By John Lohn<\/p>\n
ASTON, Pennsylvania, October 28. WHEN the United States travels to Shanghai, China for next year\u2019s World Short Course Championships, the squad representing the Red, White and Blue will have a different look than the team that competed at last summer\u2019s World Champs in Montreal. Simply put, the team for the upcoming short-course event boasts an intriguing mix.<\/p>\n
Many of the top names in United States swimming will bypass the competition, including the likes of Michael Phelps and Katie Hoff. More, the Stars and Stripes will be without the presence of the Texas Triumvirate of Aaron Peirsol, Brendan Hansen and Ian Crocker. Also missing will be Natalie Coughlin and Kara Lynn Joyce.<\/p>\n
A question that immediately comes to mind: Is it a positive that the United States will be missing some of its top guns come April? Well, it\u2019s not really a bad thing. Considering the fact that the Pan Pacific Championships are scheduled for August in Vancouver, the major names are likely to be in action later in the year, and with the opportunity to uncork swift times in major competition.<\/p>\n
In the meantime, the youngsters headed to Shanghai will have the chance to either further their reputations or pop a breakout performance on the international stage. While Jessica Hardy and Kate Ziegler have already made their global mark, the World Short Course Champs will allow them to solidify their world-wide standing two years out from the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.<\/p>\n
Other youngsters, meanwhile, will be expected to gain valuable experience for careers on the upswing. Take Alicia Aemisegger for example. The latest standout to be produced by Dick Shoulberg at Germantown Academy, Aemisegger made a major push at qualifying for the World Champs in Montreal, as she finished third at the U.S. Trials. In Shanghai, she can demonstrate her progression.<\/p>\n
Of course, a number of veterans will also have the chance to prove their worth and illustrate that their careers remain hot. Unable to advance to the final of the 50 free in Montreal, Jason Lezak settled \u2013 on an individual level \u2013 for a fourth-place effort in the 100 free. Certainly, his venture to the World Short Course Champs will let Lezak show that his increasing age does not equate to sliding results.<\/p>\n
What unfolds in China remains to be seen. Yet, we already know this: The squad representing the United States will provide interesting results \u2013 at least from a collection of athletes standpoint.<\/p>\n
Here is a list of the athletes scheduled to compete in Shanghai:<\/p>\n
Women<\/b>
\nAemisegger, Alicia Germantown Academy Dick Shoulberg
\nBreeden, Elaine Wildcat Aquatics John Brucato
\nCorreia, Maritza Athens Bulldog Jack Bauerle
\nDescenza, Mary Athens Bulldog Jack Bauerle
\nHardy, Jessica Irvine Novaquatics Dave Salo
\nHoelzer, Margaret Auburn Aquatics David Marsh
\nKirk, Tara Palo Alto Stanford Aquatics Lea Maurer
\nKomisarz, Rachel Lakeside Swim Team Mike DeBoor
\nPiper, Carly Wisconsin Aquatics Eric Hansen
\nSandeno, Kaitlin Trojan Swim Club Mark Schubert
\nSoni, Rebecca Scarlet Aquatic Club Tom Speedling
\nWeir, Amanda Swim Atlanta Chris Davis
\nZiegler, Kate The Fish Ray Benecki <\/p>\n
Men<\/b>
\nBal, Randall Stanford Swimming Skip Kenney
\nBrunelli, Nicholas Sun Devil Aquatics Mike Chasson
\nCramer, Jayme Southeastern SC\/Stanford Skip Kenney
\nGrevers, Matthew Scout Aquatics\/Northwestern Lea Maurer\/Bob Groseth
\nJensen, Larsen Trojan Swim Club Mark Schubert
\nJones, Cullen NC State Aquatics Team Chad Onken
\nKeller, Klete Club Wolverine Bob Bowman
\nLezak, Jason Irvine Novaquatics Dave Salo
\nLochte, Ryan Daytona Beach\/Florida Steve Lochte\/Gregg Troy
\nMargalis, Robert Georgia Jack Bauerle
\nPogioli, Giordan Purdue Dan Ross
\nThompson, Chris Club Wolverine Bob Bowman
\nUsher, Scott Wyoming TJ Johnson<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
By John Lohn ASTON, Pennsylvania, October 28. WHEN the United States travels to Shanghai, China for next year\u2019s World Short Course Championships, the squad representing the Red, White and Blue<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"dois","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[3,7,10,4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10181","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-featured","category-usa","category-world","category-zzzzzzzzz"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"yoast_head":"\r\n