2021 Atlanta Classic: Dressel, G.Walsh, & UGA Stars Highlight STACKED Psychs

2021 Atlanta Classic

OFFICIAL 2021 ATLANTA CLASSIC PSYCH SHEETS

Next weekend, a cluster of elite swimmers will compete at the 4th and final stop of the 2021 Pro Swim Series in Indianapolis and another will travel down to Atlanta for the 2021 edition of the annual Atlanta Classic, sponsored by Mizuno. Among the Olympians, U.S. National teamers, international stars, and NCAA studs in attendance for the SwimAtlanta-hosted event, former Florida Gator and sprint World record-holder Caeleb Dressel is scheduled to swim eight events, holding top seeds in the 50/100 free and 100 fly.

Currently, Dressel holds the top time in the US for the 2020-2021 season in the 100 fly at 51.61, which is also among the top-15 times in the world. He also ranks second in the 50 free (21.83) and third in the 100 free (48.82) at this point in the Olympic year. Dressel is also scheduled to compete in three more events with nationally-ranked season bests. Dressel sits at 4th in the US in the 200 free (1:47.57), 7th in the 200 IM (2:00.13), and 12th in the 200 fly (1:58.74). Dressel’s name also appears in the 100 breast (#9) and 100 back (#17).

More Psych Sheet Highlights

On the women’s side, 18-year-old Gretchen Walsh of Nashville, TN will be the sprinter to watch in Atlanta with her top seeded times of 57.43 in the 100 fly, 24.65 in the 50 free, and 53.74 in the 100 free. In the national rankings, Walsh ranks 4th in the 100 free ,3rd in the 50 free, and tied for 4th in the 100 fly.

Another one of the largest meet programs in Atlanta behind Dressel is rising Georgia sophomore Luca Urlando, who is set to swim five events including his signature 200 fly. Urlando sits in 6th in the nation with his season best of 1:58.21. Urlando is also the No. 2 seed in the 200 free, No. 5 in the 100 free, No. 6 in the 100 fly, and No. 8 in the 100 free.

Double Olympic champion Ryan Murphy heads into both the 100/200 back events with the top seeds and top US times this season at 53.11/1:56.06, which rank 9th/7th respectively in the world. Murphy will also swim the 100 fly, seeded 7th at 52.27, ranking 9th in the US. At the same time, St. Petersburg’s Melanie Margalis holds top seeds in four different events: the 200 free, 400 free, 100 breast (#1), and her signature 200 IM. Margalis is also scheduled to swim the 100 free (#5) and 100 back (#13). Margalis won’t swim the 400 IM, yet holds the top time in the country at 4:35.18. In the short IM, Margalis ranks 3rd in the US at 2:11.03.

Athens Bulldog Olivia Smoliga will contest in four events at the McAuley Aquatic Center. Smoliga is slated as the top entry time in the 100 back, coming in with a season best and top US time of 59.04. Smoliga is also scheduled to race in the 50/100/200 free, with the No. 2 seed in the 200 and No. 4 seeds in the 50/100 free. Meanwhile, Andrew Wilson and Nic Fink are the top two seeds in both the 100/200 breast events, setting up for two duels for the occasion. Cal alum Andrew Seliskar is flexing his versatility with his top 200 free meet entry seed and No. 2 seeds in the 100 fly and 200 IM. Multi-time Olympian team member Ryan Lochte will also be in attendance in Atlanta, scheduled to swim the 200 IM (#2), 200 back (#6), 400 IM (#6), 100 back (#9), and 200 free (#14) over the 3-day affair.

NCAA Stars Looking to Make An Impact

Georgia newcomer Urlando is already looking to make waves in Atlanta, yet will be accompanied by other Georgia training-mates who are looking to make just as big of a splash. The top three seeds in the men’s 800 free are all Bulldogs: Frenchman Tommy-Lee Camblong (7:53.79 lifetime best, 8:03.70 season best), Andrew Abruzzo (7:54.70 LTB), and Jake Magahey (8:01.64 LTB, 8:04.52 SB). Abruzzo also holds the No. 2 seed in the 400 free and No. 9 seed in the 400 IM.

