Thirty-two swimmers have been selected to represent the United States this summer at the World University Games in Chengdu, China.
With USA Swimming opting not to field a team to the event, the opportunity for current collegiate swimmers to compete for their country opened up, with the coaching staff put together by the United States International University Sports Federation (US-IUSF) having recruited athletes over the last few months.
Peter Richardson and Jacy Dyer were named U.S. head coaches in April, and now an initial roster has been revealed, with additions expected to be announced in the coming days.
As of now, 20 university programs are represented.
The team was announced by Ian Quinn, the current assistant coach at UNC Asheville who has taken over as team director for the Games.
The initial men’s roster features 14 swimmers, headlined by the Notre Dame trio of Chris Guiliano, Jack Hoagland and Tommy Janton, all coming off standout NCAA campaigns where they combined for 52 individual points.
Hoagland was fifth in the 1650 free, 10th in the 500 free and 12th in the 400 IM at the 2023 Men’s NCAA Championships, while Guiliano took ninth in the 200 free and 10th in the 100 free. Janton really came into his own in his freshman year, making a pair of consolation finals in the 200 back (10th) and 100 back (14th).
The team also features 2023 NCAA scorers Jack Dahlgren and Jared Daigle, while a pair of highly-touted recruits are in the mix in the form of Keaton Jones (Cal) and Diggory Dillingham (USC).
Dahlgren was notably fifth in the 200 free and seventh in the 200 back at the 2023 NCAA Championships.
Jack Armstrong, the 2023 NCAA Division II runner-up in the 50 free, is another notable name on the roster.
U.S. MEN’S ROSTER
- Jack Armstrong, Henderson State
- Christian Bart, Oakland
- William Christenson, Minnesota
- Jared Daigle, Michigan
- Jack Dahlgren, Missouri
- Diggory Dillingham, USC
- Zhier Fan, Stanford
- Chris Guiliano, Notre Dame
- Bryce Halterman, Michigan
- Jack Hoagland, Notre Dame
- Tommy Janton, Notre Dame
- Keaton Jones, Cal
- Connor LaMastra, Northwestern
- Chris Nagy, Minnesota
The women’s team of 18 athletes features 2023 NCAA scorers Megan Van Berkom, Anna Kalandadze, Paige MacEachern and Callie Dickinson, while USC commit Macky Hodges will also be in the mix.
Van Berkom was sixth in the 400 IM at the 2023 Women’s NCAA Championships and should be a medal factor at WUGS given her long course best times of 2:10.22 in the 200 fly, 2:13.94 in the 200 IM and 4:42.69 in the 400 IM.
Dickinson, recently named the SEC Student-Athlete of the Year, placed 16th in the 200 fly at Women’s NCAAs and owns a very competitive PB of 2:10.35 in the long course event, done last year when she placed sixth at U.S. Summer Nationals.
Kalandadze was 10th in the 1650 at the 2023 Women’s NCAAs, while MacEachern was 15th in the 400 IM and Hodges bring a versatile skillset that includes long course best times of 4:14.0/8:51.0/16:42.0 in the distance free events.
U.S. WOMEN’S ROSTER
- Eliza Brown, Princeton
- Eva Carlson, UCLA
- Delaney Carlton, UNC Asheville
- Abby Daniel, Akron
- Callie Dickinson, Georgia
- Noelle Harvey, Washington State
- Macky Hodges, USC
- Sabrina Johnston, Princeton
- Anna Kalandadze, UPenn
- Susan LaGrand, Oakland
- Emily Lundgren, Washington State
- Paige MacEachern, UCLA
- Lily Mead, Loyola (MD)
- Madyson Morse, Illinois State
- Anya Mostek, Harvard
- Heidi Smithwick, Princeton
- Caroline Theil, Texas A&M
- Megan Van Berkom, Minnesota
Dyer and Richardson also announced that Texas A&M assistant Caroline Maxvill Stanek will serve as the head women’s assistant coach, and Carl Weigley of UC Davis will be the head men’s assistant.
