USA Swimming Olympic Team Trials Men's Preview
6/23/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Swimming & Diving
Sun.-Sun., June 29 - July 6 -- USA Swimming Olympic Trials (Omaha, Neb.), 11 a.m./6:45 p.m. CDT
U-M AT THE USA SWIMMING TRIALS
The Wolverines will send 27 current swimmers from the men's swimming team, four former swimmers, one volunteer coach andone incoming freshmen to vie for spots in Beijing at the USA Swimming Olympic Trials (June 29 - July 6) at the Qwest Center Convention Center in Omaha, Neb.
Senior Alex Vanderkaay(Rochester, Mich./Adams HS)will toe the blocks in five events to lead the maize and blue contingent. U-M volunteer coach Michael Phelps headlines the trials, entering with a top-five seeding in all nine events in which he is competing (400 IM, 200 IM, 400 free, 200 free, 100 free, 200 fly, 100 fly, 200 back, 100 back).
The trials feature 13 Olympic swimming long course meters events to be contested at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. The top two finishers in each event will punch their ticket to Beijing. With no relays being contested, the 100- and 200-meter freestyle events can produce additional qualifiers to fill out the relay rosters.
WHEN TO CATCH THEM
Each day will feature two sessions. Preliminary rounds will commence at 11 a.m. CDT each day, while the semifinals and finals will kick off at 7 p.m. CDT.
| Sunday, June 29 11 a.m. - Preliminaries 7 p.m. - Semifinals/Finals | Monday, June 30 11 a.m. - Preliminaries 7 p.m. - Semifinals/Finals | Tuesday, July 1 11 a.m. - Preliminaries 7 p.m. - Semifinals/Finals |
| Wednesday, July 2 11 a.m. - Preliminaries 7 p.m. - Semifinals/Finals | Thursday, July 3 11 a.m. - Preliminaries 7 p.m. - Semifinals/Finals | Friday, July 4 11 a.m. - Preliminaries 7 p.m. - Semifinals/Finals |
| Saturday, July 5 11 a.m. - Preliminaries 7 p.m. - Semifinals/Finals | Sunday, July 6 11 a.m. - Preliminaries 7 p.m. - Finals |
HOW TO CATCH THE ACTION
Results of the trials will be posted on www.H2Omaha.com and USASwimming.org, the official website of USA Swimming. Live television coverage will be aired each night beginning at 8 p.m. EST. After NBC airs opening night (June 29), the USA Network will broadcast the next four nights (June 30-July 3) before returning coverage to primetime on NBC (July 4-6).
Tickets are available at www.H2Omaha.com, www.usaswimming.org, www.ticketmaster.com or by calling (402) 422-1212. Single session tickets for the morning preliminaries are available for $15, $20 or $25, depending on seat availability. Or, attend the evening finals and see the U.S. Olympic Team take shape for just $30, $40 or $50 per ticket.
THE WOLVERINE REPRESENTATIVES
Johnny Austermann - Austermann, a senior, is a scheduled to compete in the 400- and 1,500-meter freestyle events at the USA Olympic Trials. Austermann enters as the 39th seed in the 400 free (3:57.91) and the 54th seed in the 1,500 free on a time of 15:48.51.
Sal Barba - Barba, a junior, is a two-time NCAA All-America, a two-time NCAA All-America honorable mention and a two-time Big Ten Champion in the 800-yard freestyle relay. Barba, a 2008 first team All-Big Ten selection will compete in two events (200- and 400-meter freestyle) at the USA Olympic Trials. Barbas highest rank comes in the 400 free, where he is 26th with a time of 3:56.34.
Chris Brady - Brady, a sophomore, is a three-time Big Ten Champion, two-time NCAA All-American and six-time NCAA All-America honorable mention. Brady, a 2008 first team All-Big Ten member enters the trials competing in three events: the 50- and 100-meter freestyle and the 100-meter butterfly. Bradys top ranking is 15th in the 100 butterfly (53.67).
Grant Burtch - Burtch, a senior co-captain and NCAA All-America honorablementionin the 400-yard medley relay, will compete in the 100-and 200-meter breaststroke events. Burtch is seeded 21st in the 200 breast (2:16.80) and 36th in the 100 breast (1:03.76).
