2025 USA Swimming Summer Junior Championships: Day 1 Finals Live Recap

2025 U.S. Junior National Championships

• Wednesday, July 30–Sunday, August 3, 2025
• Irvine, California
• William Woollett Jr. Aquatics Center
• LCM (50 meters)
• Meet Central
• Psych Sheets
• Live Results
• Recap:
  • Prelims: Day 1
  • Finals:

HEAT SHEET

Welcome to the first finals session of the 2025 U.S. Junior National Championships in Irvine, CA! We’re surely in for an exciting night of racing, which will feature a nice variety of events. Here’s a look at tonight’s schedule:

WEDNESDAY FINALS SCHEDULE:

• Girls 200 fly
• Boys 200 fly
• Girls 50 back
• Boys 50 back
• Girls 100 breast
• Boys 100 breast
• Girls 800 free
• Boys 1500 free
• Girls 200 free relay
• Boys 200 free relay

Kicking off finals tonight will be the women’s 200 fly, where Bellevue Club’s Clare Watson led the field this morning in 2:12.12. Watson will have her work cut out for her, however, as there were two other 2:12’s in prelims this morning.

Moving into the men’s 200 fly, rising Wisconsin freshman Enzo Solitario was dominant this morning, ripping a 1:57.54. There were 4 other swimmers who went under 2:00 this morning in prelims, however, it would seem Solitario has established himself as the favorite.

The women’s 50 back should be one of the most exciting races of the night. Brynn Lavigueur, Teagan O’Dell, Maggie Dickinson, and Gabi Brito were all 28.7, 28.8, or 28.9 tonight. In the men’s 50 back, Nashville Aquatic Club’s Blake Amlicke clocked a 25.60 this morning to lead the field.

SwimMAC Carolina’s Elle Scott was the top swimmer in the women’s 100 breast this morning, swimming a 1:09.15. There were, however, 3 other swimmers who went under 1:10 this morning. Memphis Thunder’s Ian Call ripped a 1:00.61 in the men’s 100 breast this morning, which puts him as the top seed tonight by nearly a full second.

Kayla Han comes in as the top seed in the women’s 800 free by 6 seconds. Bucky Gettys will be our top seed in the men’s 1500 free.

Girls 200 BUTTERFLY – FINALS

• World Junior Record: 2:03.03– Summer McIntosh, Canada (2024)
• Meet Record: 2:06.85– Tess Howley (2023)
• 13-14 NAG Record: 2:07.01 – Mary Meagher (1979)
• 15-16 NAG Record: 2:05.96 – Mary Meagher (1981)
• 17-18 NAG Record: 2:06.10 – Alex Shackell, IN/CSC (2024)

TOP 8:

1. Caroline Mallard (SwimMAC Carolina) – 2:10.05
2. Alyce Lehman (Jersey Wahoos) – 2:10.82
3. Clare Watson (Bellevue Club) – 2:11.83
4. Ellie Stanley (Tennessee Aquatics) – 2:12.18
5. Emily Wolf (Fishers Area Swimming Tigers) – 2:12.31
6. Emerson Callis (Quest Swimming) – 2:13.83
7. Taylor Klein (Mecklenburg Swim Association) – 2:14.37
8. Annemarie Vlaic (Lake Oswego Swim Club) – 2:14.77

It was SwimMAC Carolina 17-year-old Caroline Mallard who won the first event of the meet, clocking a 2:10.05 en route to victory in the 200 fly. The performance marks a career best for Mallard, whose previous best was a 2:11.35, set back in March at the Indy Speedo Sectional meet. Mallard is a Purdue recruit for 2026.

Mallard got out to an early lead, splitting 1:01.12 on the opening 100, which led the field by well over a second. While fellow 17-year-old Alyce Lehman (Jersey Wahoos) came back faster than Mallard, the lead Mallard had built on the opening half of the race was too much to be overcome.

Lehman wound up taking 2nd with a 2:10.82. A Stanford recruit for 2026, Lehman’s swim tonight was a personal best as well, taking down her previous mark of 2:11.61.

Coming in 3rd was Bellevue Club’s Clare Watson, also 17. Another Stanford 2026 recruit, Watson clocked a 2:11.83 tonight, coming in just off her career best of 2:11.64. She set her personal mark back at the 2023 World Junior Championships.

In 4th was Tennessee Aquatics’ Ellie Stanley, who is just 15 years old. Stanley had a huge swim tonight, taking 4th in 2:12.18, which blew away her previous personal best of 2:14.28.

