10 Storylines To Watch, All The Links You Need For The 2015 US Winter Nationals

2015 At&T U.S. Winter Nationals

  • Thursday, December 3rd – Friday, December 5th, 2015
  • Federal Way, WA
  • Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center
  • Prelims 9:00 AM / Finals 6:00 PM (U.S. Pacific Time)
  • Psych Sheets
  • Meet page
  • Live results

The 2015 U.S. Winter Nationals kick off this week in Federal Way, Washington, and the meet’s move to a long course meters format has drawn in a huge crew of big names.

Here are 10 storylines to keep an eye on this weekend – 5 of them big-name swimmers with some added intrigue, and the other 5 some impactful head-to-head matchups based on the psych sheets.

1. Michael PhelpsThere’s no better place to start this list than with Phelps, the most decorated Olympian of all-time. Phelps doesn’t typically compete at Winter Nationals when it’s swum in short course yards, but will be in attendance this season. After what Phelps did to the world rankings at summer nationals, there’s reason to believe Phelps could be in line for some statement swims at its winter counterpart.

2. Emily Overholt: The 17-year-old was a revelation for Canada at the summer Pan American Games and even won a bronze medal at the World Championships while smashing the Canadian record in the 400 IM. Now 18, Overholt gets to take on some top American competitors in the 400 IM, 400 free, 200 free and 200 fly.

3. Vlad Morozov: One of the world’s best pure speedsters, Morozov can light it up in almost any stroke. He’ll swim the 100 breast and 100 back in Federal Way, though his biggest tests come in the 50 and 100 frees, where he faces Olympic champ Nathan Adrian and Canadian sensation Santo Condorelli.

4. Grant Hackett: The Australian distance legend has come out of retirement and is now training with Phelps & co. at Arizona State, at least temporarily. Hackett is coming down in distance in his second career, and will swim the 100, 200 and 400 frees.

5. Maya DiRadoProbably the toughest challenge for Overholt will be American Maya DiRado. The top seeds in the 200 and 400 IMs, DiRado will have plenty of chances at national titles, with other entries in the 100 back, 200 back and 200 fly. Those latter two events would make for a brutal day 3 double, so keep an eye on the scratch lists to find out if DiRado will ultimately take the chance really show off her stamina late in the meet, or shift her focus to one stroke or the other.

6. Ryan Cochrane vs Michael McBroom: The men’s distance freestyle races should be as entertaining as they can get, with two of the best distance men in North America set to do battle. Canada’s Cochrane crosses the border to take on the American McBroom – keep a special eye on their 1500 free showdown, which also features Olympic champ Ous Mellouli.

7. Matt Grevers vs Nick Thoman: American David Plummer has been tearing it up in the backstrokes between the World Cup and the Minneapolis Pro Swim Series, and rising backstroker Ryan Murphy is blowing up the college ranks. Now, the 2012 U.S. Olympic duo that swept gold and silver get to fire back as the top two 100 back seeds in Federal Way.

8. Missy Franklin vs Simone Manuel vs Natalie CoughlinThree of the best sprinters in U.S. history, each with West Coast ties, will compete for the 100 free title. Franklin is the new pro after a record-setting career at Cal. Manuel is the rising youngster, redshirting her sophomore season at Stanford to train for the Olympics. And Coughlin is the wily vet, a multi-time Olympian out of Cal. She’s a bit of a less-established name, but throw Margo Geer in the mix too – the Arizona grad is an Olympic contender for the U.S. and has been under 54 in the 100. And that’s just one of the many outsiders who could knock off one of those big three.

9. Yulia Efimova vs Kierra SmithA battle of 200 breaststrokers with something to prove after the World Championships. Efimova shockingly missed semifinals of the 200 in Kazan after falling to 17th on a lackluster prelims swim. Smith had a great summer, but narrowly missed the three-way tie for bronze in Russia. They’ll lead a tough 200 breast field and could do damage to the world ranks if the race really gets heated up.