“I am grateful and excited to be able to represent our country in Chengdu with this team,” said Maxvill Stanek. “This staff and the athletes’ enthusiasm is contagious and all are already hard at work to continue the tradition of elite performances on the international stage.”
Weigley added: “It’s an honor to represent the US with such a diverse group of coaches and athletes. “I can’t wait to see what this incredible group accomplishes together in Chengdu this summer.”
Richardson, coming off his first year as associate head coach at USC, spoke about the unique opportunity that’s been presented under these circumstances.
“To end your summer representing your country in front of 300 million viewers worldwide is an unbelievable opportunity,” he said. “In less than a month, this staff has put together two incredible teams, and we can’t wait to see them compete.”
FULL COACHING STAFF
- Head Men’s Coach: Peter Richardson, USC
- Head Men’s Assistant: Carl Weigley, UC Davis
- Head Women’s Coach: Jacy Dyer, Fairfield
- Head Women’s Assistant: Caroline Maxvill Stanek, Texas A&M
- Director of Swimming: Ian Quinn, UNC Asheville
- Assistant Coach: Eileen Bringman, Cornell
- Assistant Coach: Guy Buls, Henderson State
- Assistant Coach: Karissa Kruszewski, UCLA
- Assistant Coach: Brian Loeffler, Loyola (MD)
- Assistant Coach: Sean Sullivan, Illinois State
The World University Games in Chengdu were initially scheduled to run in August 2021, but have been postponed multiple times due to the pandemic and will now run from July 28 – August 8, 2023.
Christian Bart from Oakland has one as well! https://gofund.me/036804b1
Are they taking donations? I’d like to chip in to reduce the athletes’ costs.
Yes. Not sure if there is a common account. But very much appreciated !
Madyson Morse, Illinois State, has a go fund me page to help with the cost of the trip. If interested, the link to donate is here. https://www.gofundme.com/f/athlete-competing-in-the-world-university-games?utm_source=customer&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_campaign=p_cf+share-flow-1
Anna Kalandadze also recently published a GoFundMe. If interested, this is the link
https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-send-anna-to-world-university-games-2023
University of Georgia swimmer, Callie Dickinson, has one as well:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/funding-for-world-university-games-in-august-2023?utm_medium=email&utm_source=product&utm_campaign=p_email%2B2300-co-team-welcome
We’ve been in touch with the staff coaches about setting up a collective one that can be shared among team members. Once we get that squared away, we’ll share these so people can support if they want to.
Great idea. I’ll donate my lunch money for a week. I need to lose the weight
Thanks so much I will watch for it and look at the go fund me pages.
Christian Bart from Oakland has one https://gofund.me/036804b1
I find it wonderful that an up-and-coming group can go to Chengdu and represent the USA.
However, USA SWIMMING should be ASHAMED on not forking over the cash: as if they are broke!
Ridiculous, penurious, and down-right, nasty.
Swimming Australia is also not sending a team despite athletes from other sports going.
Aggh. They are sending a team to USA nationals again where half the team got covid last year and where each team member had to pay $3000.
Excellent to see some talented mid-major and Division II athletes get a chance to represent Team USA. Yes they have to pay for it, but I think for a lot of swimmers at the mid-major or D2 level, being able to represent Team USA at any level is worth that price.
USA is not sending a team because it is in China. Full stop. Agree or not (I happen to agree this time) but that is the full reason.
Caaaaaaaarl
Looks like most of the swimmers are newer to the international crowd and swimming at this level.
What a great way to showcase more swimmers representing America!
I might be missing something here but how did a UC davis coach get head mens assistant. UC Davis doesn’t have a mens team im pretty sure
Weigley was the assistant coach to Pete for several years at UOP which is a combined program.
And swam for him at Fresno Pacific. And good for him. There are a ton of great coaches who aren’t in the Power 5.