At the 2021 ABSC Swim with the Dawgs 5 in April, Magahey put up 1:48.16 in the 200 free and 3:49.01 in the 400 free, which currently rank 7th and 2nd respectively in the nation this season. While Magahey’s heat sheet entry times don’t reflect the recent ABSC meet, his season bests now bump him to No. 9 in the 200 and No. 3 in the 400.

For the Bulldog women, Dakota Luther (200 fly) and Olivia Anderson (1500 free) both hold top seeds on the psych sheets. Luther is also the No. 2 seed in the 100 fly behind teenager Walsh and No. 3 in the 200 free behind Olympians Margalis and Smoliga. Meanwhile, Zoie Hartman holds the No. 2 seed in the 100 breast and No. 3 seed in the 200 distance while freshman Maxine Parker is seeded one-tenth of a second behind 2019 World Juniors teammate Walsh in the 50 free, 24.65 to 24.75.

Aside from the local UGA swimmers, a crew of college athletes from Cal, Florida, and other Southeastern schools also will venture to Atlanta. After breaking out at the Mission Viejo stop of the 2021 Pro Swim Series, rising Alabama senior Rhyan White comes in with the fastest 200 back entry time at 2:07.24, which ranks No. 3 in the world this season and No. 1 in the US. White will also contest in the 100 back, where she is seeded behind Olympian Smoliga with another recent lifetime best time of 59.66, which ranks No. 5 in the US and N0. 13 in the world this season.

Vanessa Pearl, a rising senior at Florida, is the top seed in both the 200 breast and 400 IM. Meanwhile, distance ace Bobby Finke is the top seed in the men’s 1500 free while newly-minted NCAA champion Kieran Smith comes in with the top 400 free seed and No. 4 seed in the 200 free. Finke currently owns the top 1500 free time in the US this season at 15:09.14 while Smith has the fastest American 400 free time thus far for the 2020-2021 season at 3:48.78.

Out of Cal, Sean Grieshop comes in with the top 400 IM entry time while Trenton Julian has the No. 2 seed in the 200 fly. Grieshop is currently the second-fastest American in the 400 IM this season at 4:16.14, only behind Texas Longhorn Carson Foster (4:13.79). Ryan Hoffer, who won the 50/100 free and 100 fly at the 2021 NCAAs, will contest in the same trio of events next weekend. Tennessee alum-to-be Amanda Nunan holds the top seed in the women’s 800 free over No. 2 seed Emily Hetzer while Kentucky’s Gillian Davey holds the No. 2 seed in the 200 breast.

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Captain Ahab
2 years ago

The 2021 Mizuno Atlanta Classic has a way better lineup than the 2021 Indianapolis Pro Swim Series. Shout out and much respect to Amanda Weir for swimming fast all of these years. It is my hope that she makes the 2021 Tokyo Olympic team in the 50 meter Freestyle.

Hswimmer
Reply to  Captain Ahab
2 years ago

In the 50?! If any it will be 4 x 100

spectatorn
2 years ago

How does distance free events work in this meet? It seems that both 800 and 1500 free events are swim as timed final on Day3.

In the meet packet, there are time standard for W800 and M1500 as event 25 and 26 on day 3, but nothing for M800 and W1500. Psych sheet has entry for both men and women for both distances. So in theory, a swimmer can enter both distances,select to swim one in AM and the other in PM session to do both?

Last edited 2 years ago by spectatorn
Western
2 years ago

Is Aikins entered?

wahoo
Reply to  Western
2 years ago

yes he is

RUN-DMC
2 years ago

Will Chase Kalisz actually swim the 400 IM?

Ghost
Reply to  RUN-DMC
2 years ago

Nah

USA Swimming should learn from this
2 years ago

Yes, it will be live on Youtube.

Not like the poor livestream from USA Swimming on their home page.

THEO
2 years ago

do we think there is a world where Murphy makes the team in 1fly? Will he actually compete at trials? 52.2 in-season means…. he has a shot? Certainly a small one but that’s right in the ballpark of the non-Dressel competitors in the event

Pvdh
Reply to  THEO
2 years ago

He’s not beating Shields

Smith-King-Dahlia-Manuel
Reply to  Pvdh
2 years ago

Tom Shields is the piano man as his performance at the Pan American Games can attest to.

oxyswim
Reply to  Smith-King-Dahlia-Manuel
2 years ago

Y’all have really got to stop with this bs. Tom routinely has one of the best 2nd 50s in the world in the 100 fly. Even if he dies in the 200 at times, would you prefer he only ever swim his best event? The 2nd spot in the 200 fly is still wide open in the US, so what if he’s fallen apart in that race at times. He’s still an Olympian in his weaker event.