Boys 200 BUTTERFLY – FINALS

• World Junior Record: 1:53.79– Kristof Milak, Hungary (2017)
• Meet Record: 1:56.07– Aaron Shackell (2023)
• 13-14 NAG Record: 1:59.02 – Michael Phelps, MD/NBAC (2000)
• 15-16 NAG Record: 1:53.82 – Thomas Heilman, VA/CA-Y (2023)
• 17-18 NAG Record: 1:53.84 – Luca Urlando, SN/DART (2019)

TOP 8:

1. Enzo Solitario (UN-WI) – 1:57.57
2. Andrew Shackell (Carmel Swim Club) – 1:57.80
3. Charlie Cancelmo (Seattle Metropolitan Aquatic Club) – 1:58.27
4. David Sammons (SwimMAC Carolina) – 1:58.98
5. Harrison Smith (TSM Aquatics) – 2:00.04
6. Ewan Dalrymple (Columbia Swimming) – 2:00.35
7. Yochanan Meza (Texas Ford Aquatics) – 2:00.89
8. Nathan Carr (Aquajets Swim Team) – 2:01.03

Enzo Solitario, a rising freshman at Wisconsin, got the job done tonight after his stellar prelims performance. After coming into the meet with a personal best of 2:01.30, Solitario ripped a 1:57.54 this morning. He was right on that time tonight, clocking a 1:57.57, which was enough to hang on for the win. Solitario was out quick tonight, splitting 55.49 on the opening 100, which was the fastest split in the field.

Carmel’s Andrew Shackell had a great swim for 2nd tonight, clocking a new personal best of 1:57.80. That swim marks Shackell’s first time under 1:58 in the event. He was inching up on Solitario over the final 100 of the race, out-splitting him 1:01.61 to 1:02.08 over the back half, but it was quite enough for Shackell to get his hands on the wall first.

15-year-old Charlie Cancelmo was exceptional tonight, taking 3rd with a 1:58.27. That swim is a new personal best for the youngster, taking a full second off his previous best of 1:59.29, which he swam this morning in prelims. Cancelmo pulled ahead of Shackell at the 150, thanks to a 29.99 split on the 3rd 50, which was the fastest 3rd 50 split in the field by nearly a full second.

Girls 50 BACKSTROKE – FINALS

• World Junior Record: 27.49– Minna Atherton, Australia (2016)
• 13-14 NAG Record: 28.57 – Phoebe Bacon, PV/NCAP (2017)

TOP 8:

1. Brynn Lavigueur (UN-FL) – 28.42
2. Maggie Dickinson (Schroeder Y) – 28.63
3. Teagan O’Dell (Pleasanton Seahawks) – 28.65
4. Summer Thresher (UN-SN) – 28.70
5. Gabi Brito (Beach Cities Swimming) – 28.78
6. Alana Berlin (Schroeder Y) – 28.80
7. Roos Rottink (Memphis Thunder) – 28.93
8. Eva Rottink (Memphis Thunder) – 28.99

In an amazing turn of events, every swimmer in the final of the girls 50 back went under 29 seconds. Brynn Lavigueur, a 17-year-old from Florida, won the race with a very speedy 28.42. That time comes in just off her career best of 28.37, which she swam last week at the Futures Championship in Ocala. Lavigueur is a recruit for Texas in the fall of 2026.

Schroeder YMCA 15-year-old Maggie Dickinson was fantastic tonight, taking 2nd in a new career best of 28.63. Dickinson hadn’t been under 29 seconds before today, when she went 28.82 in prelims this morning. Schroeder Y teammate Alana Berlin came in 6th tonight with a 28.80. A rising freshman at Stanford, Berlin holds a personal best of 28.67.

Pleasanton Seahawks 18-year-old Teagan O’Dell rounded out the top 3 with a 28.65 tonight. A rising freshman at Cal, O’Dell has been as fast as 28.52 in her young career.

Memphis Thunder saw sisters Roos Rottink and Eva Rottink come in 7th and 8th respectively with times of 28.93 and 28.99.

