texas’ power program, look for Michael Klueh (400 free/1,500 free) to be among the headliners for the Stars and Stripes. Count Daniel Madwed (200 fly) in that category as well, as the teenager is now training with the North Baltimore Aquatic Club and could be a challenger for an Olympic berth in the event at the 2008 Trials.

For the women, the medley disciplines appear to be the strength of the team as Alicia Aemisegger and Kaitlin Sandeno are pegged as the American representatives. Aemisegger is a freshman at Princeton University while Sandeno, of course, is the American-record holder in the 400 I.M. and will be chasing a third Olympic nod in 2008.

********************

Once again, here are the rosters for next year’s international meets.

World Championships

MEN
Jayme Cramer, 4X200 free relay alternate
Ian Crocker, 100 fly
Brendan Hansen, 100, 200 breast
Larsen Jensen, 1500 Free
Cullen Jones, 50 Free, 4X100 free relay alternate
Scott Kaufmann, 10K
Klete Keller, 200, 400 free 4X200 free relay, 4X100 free relay alternate
Jason Lezak, 100 free, 4X100 free relay
Ryan Lochte, 200, 400 IM, 100, 200 Back, 4X200 free relay alternate
Aaron Peirsol, 100, 200 back
Michael Phelps, 100, 200 fly, 200, 400 IM, 200 free, 4X200 free relay
Eric Shanteau, 200 breast
Davis Tarwater, 200 fly
Scott Usher, 100 Breast
Peter Vanderkaay, 400 free, 4X200 free relay alternate
Erik Vendt, 1500 free
Neil Walker, 100 free, 4X100 free relay
David Walters, 4X200 free relay alternate
Mark Warkentin, 10K
Garrett Weber- Gale, 4X100 free relay alternate
Benjamin Wildman-Tobriner, 50 free, 4X100 free relay alternate

WOMEN
Elizabeth Beisel, 200 back
Natalie Coughlin, 50, 100 free, 100 back, 100 fly, 4X100 free relay
Mary Descenza, 200 fly
Jessica Hardy, 100 breast
Margaret Hoelzer, 200 back
Katie Hoff, 200, 400 IM, 200, 400 Free, 4X100 and 4X200 free alternate
Megan Jendrick, 200 breast
Kara Lynn Joyce, 50 free, 4X100 and 4X200 free relay alternate
Kalyn Keller, 10K
Tara Kirk, 100, 200 breast
Rachel Komisarz, 100 fly
Ariana Kukors, 400 IM
Whitney Myers, 200 IM, 4X100 and 4X200 free relay alternate
Lacey Nymeyer, 4X100 free and 4X200 free relay alternate
Hayley Peirsol, 800 free
Chloe Sutton, 10K
Kim Vandenberg, 200 fly
Leila Vaziri, 100 back
Dana Vollmer, 200 free, 4X200 free relay
Amanda Weir, 100 free 4X100 free relay, 4X200 free relay alternate
Kate Ziegler, 400, 800 free

Staff
Mark Schubert – Head National Team Coach
Bob Bowman – Head Men’s Coach
Eddie Reese – Assistant Men’s Coach
Gregg Troy – Assistant Men’s Coach
Sean Hutchison – Assistant Men’s Coach
John Collins – Head Women’s Coach
Jack Bauerle – Assistant Women’s Coach
Teri McKeever – Assistant Women’s Coach
Ray Benecki – Assistant Women’s Coach
Bill Rose – Head Open Water Coach
Steve Munatones – Assistant Open Water Coach
Greg Werner – Head Manager
Jackie Yost – Assistant Manager
Steve Morsilli – Assistant Manager
Ted Knapp – Assistant Manager