10. Missy Franklin vs Natalie Coughlin vs Rachel BootsmaA trio (well, more than that, actually) of Cal backstrokers lead the women’s 100. Coughlin has focused more on sprint free in her late career, but started popping some huge 100 back times last summer. Franklin, too, saw a shift in focus to freestyle during her college years, but is working to regain her backstroke mojo with longtime coach Todd Schmitz. Bootsma is a 2012 Olympian and two-time NCAA champ in her senior season. More Cal contenders: freshman Kathleen Baker and senior star Liz Pelton. Plus there’s Junior World Record-holder Claire Adams, a 17-year-old Texas commit.

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emg1986
8 years ago

Personally I keeping an eye on Vinny T Marciano in the 100 back. 14, 57 second swimmer, and an awesome name (makes me think of Rocky Marciano).

swimfan
Reply to  emg1986
8 years ago

Me too! Is Vinny Marciano the youngest Male in the meet? Who is youngest Female and how old?

Coach
Reply to  swimfan
8 years ago

Ethan Dang, age 13, is the youngest male in the meet (200 Breast)

emg1986
Reply to  Coach
8 years ago

I missed Dang, will definitely keep an eye on him!

Catherine
Reply to  emg1986
8 years ago

And the oldest swimmer is Melanie Thomas, 46 who’ll be doing the 100 free

Justacollegeswimmer
8 years ago

Where is Swimmac team elite?

BoboGigiSuperfan
8 years ago

Is Reece Whiteley swimming in this meet?

I have followed him since he was 10 yo, and predicted back then he was going to be a superstar and that he would sweep breast events in 2020 olympics.
Bobo, when did you start following Reece?

PVSFree
Reply to  BoboGigiSuperfan
8 years ago

Reece only had AA cuts in the long course breast stroke events when he was 10-11…

Suny Cal
8 years ago

I was wondering where Katie Hoff has been also. Is she healthy now and back in the water training??? Does anyone at swimswam know???

Huge fan
8 years ago

How can you not love someone like Emily Overholt! A sweet girl with a sweet smile ❤️

Stoyle
8 years ago

Didn’t Kierra Smith get DQ’d twice this summer for an illegal pull? How is that a “great summer”?

Matt
8 years ago

I am curious if any one knows why Phelps and the other elite swimmers who went to ASU with Bowman are still swimming for NBAC? I don’t really know the club rules anymore, but I thought they’d have to swim UNAT or with the new club team (Pitchfork Aquatics?).

Thanks for the
help.

Admin
Reply to  Matt
8 years ago

Matt – unfortunately, there’s not a lot of rules controlling what club a swimmer can and or cannot represent, with the exception of the waiting period when changing club representation. Swimmers frequently represent clubs they don’t train with. When we spoke to coach Bowman, he said it would be up to the athletes.

Matt
Reply to  Braden Keith
8 years ago

Thanks for the information, Braden. (And Waterbug27!).

Since the rules allow it, Phelps’s choice to stay with NBAC makes sense, both emotionally and professionally. Doesn’t he still have a partial ownership stake in NBAC?

Anyway, thanks — as always — for the good meet coverage.

Waterbug27
Reply to  Matt
8 years ago

Could be wrong but if I remember correctly they can swim for old club name and not score for the club or swim unattached until 120 days have passed and then they can transfer into their new USA club or something along those lines

Javi
8 years ago

I am excited to see the great Grant Hackett. I admit he surprised me with his comeback and he looks to be in good form. For example, 1:46 or 3:46 for a 35 years old is quite impressive. I have hopes he can make the australian olympic team .

About Jared Anderson

Jared Anderson

Jared Anderson swam for nearly twenty years. Then, Jared Anderson stopped swimming and started writing about swimming. He's not sick of swimming yet. Swimming might be sick of him, though. Jared was a YMCA and high school swimmer in northern Minnesota, and spent his college years swimming breaststroke and occasionally pretending …

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