Kayla Han, Luke Vatev & Shareef Elaydi Highlight 2025 Winter Jrs – West Psych Sheets

2025 Speedo Winter Junior Championships – West

• December 10-13, 2025
• West: Lee & Joe Jamil Texas Swimming Center (Austin, Texas)
• SCY (25 Yards)
• Meet Central
• Psych Sheets

Coming off an exciting week that included the U.S. Open and the European SC Championships, this week brings even more high-octane racing as the country’s best junior swimmers hit the pool for the nation’s top youth meet: Winter Juniors.

At the west site, a few of the biggest names on the women’s side include top 10 recruits in their respective classes, Indiana commit Kayla Han, Texas commit Sydney Schoeck, and Tennessee commit Alyssa Ton. For the men, Stanford commit Luke Vatev, Texas commit Rowan Cox, and Shareef Elaydi are names to watch.

Han, a two-time USA National Team Member and the #2 recruit in the class of 2026, will look to defend her titles in the 1650 free and 400 IM for the 3rd year in a row at her final winter junior championships. She’ll be swimming just 4 events, and comes in as the top seed in each one:

• 500 free
• 1000 free
• 1650 free
• 400 IM

Another notable name is Sydney Schoeck, the #7 recruit in the class of 2026, who is the top seed in the 200 back and the #2 seed behind Han in her remaining 4 events, the 500/1000/1650 free and 400 IM.

Fifteen-year-old Mikayla Tan, a NAG record holder in the 11-12 and 13-14 age groups, will swim the following:

• 200 IM (#3 seed)
• 100 fly (#15 seed)
• 200 fly (#2 seed)
• 100 breast (#2 seed)
• 200 breast (#1 seed)

Other top seeds include Kelsey Zhang (200 IM, 200 fly) Adalynn Biegler (50 free), Clare Watson (100 fly), Alyssa Ton (200 free), Bianca Nwaizu (100 breast), Vera Conic (100 back), and Gabi Brito (100 free).

As for the men’s side, Luke Vatev, also the #2 recruit in his class, will swim the following:

• 100 back (#1 seed)
• 200 back (#1 seed)
• 100 free (#4 seed)
• 200 fly (#9 seed)

Rowan Cox of Longhorn Aquatics will look to defend his title in the 100 fly, where he is the #1 seed. He is also entered to swim the 100 back (#2), 200 fly (#3), 500 free (#27), 200 IM (#2), 50 free (#13), and 100 free (#7).

Shareef Elaydi, a CIF State Champion, holds top seeds in the 200 IM and 200 fly. He’ll also swim the 100 breast (#3), 100 fly (#4), and 200 breast (#21).

Other top seeds include Maxwell Stanislaus (200 free, 500 free), Tyler Porter (50 free), Whitaker Steward (1000 free), Anthony Dornoff (400 IM), Andrew Eubanks (100 breast, 200 breast), and Yury Kuzmenko (100 free)

Gabriel Manteufel, the #2 recruit in the class of 2026, will only swim 1 event—the mile. Last year, he won this event along with the 500 free.