Tennessee Hosting LCM Invite Following Cancellation of Knoxville PSS

Tennessee Long Course Invitational

• January 12-15
• Knoxville, TN
• LCM Invitational
• Live Results

Despite USA Swimming’s cancellation of the Knoxville stop of the 2022 Pro Swim Series last Monday, the University of Tennessee is forging ahead with a long course meet this weekend. 

Dubbed the “Tennessee Long Course Invitational,” the meet appears to be a substitute for the Pro Swim with a similar meet format and event lineup. According to the entry lists on the live results page, the event will feature mainly swimmers from the University of Tennessee, but will also feature some high profile club teams, including the Denver Hilltoppers, Lakeside Seahawks, and Long Island Aquatic Club. 

The event kicked off last night with the 800 free, with a pair of high schoolers taking the event title. In the women’s event, Long Island’s Cavan Gormsen swam an 8:39.99, just over three seconds off of her lifetime best. Gormsen, a Virginia commit and SwimSwam’s 4th ranked recruit in the class of 2023, held off a late charge from Tennessee freshman Summer Smith, who finished second in 8:40.20. 

In the men’s event, 17 year old Alec Enyeart of Tsunami Kansas City led wire to wire to take the win in 8:09.64, 7 seconds off of his lifetime best. Enyeart, a high school senior, recently changed his commitment from Minnesota to Texas following a series of breakout swims. Tennessee sophomore Joey Tepper, a member of the US National Team in the 10k Open Water, took second in 8:13.23. 

Slated to compete the rest of the weekend are several of Tennessee’s stars, including Short Course World Championships medalists Mona McSharry and Ellen Walshe, who both appear to be taking on aggressive schedules. McSharry is entered in the 50 back, 100 breast, 50 breast, 50 free, 200 breast, 50 fly and 100 free over the 3 and a half day meet. Meanwhile, her fellow Irish National Teamer Ellen Walshe is entered in the 50 back, 100 fly, 400 IM, 200 fly, 200 breast, 50 fly and 200 IM. 

Tennessee-based pro and Tokyo 2020 silver medalist Erika Brown was also initially entered, though appears to have scratched her events. 

A slew of the high school talent is also scheduled to swim, including Denver Hilltoppers’ Emma Weber, one of the top breaststrokes in the class of 2022 and a Virginia commit, Long Island’s Tess Howley, SwimSwam’s #2 in the girls class of 2023, and Lakeside Seahawks’ Will Scholtz, #20 in the boys class of 2023, who is committed to Texas. 

Prelims start at 10 AM EST each day, while finals are scheduled to start at 5 PM EST.