USA Swimming is sending 12 swimmers to the Open Water World Cup set to take play May 20-21 in Golfo Aranci, Italy. Selections were based on finishes in the 10K at US Open Water Nationals in Sarasota, Florida a month ago.
All 12 of these athletes also earned spots on the 2023-2024 US Open Water National Team and will be members of the team until May 1, 2024.
Six athletes were selected from each gender.
The women’s roster includes:
- Leah DeGeorge (Jacksonville, Fla./University of Florida)
- Mariah Denigan (Walton, Ky./Indiana Swim Club)
- Katie Grimes (Las Vegas, Nev./Sandpipers of Nevada)
- Kensey McMahon (Jacksonville, Fla./University of Alabama Swim Club)
- Ashley Twichell (Fayetteville, N.Y. /TAC Titans)
- Claire Weinstein (White Plains, N.Y./Sandpipers of Nevada)
The men’s roster includes:
- Luke Ellis (Las Vegas, Nev./Sandpipers of Nevada)
- Brennan Gravley (Las Vegas, Nev./University of Florida)
- Dylan Gravley (Las Vegas, Nev./Arizona State University)
- Simon Lamar (Hacienda Heights, Calif./FAST Swim Team)
- Ivan Puskovitch (West Chester, Pa./TSM Aquatics)
- Joey Tepper (Egg Harbor Township, N.J./University of Tennessee)
Three coaches will also be in Italy as Cory Chitwood (Indiana University), Kristen Murslack (University of Florida), and Ron Aitken (Sandpipers of Nevada) will be in attendance. Both Chitwood and Aitken coached the US Open Water Team at the 2022 FINA Open Water World Championships.
Last summer, both Graveley brothers along with Tepper were selected to swim at Open Water Worlds. Tepper eventually was unable to swim due to testing positive for COVID-19. Lamar, who was not originally selected last summer, swam in place of Tepper.
On the women’s side, Denigan, Grimes, and McMahon will be representing the US for the second summer in a row. After qualifying for her first Olympics (Tokyo) at 32, Twichell returns to representing the US at the international level as she gave birth to her first child last summer.
The event set for this weekend will take place in Golfo Aranci, Italy. The city is located on Sardegna, an island in the Tyrrhenian Sea.
Explains the Sandpiper withdraw from the Pro Swim Series meet this weekend.
Now it makes sense that Grimes and Weinstein withdrew from the Pro Swim Series – Mission Viejo.
Good luck to Team USA!
Open water doesn’t get much respect because the news was out last week. The Sanpipers coach coached the team, and you can watch the 10ks and the relay on youtube. It was really chilly and they all wore wetsuits but alas no fins allowed. Mariah Denegan had good swims in the 10k and the mixed relay. Top loaded with good European swimmers but great experience for the US team. Ashley Twilchell also swam it and finished in the top 20. I think Mariah is only 19.Katie Grimes took the 10K out fast but couldn’t hold on.