USA Swimming Announce World University Games Rosters

At long last, USA Swimming has announced its rosters for this summer’s World University Games (or Universiade to the most of the world) in Shenzen, China. After the World Championships rosters, which are typically much more predictable, this roster is amongst the most anticipated by the swimming community in non-Olympic years. This event, which is effectively an Olympics for University students (the name Universiade is a combination of the words “University” and “olympiad), has taken place, in some form or fashion, since 1923; with both a summer and winter version. Unlike the Olympics, the University Games take place every 2 years, and the winter and summer versions occur in the same (odd numbered) years.

To be eligible for the WUG’s, an athlete must be between 17 and 28, and must not have been out of university (or it’s equivalent) for more than a year. In the US, these rosters are usually chosen from amongst athletes who have not qualified for the World Championships. Note that the rules, being not specific to America, do not mandate that an athlete still be competing for their University. As a result, you will notice swimmers like Michigan’s Bobby Savulich, Florida’s Rex Tullius, and Texas’ Michael Klueh, who long ago completed their NCAA eligibility.

This is one of the few swimming events that the US hasn’t historically dominated: in 2009, they tied Japan for the most gold (10), but Japan had for more total medals (30 vs. 26) than the US.

Among the leaders for team USA at the Games will be Lyndsay DePaul, who is the leading returning member of the 2009 Games in Serbia. At those games, DePaul won two individual silvers, in the 200 fly and 400 IM. One of the two other returning medalists for the American squad will be Chelsea Nauta, who was a member of the gold-medal winning 800 free relay. Arizona alum Annie Chandler will be among the favorites in the women’s 100 breaststroke, after she just missed the World Championship roster, and Texas’ Karlee Bispo has been making big waves on the freestyle scene.

This year’s team, at first sight, seems to be much stronger, especially on the men’s team. Defending NCAA Champ in both the 100 and 200 fly, Tom Shields, will lead that roster. He will be joined by a quartet of Texas Longhorns: Jimmy Feigen, Dax Hill, Michael Klueh, and Austin Surhoff. Hill, who is quickly moving up the US ranks, will get his first international exposure at this meet, and I expect him to be one of the surprises for team USA. He has a lot of raw talent that the great Eddie Reese is molding into a fantastic freestyler. Klueh is still officially listed as a member of Longhorn Aquatics, though he is now on the West coast.

The men’s roster could get a huge boost from Josh Schneider. If he loses his upcoming swim-off with SwimMAC teammate Cullen Jones, he will then have the option to join the World University Games roster. If he does make the World Championship team, or declines a bid to the WUG’s, Cal’s Josh Daniels and Texas’ Feigen appear to be the next in line to take his spot in the 50 free.

Also of note is Frank Busch’s current and former swimmers at the University of Arizona and Tucson Ford Aquatics. Only Stanford (who has an astonishing 10 members on the roster), and Georgia with 6 have more swimmers on the team. The Cardinal from Palo Alto have an amazing 7 out of the 24 members of the women’s squad.

The Games will take place from August 11-August 23. For more information about the games, check out their official website.

2011 World University Games Team

Women

Name Club/College Team Events
Alyssa Anderson Tucson Ford Dealers Aquatics 200 Free/400 Free/4×200 Fr Relay
Haley Anderson Sierra Marlins/ University of Southern California 800 Free
Presley Bard Terrapins Swim Team/University of Southern California 100 Back
Karlee Bispo University of Texas 50 Free/200 Free/4×200 Free Relay
Annie Chandler Tucson Ford Dealers Aquatics 100 Breast
Lyndsay De Paul Trojan Swim Club/University of Southern California 100 Fly
Maya Dirado Neptune Swimming/Stanford University 200 IM/400IM
Kelsey Ditto Stanford Swimming 800 Free
Kate Dwelley Terrapins Swim Team/Stanford University 100 Free/4×100 Free Relay
Ashley Jones Indiana University Club Paradise/Indiana University 200 Back
Andrea Kropp Rattler Swim Club/Princeton University 200 Breast
Micah Lawrence Auburn University Swim Team 100 Breast
Felicia Lee North Baltimore Aquatic Club/Stanford University 100 Fly/4×100 Free Relay
Amy Modglin Penn State University 200 Back
Rachel Naurath NOVA of Virginia Aquatics/University of Virginia 200 Fly
Chelsea Nauta Athens Bulldog Swim Club /University of Georgia 4×200 Free Relay
Stephanie Peacock Swim Florida/University of North Carolina 400 Free/4×200 Free Relay
Megan Romano St. Petersburg Aquatics/University of Georgia 100 Free/4×100 Free Relay
Elizabeth Smith Stanford Swimming 200 IM
Andrea Taylor King Aquatic Club/Stanford University 200 Fly/400 IM
Shannon Vreeland Kansas City Blazers/University of Georgia 4×100 Free Relay
Ashley Wanland Wisconsin Aquatics 200 Breast
Taylor Wohrley Indiana University Club Paradise/Indiana University 100 Back
Samantha Woodward Stanford Swimming 50 Free

Men*

Name Club/College Team Events
Matt Bartlett Swim Atlanta/University of Georgia 4×200 Free Relay
Bobby Bollier FAST Swim Team/Stanford University 200 Fly
Clark Burckle Tucson Ford Dealers Aquatics/University of Arizona 100 Breast
Cory Chitwood Tucson Ford Dealers Aquatics/University of Arizona 100 Back/200 Back/200IM
Mark Dylla Athens Bulldog Swim Club /University of Georgia 200 Fly
Jimmy Feigen Longhorn Aquatics/University of Texas 100 Free/4×100 Free Relay
Andrew Gemmell Delaware Swim Team/University of Georgia 400 IM/1500 Free
William Tyler Harris Poseidon Swimming/University of North Carolina 400 IM
Daxon Hill Longhorn Aquatics/University of Texas 4×100 Free Relay
Elliott Keefer Ohio State University 200 Breast
Adam Klein Auburn University Swim Team 200 Breast
Michael Klueh Longhorn Aquatics 400 Free/4×200 Free Relay
Curtis Lovelace Nashville Aquatic Club/Stanford University 100 Breast
Matt McLean Snow Swimming/University of Virginia 200 Free/4×200 Free Relay
David Mosko Cincinnati Marlins/Stanford University 400 Freestyle
Kohlton Norys Auburn University Swim Team 4×100 Free Relay
Tim Phillips Ohio State University 100 Fly
Sean Ryan Scenic City Aquatic Club/University of Michigan 1500 Free
Bobby Savulich Club Wolverine 100 Free/4×100 Free Relay
Tom Shields California Aquatics 200 Free/100 Fly/4×200 Free Relay
Adam Small Tucson Ford Dealers Aquatics/University of Arizona 50 Free
Austin Surhoff Longhorn Aquatics/University of Texas 200 IM
Rex Tullius Daytona Beach Swimming/Gator Swim Club 100 Back/200 Back
*pending 50 free results

Head Men’s Coach: Rich DeSelm
Head Women’s Coach: Eric Hansen

In This Story

1
Leave a Reply

Subscribe
Notify of

1 Comment
newest
oldest most voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

About Braden Keith

Braden Keith

Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

Read More »