Pan American Games

MEN
David Ash, 200 breast
Randall Bal, 100 back
Richard Berens, 100 fly
Nick Brunelli, 50, 100 free, 4X100 free relay
Andrew Callahan, 400 IM
Patrick Cary, 200 fly
Ian Clark, 200 back
Scott Clary, 200 back
Eddie Erazo, 200 fly
Mark Gangloff, 100 breast
Andrew Grant, 4X200 free relay
Gary Hall, 50 free
Robert Margalis, 200 free, 200 IM, 400 IM, 1500 free, 4X200 free relay
Peter Marshall, 100 back
Patrick O’Neil, 100 fly
Matthew Owen, 200 free, 4X200 free relay
Matthew Patton, 400 free
Chip Peterson, 1500 free
Geoffrey Rathgeber, 200 IM
Alex Righi, 4X100 free relay
Dale Rogers, 100 free, 4X100 free relay, 4X200 free relay
Chirstian Schurr, 100 breast
Scott Spann, 200 breast
Gabe Woodward, 4X100 free relay
Tobias Work, 400 free

WOMEN
Adrienne Binder, 800 free, 400 IM
Katie Carroll, 200 free, 4X200 free relay
Maritza Correia, 50 free, 4X100 free relay
Teresa Crippen, 200 back, 400 IM, 4X200 free relay
Leah Gingrich, 800 free
Kirsten Groome, 400 free
Keri Hehn, 200 breast
Kathleen Hersey, 100, 200 fly
Courtney Kalisz, 200 fly
Michele King, 100 free, 4X100 free relay
Emily Kukors, 200 IM
Caitlin Leverenz, 200 breast
Claire Maust, 400 free
Michelle McKeehan, 100 breast
Ava Ohlgren, 200 free, 4X200 free relay
Allison Schmitt, 4X200 free relay
Julia Smit, 100, 200 back, 200 IM
Lauren Theis, 100 free, 4X100 free relay
Brielle White, 100 back
Samantha Woodward, 50 free, 100 fly 4X100 free relay
Elizabeth Tinnon, 100 breast

World University Games

MEN
Fran Crippen, 400 free
Joseph Doyle, 100 fly
Matt Grevers, 100 free, 4X100 free relay
Michael Klueh, 400 free, 1500 free, 4X200 free relay
Cameron Hollinger, 50 free
Ryan Hurley, 200 breast
Chad La Tourette, 1500 free
Timothy Liebhold, 200 IM
Matthew Lowe, 100 breast
Bryan Lundquist, 50 free, 4X100 free relay
Daniel Madwed, 200 fly
Matthew McGinnis, 4X100 free relay, 4X200 free relay
Patrick Mellors, 400 IM
Tyler O’Halloran, 100 breast
Shaun Phillips, 200 free, 4X200 free relay
David Plummer, 100 back
Giordan Pogioli, 200 breast
Adam Ritter, 100 free, 200 free 4X100 free relay, 4X200 free relay
Hongzhe Sun, 200 back
Nicholas Thoman, 100, 200 back
Alex Vanderkaay, 200 fly, 400 IM
Doug Van Wie, 200 IM
Peter Verhoef, 100 fly

WOMEN
Alicia Aemisegger, 200, 400 IM
Brooke Bishop, 50 free, 100 back
Elaine Breeden, 100, 200 fly
Courtney Cashion, 50 free, 100 free, 4X100 free relay
Kristen Caverly, 200 breast
Laura Conway, 800 free
Stephanie Cota, 400 free, 200 fly
Kara Denby, 4X100 free relay
Kelsey Ditto, 400 free, 800 free, 4X200 free relay
Kate Dwelley, 200 free 4X200 free relay
Jessica Embick, 100 breast
Lauren English, 100, 200 back
Kelly Harrigan, 200 back
Andrea Hupman, 100 free, 4X100 free relay
Erin Reilly, 100 fly, 200 free, 4X200 free relay
Kaitlin Sandeno, 200, 400 IM
Emily Silver, 4X100 free relay
Lindsey Smith, 4X200 free relay
Eleanor Weberg, 100, 200 breast

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

Welcome to our community. We invite you to join our discussion. Our community guidelines are simple: be respectful and constructive, keep on topic, and support your fellow commenters. Commenting signifies that you agree to our Terms of Use

0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x