USA Swimming Error Results in One Change To 2014-2015 U.S. National Team From Original Listing

Braden Keith
by Braden Keith 18

September 04th, 2014 National, News

Theย U.S. National Team roster that was posted publicly by USA Swimming earlier this week contained an error that has now been corrected.

The result is that Mark Weber is no longer a member of the 2014-2015 U.S. National Team, with Matt Grevers taking the 6th spot in the men’s 50 freestyle. As Grevers was already on the team, the net result is one fewer male U.S. National Team swimmer – this was Weber’s only entry on the original National Team list.

See the updated 2014-2015 U.S. National Teamย here.

The confusion seems to have come from a misapplication of the rules. Weber was listed on the National Team roster with a 22.16 – which correctly would have placed him as the 6th-fastest swimmer from the relevant selection meets.ย However, that swim was done in a swim-off at Nationals that he won, not in a prelim or a final, and USA Swimming’s own rules don’t allow for consideration of times from swim-offs (or split times, or relay lead-offs) when naming the National Team.

Prelim times from Pan Pacs and Nationals, however, both count. That makes the updated list of U.S. National Team swimmers in the 50 free read as follows:

  1. Anthony Ervin, 21.55 – Nationals
  2. Nathan Adrian, 21.69 – Nationals
  3. Cullen Jones, 21.83 – Nationals
  4. Josh Schneider – 21.88, Nationals
  5. Seth Stubblefield, 22.15 – Nationals prelims
  6. Matt Grevers, 22.25 – Nationals

Grevers was 5th in finals in a 22.25, making him the 6th ranked swimmer behind Stubblefield’s swim from prelims. Excluding the swim-offs, Jimmy Feigen’s 22.29 from finals was also faster than Weber.

The result is an unfortunate one for Weber, though it’s out of his control. Weber is still eligible to apply for an “Elite Athlete Grant” from USA Swimming, which can get him up to $15,000 in support.

SwimSwam’s Jared Anderson is preparing a summary of the Elite Athlete Grant program and the U.S. National Team benefits that will give a better indication of what this means, financially, for Weber.

SwimSwam is making every effortย to go back and update all relevant articles so far posted about the National Team. If you see any that we’ve missed updating, please let us know in the comments.

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PAC12BACKER
9 years ago

I was scratching my head earlier in the week trying to figure out how Weber had made the team after only looking at his prelim and finals times. IMO the swim-off should have counted, because it resulted in direct qualification for a select spot in the finals. I feel bad for him.

I agree that relay lead-offs and time trials shouldn’t count. Relays especially, since ony a relatively small percentage of swimmers have the opportunity to swim on a qualified relay.

TheTroubleWithX
9 years ago

Random thought: if Phelps does swim the 100 free at Worlds, it’ll be interesting to see who gets to swim free for medley relay prelims…

Have they announced the coaches for next summer yet? Or way too early?

Danjohnrob
Reply to  TheTroubleWithX
9 years ago

My guess: Lochte.

Swim Bag
9 years ago

I think the proper thing to do once a person is officially selected and announced is to leave them on the team and add the person who may have qualified above them. It would mean having 7 spots filled for that stroke but that seems less of an impact than having to remove people from the roster due to no fault of there own.

Is this issue causing a delay in the announcement of the National Junior Team, or is USA swimming just being extra careful now not to make the same mistake? Also wondering what the timeline is for the announcement of the Pan Am and World University Game teams.

completelyconquered
9 years ago

This is embarrassing. The selection process for Worlds and the National team needs to be fixed.

coacherik
Reply to  completelyconquered
9 years ago

“THAT’S WHAT I’VE BEEN TRYING TO TELL YOU!”

-Kevin Cordes (2014)

Amen…….

-Matt Grevers (2010)

lane 0
9 years ago

Bobo could sort out the national team in 15 minutes flat, with no errors.

anon
Reply to  lane 0
9 years ago

is he on vacation? Missed Bobo’s commentary during PanPacs… ๐Ÿ™

Swimswam…where’s Bobo?

Danjohnrob
Reply to  lane 0
9 years ago

Bobo posted a comment under “2014 Jr Pan Pacific Championships – Day 2 Finals – Real Time Recaps” saying he was having problems with his internet provider and finally decided to switch. Apparently he was off-line for awhile.

Under the Day 4 Finals Recaps of the same meet he posted a couple of his famous big meet synopsis comments that were detailed and interesting; if you look back 6 or 7 pages you can find them. I was worried about him too! ๐Ÿ™‚

JD
9 years ago

Cut the home office a little slack here. There is enormous pressure to get this info out and published by hard deadlines. I have walked miles in those shoes and some errors will always happen. It’s rough on the athlete named in error, but it happens even in the best organizations.

Reply to  JD
9 years ago

JD, they aren’t sorting through 100s of meets here giving us top 10s by single age or anything… we are talking about two sets of results. Not that difficult.

CT Swim Fan
9 years ago

Doesn’t anyone check this stuff before it is released. Since they probably do, it makes me think that the rules need some tweeking. What for instance is the rationale for not counting official swims such as relay lead off legs as long as they are in the meets that the team is picked from. If a kid does a faster time in the same meet, it would seem to me that he is faster and should qualify no matter when or for what reason.

SwimNerd
9 years ago

Heartbreaking news as Mark is a good friend, huge strides made this year by him at SwimMac. Knowing Weber he will be training with a chip on his shoulder for the coming year
Question: Paul Powers was 22.20 and 22.24 at Jr Pan Pacs both times that would launch him onto the National team, is this yet another oversight by USA Swimming?

riley
Reply to  SwimNerd
9 years ago

I don’t believe you can make the team from Jr Pan Pacs, just Nationals and Pan Pacs

PVS Swim Fan
Reply to  riley
9 years ago

You are correct that only finals times from Nationals and Pan Pacs Count. Not Jr Pans. In addition to Paul Powers, Cassidy Bayer is 5th in the 200 fly rankings with a time from Jr. Pans but not on the National Team.

Danjohnrob
Reply to  Braden Keith
9 years ago

1. SwimSwm-Good job picking up US Swimming’s error! I guess you guys know their rules better than THEY do!

2. I printed out FINA’s list on the day USS specified in their rules and the times from Jr Pan Pac’s hadn’t even been added yet! I know they weren’t used for Nat Team selection, but shouldn’t the “official rankings” be completely updated before they are used for an important purpose like this?

3. Why does the TYR Ranking differ so much from the FINA ranking? Example: Cielo’s 21.39 from April makes the TYR Ranking, but not the FINA Ranking. Why?

4. Lilyana Szilagyi’s 200 fly time from the YOG is incorrectly marked as the JWR on the TYR Ranking, which… Read more ยป

About Braden Keith

Braden Keith

Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, โ€ฆ

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