San Antonio, TX – Led by Olympic qualifiers and World Deaf Record Holders Marcus Titus (University of Arizona ’10) and Matthew Klotz (incoming freshman, LSU), United States Deaf Swimming (USA Deaf Swimming) today released its 2015 World Deaf Swimming Championships (WDSC) roster under the tutelage of head coach Brian Bennett. Team USA is the defending WDSC champion as a result of edging out Russia and Ukraine in a huge team upset win four years ago. (CNN iReport)
“I am honored to be leading such a big, diverse and talented team of deaf swimmers,” said USDS head coach Brian Bennett. “We look forward to some great swims and renewed friendships this summer,” said Bennett, a member of the 2011 WDSC championship team and former associate head coach of the Gallaudet University Swim Team where he still holds manyteam and conference records (Gallaudet ’13).
Joining Titus and Klotz will be female team captain and 2013 Deaflympian Alix Gavin from McNeil H.S., Texas, as well as veterans Edward Freeman (Transylvania University/KY) and David Tolstyka (Texas A&M). The full U.S. roster, with a lot of new and outstanding talent, is listed below and can be found on Team USA’s website http://deafswim.org/teamusa.
“It’s looking like San Antonio ’15 will be an even bigger and faster meet than the excellent competition put on by our friends in Coimbra, Portugal 2011,” said Doug Matchett, director of USA Deaf Swimming and meet organizer for the San Antonio WDSC. “On behalf of our country, the international deaf community and all our swimmers, we can’t wait to see all of you,” said Matchett.
United States Deaf Swimming is a non-profit dedicated to promoting competitive swimming for deaf swimmers of all ages. For more information see www.deafswim.org or follow our USA Deaf Swimming Facebook page.
Team USA Roster: 2015 World Deaf Swimming Championships
Men, Age, Hometown
Marcus Titus* 29 Tucson, AZ
Matthew Klotz* 19 Cameron Park, CA
Edward Freeman* 18 Harrodsburg, KY
David Tolstyka* 20 McKinney, TX
Nicholas Cirone 27 San Jose, CA
Dominic Riccio 19 Racine, WI
Christopher Martinez 18 El Paso, TX
Isaiah Skiple 15 Fargo, ND
Marco Narvarte 15 Kingman, AZ
Tyler Brown 14 Fort Thomas, KY
Angelo Najera 14 Modesto, CA
Cooper Willetts 12** Kingwood, TX
Women, Age, Hometown
Alix Gavin* 17 Austin, TX
Elizabeth Cocker 19 Rancho Cordova, CA
Alyssa Greymont 18 Morgan Hill, CA
Lilly Creswick 17 Phoenix, AZ
Kaitlyn Weatherby 17 Sewell, NJ
Grace Hale 15 San Antonio, TX
Molly Likins 14 St. Clair, MI
Emily Massengale 14 Bloomington, IN
Emma Doughty 13** Hilton, NY
Ksenia Markel 15 University Park, MD
*Returning team members
**Youngest male and female members on record
Swimming news courtesy of US Deaf Swimming.
Good Luck everyone, especially Elizabeth Cocker!
Wishing Team USA the best of luck at Worlds!!! Going to miss being there ; however Team USA will show dominance in alot of Mens Events breaking almost every American & World Records!!!! Good luck to all the new swimmers and leave it all in the water!!!!
Congratulations to all. Looking forward to the upcoming meet!
go USA swimmers and keeping training harder and goal into your best personal time!