Makenna Sherman & Jackson Irwin Close Out U.S. Open Water Nationals With 7.5K Junior Titles

2025 Open Water National/Junior National Championships

• April 4-6, 2025
• Sarasota, Florida
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The 2025 Open Water National and Junior Championships wrapped up on Sunday in Sarasota, Florida. On the schedule were the girls’ and boys’ 7.5k junior races, which are open to athletes aged 16-17, while those in the 15 & under group competed in a 5k race on Saturday morning.

Competitors swam four loops around the red-marked course, as shown below.

The girls’ race showcased impressive depth from the Sandpipers of Nevada and Saint Petersburg Aquatics, who dominated the top ten with a combined total of six swimmers.

Leading the field was Makenna Sherman of Sandpipers, who notched the fastest time at 1:41:16. She was closely followed by Chloe Teger of Orange County Gold and Karrington Hansen of Saint Petersburg Aquatics, who had near-identical finishes with times of 1:41:25 and 1:41:26.

Sherman finished 3rd last year, ten seconds behind winner Daisy Collins, with Teger taking 2nd just one second ahead of Sherman.

The Sandpipers’ other two top-ten finishers in this year’s race were Riley Christensen, who placed 4th, and Alessandra Gendarmi, who took 8th. Saint Petersburg Aquatics’ other top ten finishers were Izzy Riva in 6th and Isabella Descent in 9th.

Long Island Aquatic Club had two swimmers finish in the top ten, with Samantha Anderson (1:41.42) leading the way in 5th place, followed by teammate Sadie Davidoff (1:45.11) in 10th. Long Island has impressed at the junior level throughout the competition, with Una Diaz capturing the 15 & Under 5k title on Saturday, and the club also placing two additional swimmers in the top ten of that race.

Girls’ Top 16 Finishers:

1. Makenna Sherman (Sandpipers Of Nevada) – 1:41:16
2. Chloe Teger (Orange County Gold) – 1:41:25
3. Karrington Hansen (Saint Petersburg Aquatics) – 1:41:26
4. Riley Christensen (Sandpipers Of Nevada) – 1:41:27
5. Samantha Anderson (Long Island Aquatic Club) – 1:41:42
6. Izzy Riva (Saint Petersburg Aquatics) – 1:41:46
7. Kate Guenther (Aquatic Team Of Mecklenburg) – 1:41:55
8. Alessandra Gendarmi (Sandpipers Of Nevada) – 1:42:13
9. Isabella Descent (Saint Petersburg Aquatics) – 1:44:39
10. Sadie Davidoff (Long Island Aquatic Club) – 1:45:11
11. Zara Kocak (Excel Aquatics) – 1:45:33
12. Mia Bugarin (Rose Bowl Aquatics) – 1:45:35
13. Grace Alegi (Sarasota Sharks) – 1:45:51
14. Kaylee Dietrich (TAC Titans) – 1:45:52
15. Alex Fox (Condors Swim Club) – 1:46:18
16. Faith Lamah (Edina Swim Club) – 1:46:18

Boys’ Top 16 Finishers:

1. Jackson Irwin (Sarasota Tsunami Swim Team) – 1:31:01
2. James Darcy (Long Island Aquatic Club) – 1:32:46
3. Kannen Crossland (Premier Aquatics Club of Klein) – 1:32:47
4. Jake MacPhail (Blazing Barracudas) – 1:33:00
5. Carson Phifer (Sandpipers Of Nevada) – 1:33:20
6. Ben Battaglia (Victor Swim Club) – 1:33:23
7. Brecken Egeland (Bend Swim Club) – 1:33:51
8. Caden Askren (Fishers Area Swimming Tigers) – 1:34:37
9. Trevor Donley (Rockville Montgomery Swim Club) – 1:34:55
10. Cole Nelson (NOVA of Virginia Aquatics, Inc) – 1:35:12
11. Corbin Bye (Corvallis Aquatic Team) – 1:37:13
12. Jack Pollard (Sandpipers Of Nevada) – 1:37:14
13. Colt Chaires (North Carolina Aquatic Club) – 1:37:15
14. Charles Hu (Amherst Tritons Swim Team) – 1:37:21
15. Max Stewart (Irvine Novaquatics) – 1:38:10
16. Marshall Smith (TSM Aquatics) – 1:38:11