{"id":446135,"date":"2020-09-09T06:44:16","date_gmt":"2020-09-09T13:44:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=446135"},"modified":"2020-09-24T09:31:34","modified_gmt":"2020-09-24T16:31:34","slug":"international-swimming-league-isl-us-rosters-amy-bilquist-jacob-pebley-lead-dc-trident","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/international-swimming-league-isl-us-rosters-amy-bilquist-jacob-pebley-lead-dc-trident\/","title":{"rendered":"ISL U.S. Rosters: Bilquist, Pebley Lead Trident; Dressel, King, Smoliga Still Lead Condors; Weitzeil, Rooney Join Current (FULL ROSTERS)"},"content":{"rendered":"

2020 ISL season rosters for the four American teams – DC Trident, the Cali Condors, the LA Current and the New York Breakers – released Wednesday.
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ISL 2020: DC Trident<\/strong><\/p>\n

DC Trident has added some new faces for the upcoming second season of the International Swimming League (ISL).<\/p>\n

The season is focused on sprinting. With Natalie Coughlin<\/strong> pregnant and not competing, and Katie Ledecky<\/strong> and Cody Miller<\/strong> opting not to compete right before the Olympic year, DC Trident GM Kaitlin Sandeno<\/strong> was focused on leadership as well.<\/p>\n

Madison Kennedy<\/strong> is now the captain and Giles Smith<\/strong> the vice captain. Sandeno also got plenty of leadership with new swimmers, led by Amy Bilquist, Jacob Pebley, Ky-lee Perry, Miranda Tucker<\/strong> and Margo Geer<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Bilquist, the reigning U.S. champion in the 100-meter backstroke, brings versatility as well as leadership. She can swim both backstroke events as well as the 50 and 100 freestyle.<\/p>\n

\u201cI chose DC because it is something new, and I like to try new things. It gives me the opportunity to grow and be a leader on the team. It will give me a chance to do more events in addition to the backstrokes. DC was having so much fun last year that I felt like I wanted to be part of that. I need that fun going into an Olympic year,\u201d Amy Bilquist told Swimming World<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Being recruited as a leader, not just a swimmer, was something that meant a lot to Bilquist, who was on the Current last year.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is so humbling. I feel so honored that Kaitlin could even see me as that type of person on her team. The past few years, I have been on superstar teams at Carmel High School and at Cal,\u201d Bilquist said. \u201cDC is more about making a culture, not that they don\u2019t have superstars, too. But there is going to be more selfless swimming, which is the best kind of swimming. That is what I want to be a part of the most. For Kaitlin to see that leadership in my makes me want to be that person for DC.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Jacob Pebley. Photo Courtesy: Becca Wyant<\/p><\/div>\n

Pebley was a 2016 Rio Olympian and last year was on the New York Breakers. He joins the Trident, giving the team a huge presence on the men’s side.<\/p>\n

“Jacob is not only a huge asset in the backstroke evens, but his experience, leadership and positivity make him an incredible addition to our squad,” Sandeno said.<\/p>\n

Perry is a somewhat under-the-radar pickup. The NCAA All-American from NC State has battled through injuries but is on the mend as she aims to make the Olympic team. She could be a huge factor in the 50 freestyle skins in the ISL.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was very excited. I was a little worried about what was going to happen in my career after college,\u201d Perry said. \u201cBraden<\/strong> (Holloway, <\/strong>NC State coach) and I set up a plan and we reached out to some ISL teams. DC Trident was the first to wan to give me a chance, and that is very exciting. It was nice to have someone reach out and want me to be on an ISL team.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Ky-lee Perry. Photo Courtesy: NC State Athletics<\/p><\/div>\n

It was a huge step for Perry, who is looking to challenge for an Olympic spot in 2021.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat was my main goal, to be a professional. I can\u2019t wait to embark on it,\u201c Perry said. \u201cI think it is a really good fit for me. The energy they brought has been big. That is what we are all about at NC State, and the fact that I get another opportunity like that. That was what I was looking for in a pro team.\u00a0Amy Bilquist reached out to me and we are excited to be teammates.\u00a0My goal has been to be a pro and go through 2024. I want as much racing experience as possible and I will get a lot of that at DC Trident.\u201c<\/p>\n

Tucker was aiming to challenge for the NCAA title in the 100 breaststroke along with Lindsey Kozelsky<\/strong>, who also joined the Trident.<\/p>\n

\u201cI’ve been wanting to swim for ISL since it was first introduced,” Tucker told Swimming World<\/em>. “Last year, I watched my friends compete and they had so much fun that I got kind of jealous. DC had always stuck out to me, not only because of the awesome people on it but also because of how energetic they are at matches. They are all such great personalities that work hard, trust each other, and have fun racing. The pandemic has pushed us all to break normalcy and carefully adapt, so it really means the world to me to still be able to join DC Trident and compete in the ISL. Swimming at a professional level has been a dream of mine since I was young, and a goal as I got older, so I am absolutely ecstatic to be able to experience such an amazing event as this.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Miranda Tucker. Photo Courtesy: Dan D’Addona<\/p><\/div>\n

Geer is another sprinter who continues to perform at an elite level; her experience will make her a valuable leader and relay swimmer for the Trident in the ISL.<\/p>\n

DC Trident Key Losses<\/strong><\/p>\n