Tyler Clary - Clary, a freshman, enters the USA Olympic Trials competing in five events (400 IM, 200 IM, 200 back, 200 free, and 1,500 free). Clary holds a top-10 spot in two events, the 200 backstroke (8th) and the 400 IM (9th). He also sits among the top-20 in the 200 IM (15th) and 1,500 freestyle (19th). Clary is a 2008 NCAA All-American and three-time 2008 NCAA All-America honorable mention. He also serves as a two-time 2008 Big Ten Champion and a first team All-Big Ten member.
Curtis Dauw - Dauw, a junior, is a 2008 Big Ten Champion in the 200-yard freestyle relay and a 2007 NCAA All-American in the 200-yard butterfly. The first team All-Big Ten and five-time NCAA All-America honorable mention will compete in two events (100-and 200-meter butterfly) at the USA Olympic Trials. Hishighest seeding is in the 200 fly (61st) with a time of 2:03.05.
Adam DeJong - DeJong, a sophomore, will compete in three events (200-, 400- and 1,500-meter freestyle) at the USA Olympic Trials. The U-M Athletic Academic Achievement award winner is seeded 30th in the 400 free (3:56.52), 40th in the 1,500 free (15:46.10) and 65th in the 200 free (1:52.38).
Chris DeJong - DeJong was a five-time NCAA All-American, 11-time NCAA All-America Honorable Mention and four-time Big Ten Champion from 2003-06. He was also a member of Team USA at 2003 World University Games and a Bronze Medalist at the 2003 World University Games (200m backstroke). DeJong enters as the number four seed in the 200-meter backstroke and the 12th seed in the 200-meter freestyle. DeJong was recently a member of the American record-setting relay team of Michael Phelps, Peter Vanderkaay (2003-06) and Davis Tarwater (2003-06) that finished with a time of 6:12.43 in the 800-yard freestyle relay at the ConocoPhillips USA Swimming Short Course National Championships (Nov. 30, 2007).
Dane Grenda - Grenda, a senior, is a 2007 NCAA All-American in the 400-yard individual medley and a two-time NCAA All-America honorable mention.He will compete in three events (200- and 400-meter IM and 200-meter butterfly) at the USA Olympic Trials. Grenda is seeded 19th in the 400 IM (4:25.03), 28th in the 200 IM (2:05.09) and 56th in the 200 fly (2:02.94).
Charlie Houchin - Houchin, a sophomore, is a 2008 first team All-Big Ten selection for his seventh-place performance in the 1,650-yard freestyle (15:17.70).He will compete in three freestyle events (200-, 400- and 1,500-meter) along with the 200-meter butterfly. Houchin enters the trials ranked 12th in the 400 free (3:52.32), 21st in the 1,500 free (15:36.24) and 34th in the 200 free (1:51.29).
Neal Kennedy - Kennedy, a freshman, will compete in the 200 IM at the USA Olympic Trials. Kennedy, is seeded 65th in the event on a time of 2:06.72.
Daniel Madwed - Madwed, an incoming freshman who deferred his 2007 enrollment until the fall of 2008 in order to prepare for the Summer Olympics, enters the USA Olympic Trials as the fifth seed in the 200-meter butterfly (1:57.75). Madwed will also compete in three eventsin whichhe is seeded in the top 25: the 100 butterfly (14th), the 400 freestyle (21st) and the 200 IM (21st). Madwed is also scheduled to compete in the 100 freestyle as the 55th seed.
Jamie Martone - Martone, a junior, is a 2008 Big Ten Champion as a member of the 200-yard freestyle relay and an NCAA All-America honorable mention. Hewill compete in the 50-meter freestyle at the USA Olympic Trials where heis seeded 31st on a time of 23.02.
Jared Miller - Miller, a freshman, is scheduled to compete in the 400-meter IM at the USA Olympic Trials. Miller is seeded 46th in the 400 IM on a time of 4:28.47.
Matt Patton - Patton, a junior, is a six-time NCAA All-American and six-time Big Ten Champion. Patton represented the United States in the 2007 Pan American Games and enters the 2008 USA Olympic Trials as a No. 8 seed in the 400 freestyle, the 10th seed in the 1,500 freestyle, 14th seed in the 200 butterfly and the 22nd seed in the 200 freestyle.