That’s not even to mention his well documented mental health struggles. Making the same joke for the 10,000x just isn’t funny.

He said what?
Reply to  oxyswim
2 years ago

Thank you!

Mr Piano
Reply to  Smith-King-Dahlia-Manuel
2 years ago

Tom Shields is a role model, and I mean that very seriously

The Original Tim
Reply to  Smith-King-Dahlia-Manuel
2 years ago

In the 100? Not that I can recall, but he has had a few notable run-ins with the piano in the 200. His 200s since Pan And have looked pretty good.

Smith-King-Dahlia-Manuel
Reply to  The Original Tim
2 years ago

Tom Shields
2019 Pan American Games
Men’s 200 meter butterfly
“A” Final
2:06.65

By way of comparison, Regan Smith swam faster in the women’s 200 meter butterfly (2:06.39) at the 2020 TYR Pro Swim – Des Moines.

He said what?
Reply to  Smith-King-Dahlia-Manuel
2 years ago

And your point is exactly WHAT? Enough! It’s old, and extremely DISRESPECTFUL to a genuinely wonderful human being.

Smith-King-Dahlia-Manuel
Reply to  He said what?
2 years ago

It’s fact.

Meanwhile, Shaine Casas gets COMPLETELY DISRESPECTED when the conversation of the men’s 100 meter butterfly comes up! Not one mention of Shaine Casas WHATSOEVER within this thread. End of story!

He said what?
Reply to  Smith-King-Dahlia-Manuel
2 years ago

What the heck did Shields ever do TO you? Your blatant disrespect is bordering on hatred. GO AWAY.

Pvdh
Reply to  Smith-King-Dahlia-Manuel
2 years ago

Dude your joke wasn’t funny. Don’t get mad at us for not playing along.

bobthebuilderrocks
Reply to  Smith-King-Dahlia-Manuel
2 years ago

Not sure why he would be mentioned for the 100 fly… It’s the same session as the 2 IM and 2 back, absolutely pointless to attempt the event.

And stop trying to talk crap about Beefy Shields, he’s the man.

Last edited 2 years ago by bobthebuilderrocks
The Original Tim
Reply to  Smith-King-Dahlia-Manuel
2 years ago

I’m not sure what point you’re trying to make. The 200 fly is a very different event from the 100 fly.

Yes, he’s had some issues here and there in the 200, but as I said before, his 200s since Pan Ams have looked good.

Besides your 200 non sequitur, he’s world class in the 100 and has never had any issues in that race that I’m aware of. He’s got a legit shot at making the team in both the 100 and 200 fly (again for the 200), so I don’t know why you’re dumping on him.

Last edited 2 years ago by The Original Tim
Dudeman
Reply to  Smith-King-Dahlia-Manuel
2 years ago

The same Pan Am games where he won gold in the 100 fly? Sure his 200 has struggled at times but his 100 has always been solid. Honestly, if Rooney swims at his times from 2019 it’ll be him and Dressel on the team so Murph would be at most a 3rd/4th place finnish

Jonathan Charbroiled Steak
2 years ago

Am really excited to see what time Hoffer can put up in long course at this meet

Ol' Longhorn
Reply to  Jonathan Charbroiled Steak
2 years ago

I think we’ve already seen it. He’ll be better than in the past, but he’s not going to be a big dawg LCM.

angry
2 years ago

amanda weir just needs to stop attending meets if she’s not going to the olympics

Circle swim
Reply to  angry
2 years ago

In addition to being a very fast swimmer, Amanda Weir is a legend and a role model. Keep swimming Amanda!

Ol' Longhorn
Reply to  angry
2 years ago

If you hold everyone to that standard, it’s going to be a VERY sparsely attended meet. Like 2 per individual event.

The Original Tim
Reply to  angry
2 years ago

Is the criteria for competing that you have to be a prime candidate for the Olympics? Uh, good luck having one heat of every event at these meets, then…

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