Boys 50 BACKSTROKE – FINALS

• World Junior Record: 24.00– Kliment Kolesnikov
• 13-14 NAG Record: 26.70 – Jack Alexy, NJ/SHY (2017)

TOP 8:

1. Gavin Keogh (Flatiron Athletic Club) – 25.19
2. Blake Amlicke (Nashville Aquatic Club) – 25.28
3. Miles Blackson-Dunbar (Alpha Aquatics) – 25.48
4. Aaron Gordon (Waterloo Swimming) – 25.70
5. Carter Wright (Bolles School Sharks) – 26.02
6. Hayden Meyers (Mason Manta Rays) – 26.07
7. Andrew Chou (Tennessee Aquatics) – 26.21
8. London Rising (Greater Toledo Aquatic Club) – 26.49

Flatiron Athletic Club 17-year-old Gavin Keogh got the touch in the boys 50 back tonight, stopping the clock in 25.19. The swim is a new career best for Keogh, who came into the meet with a personal best of 25.45.

Nashville Aquatic Club 18-year-old Blake Amlicke swam his 2nd personal best of the day, taking 2nd in 25.28. That swim came after Amlicke led prelims this morning with a 25.60. He came into the meet with a best time of 25.88.

Alpha Aquatics 18-year-old Miles Blackson-Dunbar rouned out the top 3 with a 25.48, clipping his previous best of 25.61.

Girls 100 BREASTSTROKE – FINALS

• World Junior Record: 1:04.35– Ruta Meilutyte, Lithuania (2013)
• Meet Record: 1:07.63– Lucy Thomas (2022)
• 13-14 NAG Record: 1:08.09 – Amanda Beard, CA/NOVA (1996)
• 15-16 NAG Record: 1:07.05 – Megan Jendrick, US/UN (2000)
• 17-18 NAG Record: 1:04.95 – Lydia Jacoby, AK/STSC (2021)

TOP 8:

1. Maddie Moreth (Valparaiso Swim Club) – 1:09.23
2. Elle Scott (SwimMAC Carolina) – 1:09.28
3. Mikayla Tan (San Ramon Valley Aquatics) – 1:09.40
4. Addie Robillard (Mason Manta Rays) – 1:09.47
5. Kayda Geyer (Mecklenburg Swim Association) – 1:09.62
6. Eliza Wallace (Mecklenburg Swim Association) – 1:09.62
7. Avery Collins (Lakeside Aquatic Club) – 1:09.76
8. Sophia Umstead (Michigan Lakeshore Aquatics) – 1:11.19

Valparaiso Swim Club’s Maddie Moreth won the girls 100 breast in 1:09.23 tonight. The performance establishes a new career best for the 2026 Florida recruit. She came into the meet with a top mark of 1:09.75, which she swam last May.

SwimMAC Carolina’s Elle Scott came in 2nd with a 1:09.28. Scott’s prelims swim of 1:09.15 wound up standing as the fastest time of the day. A rising freshman at Cal, Scott holds a personal best of 1:08.59, which she swam at the Junior Pan Pacific Championships last summer.

15-year-old Mikayla Tan out of San Ramon Valley Aquatics came in 3rd tonight, popping a 1:09.40. Tan was slightly faster in prelims this morning, where she went 1:09.36. Her time this morning was a career best.

Mecklenburg Swim Association had a pair of swimmers in this ‘A’ final, seeing Kayda Geyer take 5th and Eliza Wallace 6th.

Boys 100 BREASTSTROKE – FINALS

• World Junior Record: 59.01– Nicolo Martinenghi, Italy (2017)
• Meet Record: 1:00.08– Michael Andrew (2016)
• 13-14 NAG Record: 1:02.22 – Ian Call, SE/MTAC (2023)
• 15-16 NAG Record: 1:00.17 – Josh Matheny, AM/PEAQ (2019)
• 17-18 NAG Record: 58.96 – Campbell McKean, OR/BEND (2025)

TOP 8:

1. Ian Call (Memphis Thunder) – 1:00.49
2. Drew Gaerthofner (Wisconsin Aquatics) – 1:01.28
3. Gunnar Hansen (Lubbock Swim Club) – 1:01.64
4. Oliver Munn (Nitro Swimming) – 1:02.01
5. Matt Vatev (Hornet Swim Club) – 1:02.29
6. Jordan Willis (SwimMAC Carolina) – 1:02.34
7. Shareef Elaydi (Santa Clara Swim Club) – 1:02.97
8. Ian Stutts (Marlins of Raleigh) – 1:03.45

Memphis Thunder 16-year-old Ian Call lowered his mark from this morning, winning the 100 breast in 1:00.49. The swim marks a new career best for Call, bringing him ever closer to Josh Matheny’s 15-16 NAG mark of 1:00.17. Call was out pretty fast tonight, splitting 28.17 on the opening 50.