Michael Phelps C Phelps, a six-time Olympic gold medalist, enters the U.S. Olympic Trials as the No. 1 seed in five events (400 IM, 200 IM, 200 free, 100 free and 200 fly) and is ranked number one in the world in four events (200 IM, 200 free, 200 fly, 100 fly). Phelps set four individual world records and won seven gold medals at the 2007 World Championships to become the most successful athlete in World Championship history. He has served as a volunteer assistant coach at U-M for the last four seasons.
Evan Ryser - Ryser, a junior, is a two-time NCAA All-America honorable mention (200-yard freestyle relay, 400-yard freestyle relay). Ryser will compete in three events (50-, 100- and 200-meter freestyle) at the USA Olympic Trials. Ryser is seeded 35th in the 200 free (1:51.32), 58th in the 100 free (51.07) and 90th in the 50 free (23.41).
Bobby Savulich - Savulich, a junior at U-M, is a three-time NCAA All-American, eight-time Big Ten Champion and eight-time NCAA All-America honorable mention. Hewill compete in three events (50-, 100- and 200-meter freestyle) at the USA Olympic Trials. Savulich is seeded 25th in 200 free (1:50.23) and 29th in the 100 free (50.35).
Gunnar Schmidt - Schmidt, a junior, is scheduled to compete in the 1,500-meter freestyle at the USA Olympic Trials. Schmidt enters as the 67th seed in the event on a time of 15:52.09.
Christian Sprang - Sprang, a junior, is scheduled to compete in the 200- and 400-meter freestyle events at the USA Olympic Trials. Sprang is seeded 29th in the 400 free (3:56.47) and 57th in the 200 free (1:52.27).
Davis Tarwater C Tarwater was a three-time NCAA champion and 13-time All-American in four years at U-M (2003-06). He was U-M's Big Ten Medal of Honor recipient his senior year, recognizing his success in scholarship and athletics. Tarwater enters the trials as aNo. 2seed in the 200-meter butterfly (1:55.93) and the fourth seed in the 100m fly (52.76). Tarwater will also compete in the 100- and 200-meter freestyle events. Tarwater will enter the trials after tasting gold in the 200-meter butterfly twice in his professional career at the 2007 USA Swimming National Championships and the 2005 Spring Nationals.
Alex Vanderkaay C Alex Vanderkaay is a two-time 400-yard individual medley NCAA Champion, 10-time Big Ten Champion and a nine-time NCAA All-American (2005-08). Alex was named the 2008 Big Ten co-Swimmer of the Year and co-Swimmer of the Championships after leading Michigan to its 33rd Big Ten Team Championship.He was also a member of Team USA for the 2007 World University Games and enters the trials competing in five events (400 IM, 200 IM, 200 fly, 100 fly, and 1,500 free) with his best seedings in the 400 IM (7th) and the 200 butterfly (7th); he is also seeded 12th in the 200 IM.
Christian Vanderkaay C Christian Vanderkaay, a 2005 U-M grad, was a two-time Academic All-Big Ten selection, two-time NCAA All-American and two-time NCAA All-America honorable mention. Christian is scheduled to compete in the 100-meter breaststroke as the 53rd seed (1:04.18) at the USA Olympic Trials.
Dane Vanderkaay - Dane Vanderkaay, an incoming freshman for the fall of 2008, enters the USA Olympic Trials as the 49th seed in the 400-meter freestyle with a time of 3:58.88.
Peter Vanderkaay C Peter Vanderkaay, a 2006 graduate of U-M, currently ranks first in the 400 Free (3:43.82), second in the 200 Free (1:46.24) and third in the 1,500 Free (14:52.56). Peter, an Olympic gold medalist in the 800-meter freestyle relay, also won five NCAA individual championships with the Wolverines. Vanderkaay enters the trials on a high note after setting the American record in the 400-meter freestyle at the Toyota International Invitational Grand Prix in Santa Clara, Calif. (May 17). Vanderkaay won gold in 3:43.82, breaking Klete Kellers American record set in August of 2004.
Tony Wahl - Wahl, a freshman, is scheduled to compete in the 200-meter butterfly at the USA Olympic Trials. Wahl enters as the 54th seed in the event on a time of 2:02.92.
Shaun Weinberg - Weinberg, an NCAA Academic All-American as a sophomore, is scheduled to compete in the 200-meter IM. Weinberg enters as the 94th seed in the event on a time of 2:07.39.
Players Mentioned