Rising Wisconsin freshman Drew Gaerthofner was excellent as well tonight, taking 2nd in 1:01.28. The swim marks Gaerthofner’s first time under 1:02 in the event. He was out even faster than Call tonight, splitting 28.12 on the first 50. He paid for that early speed a big on the back half of the race, however, coming home in 33.16.

Lubbock Swim Club 18-year-old Gunnar Hansen was a hair off his swim from prelims this morning, but still managed to get his hands on the wall 3rd tonight. Hansen swam a 1:01.59 in prelims this morning, then came through with a 1:01.64 tonight.

Girls 800 FREESTYLE – TIMED FINAL

• World Junior Record: 8:11.00– Katie Ledecky, United States (2014)
• Meet Record: 8:30.84– Gillian Ryan (2012)
• 13-14 NAG Record: 8:28.54 – Becca Mann, FL/CAT (2012)
• 15-16 NAG Record: 8:13.86 – Katie Ledecky, PV/UN (2013)
• 17-18 NAG Record: 8:06.68 – Katie Ledecky, PV/NCAP (2016)

TOP 8:

1. Kayla Han (La Mirada Armada) – 8:35.91
2. Alex Siegel (Long Island Aquatic Club) – 8:39.52
3. Zayda Miehl (Corvallis Aquatic Team) – 8:40.96
4. Sydney Schoeck (CSP Tideriders) – 8:41.91
5. Chloe Kim (Scarlet Aquatics) – 8:42.39
6. Paige Downey (Gold Medal Swim Club) – 8:42.62
7. Chloe Teger (Orange County Gold) – 8:48.37
8. Clarke Neace (SwimMAC Carolina) – 8:48.80

17-year-old Kayla Han out of La Mirada Armada touched as champion in the girls 800 free tonight, swimming an 8:35.91. The swim stands as Han’s season best, though she was still a bit off her personal best of 8:29.66, which she swam at the 2023 World Junior Championships. She swam a consistent race tonight, splitting 4:16.98 on the opening 400, then came home in 4:18.93 on the back half.

15-year-old Alex Siegel out of Long Island Aquatic Club had a great swim for 2nd, clocking in at 8:39.52. Siegel entered the meet with a personal best of 8:41.69, which she swam at US Nationals about 2 months ago. She took the race out with Han, flipping in 4:17.21 at the 400m turn, just 0.23 seconds behind the leader. Siegel wasn’t quite able to hold up over the back half the way Han was, however, and wound up splitting 4:22.31 on the back half of the race.

Another 15-year-old, Zayda Miehl out of Corvallis Aquatic Team, came in 3rd tonight, swimming an 8:40.96. The swim tonight marks a huge personal best for Miehl, blowing away her previous mark of 8:45.37, which she set at the Mt. Hood Sectional meet just two weeks ago.

Boys 1500 FREESTYLE – TIMED FINAL

• World Junior Record: 14:41.22– Kuzey Runcelli, Turkey (2024)
• Meet Record: 15:16.62– Johannes Calloni (2016)
• 13-14 NAG Record: 15:26.73 – Luka Mijatovic, PC/PLS (2024)
• 15-16 NAG Record: 15:03.91 – Bob Hackett, MR/GSC (1976)
• 17-18 NAG Record: 14:45.29 – Larsen Jensen, CA/MVN (2004)

TOP 8:

1. Sean Green (Long Island Aquatic Club) – 15:07.49 (MEET RECORD)
2. Ellis Crisci (Tsunami Swim Team) – 15:22.95
3. Whitaker Steward (Tsunami Swim Team) – 15:26.92
4. Will Siegel (Long Island Aquatic Club) – 15:28.48
5. Jiarui Xue (Aquajets Swim Team) – 15:28.55
6. James Darcy (Long Island Aquatic Club) – 15:35.38
7. Deacon Gutshall (Tsunami Swim Team) – 15:35.86
8. Jonny Hines (Fishers Area Swimming Tigers) – 15:37.61

The men’s 1500 free was dominated by Long Island Aquatic Club and Tsunami Swim Team today. Sean Green, an 18-year-old out of LIAC, won the race by a huge margin, shattering the meet record with a 15:07.49. That performance not only took nearly 20 seconds off Green’s previous best of 15:25.06, he also took nearly 10 seconds off the meet record of 15:16.62. Green got out to a very quick start, splitting 7:30.15 on the first 750m.

Green’s LIAC teammate Will Siegel, whose sister came in 2nd in the girls 800 free, took 4th with a 15:28.48. Siegel took 10 seconds off his previous best time with the swim. James Darcy, a 17-year-old from LIAC, was also in the mix, taking 6th with a 15:35.38.

Meanwhile, Tsunami Swim Team saw 16-year-old Ellis Crisci finish 2nd with a 15:22.95. Crisci established his personal best of 15:20.93, which he swam at US Nationals back in June. His teammate, 17-year-old Whitaker Steward, took 3rd with a 15:26.92 tonight. That performance represents a personal best by 3 seconds for Steward.

Tsunami Swim Team also saw Deacon Gutshall take 7th with a 15:35.86. It was a massive race for Gutshall, taking a full 20 seconds off his previous best of 15:55.96.

Girls 200 FREESTYLE RELAY – TIMED FINAL

• Meet Record: 1:42.32 – Carmel Swim Club (Sweeney, Shackell, Berglund, Bowen), 2023

TOP 8:

1. Beach Cities Swimming ‘A’ (Brito, Brito, Herr, Taylor) – 1:42.62
2. Bellevue Club ‘A’ (White, Forbis, Kehoe, Watson) – 1:42.79
3. Pleasanton Seahawks ‘A’ (Clark, O’Dell, Linaresnzos, Mellott) – 1:43.52
4. SwimMAC Carolina ‘A’ (Smith, Mallard, Scott, Plaza) – 1:43.70
5. Lakeside Aquatic Club ‘A’ (Zhou, Southern, Andruss, Schneider) – 1:44.62
6. Irvine Novaquatics ‘A’ (Ton, Richmond, Nwaizu, Chen) – 1:44.65
7. Mecklenburg Swim Association ‘A’ (Boland, Wallace, Klein, Bertee) – 1:45.30
8. Mason Manta Rays ‘A’ (Smyth, Bacher, Schweikert, Teply) – 1:45.49

Beach Cities Swimming scared the meet record set by Carmel Swim Club back in 2023, ripping a 1:42.62 to win the girls 200 free relay tonight. Gabi Brito (25.69), Bella Brito (25.45), Delaney Herr (25.86), and Andi Taylor (25.62) combined to get the job done.

Bellevue Club was just a hair behind Beach Cities Swimming, taking 2nd in 1:42.79. Heather White led off in 25.56, then Sutton Forbis split 25.49 on the 2nd leg, Gracyn Kehoe clocked a 26.24 on the 3rd leg, while Clare Watson anchored in 25.50.

Pleasanton Seahawks came in 3rd tonight with a 1:43.52. They were helped in large part by Liberty Clark, who led off in a huge new personal best of 25.10. Clark’s previous best was 25.30.

Boys 200 FREESTYLE RELAY – TIMED FINAL

• Meet Record: 1:31.09 – Lakeside Swim Club (Williamson, Paulk, Lucas, Rice), 2023

TOP 8:

1. Mason Manta Rays ‘A’ (Campbell, Fuller, Jansen, Zhou) – 1:31.66
2. McFarland Spartan Sharks ‘A’ (TeBeest, TeBeest, TeBeest, Reiser)- 1:33.57
3. Bolles School Sharks ‘A’ – 1:33.73
4. Irvine Novaquatics ‘A’ – 1:34.09
5. Cincinnati Marlins ‘A’ – 1:34.31
6. Lakeside Aquatic Club ‘A’ – 1:34.37
7. Seattle Metropolitan Aquatic Club ‘A’ – 1:34.39
8. Santa Clara Swim Club ‘A’ – 1:34.40

Mason Manta Rays won the boys 200 free relay convincingly tonight, clocking a 1:31.66 to stop the clocked nearly 2 seconds ahead of the next-fastest team. Brady Campbell led the team off in 23.10, then Braden Fuller clocked a 23.04 on the 2nd leg, Aidan Jansen was 23.22 on the 3rd leg, and Jason Zhou was electric on the anchor leg, bringing it home in a stunning 22.30.

The McFarland Spartan Sharks out of Wisconsin came in 2nd tonight, featuring the rarely seen 3-sibling relay. Blake TeBeest (23.14), Shane TeBeest (23.19), Cale TeBeest (22.98), and Gavin Reiser (24.26) combined for a 1:33.57, earning the silver medal.

Bolles School Sharks were right behind, taking 3rd with a 1:33.73. Carter Wright (23.57), Ethan Bathala (23.17), Tommy Lussier (23.10), and Noah Stotler (23.89) teamed up to earn the bronze.