US Paralympics, a division of the United States Olympic Committee, announced on Wednesday (14 January) that 14 athletes, including six reigning world champions, have been named to the 2015 US Paralympics Swimming National A Team. Twelve athletes were named to the B team, with an additional 15 athletes named to the emerging and military teams.
“With Rio right around the corner, we are thrilled to have such a gifted group of athletes,” said Queenie Nichols, High Performance Director for US Paralympics swimming. “Our 2015 roster is made up of not only decorated and consistent veterans but also new faces who continue to impress. I’m eager to see what 2015 holds for this group of outstanding athletes.”
The 2015 national A team has proven performance with several veteran swimmers on the roster. Six athletes won world titles in 2013: Cortney Jordan, Jessica Long, Rebecca Meyers, Roy Perkins, Tucker Dupree and Ian Silverman.
London 2012 Paralympic Games gold medallist and US Navy veteran Brad Snyder also returns to the roster this year. Snyder took a brief hiatus from competitive swimming following the Games and made his return to competitive swimming at the 2014 US Paralympics Swimming Spring National Championships/Spring CanAms.
Long is the most decorated female athlete with 17 Paralympic medals, while Perkins takes the honour on the men’s side with six trips to the Paralympic medal stand.
Letticia Martinez, Colleen Young and Curtis Lovejoy also made the A team for the second straight year. Michelle Konkoly, who was initially named to the 2014 B team but jumped to the national A team for 2014 Pan-Pacific Para-Swimming Championships, also returns to the roster.
Tharon Drake and Cody Bureau moved up from last year’s B team, as well as Kayla Wheeler who made the jump from the 2014 emerging team.
Team USA had a dominant showing at 2014 Pan Pacific Para-swimming Championships in Pasadena, California, where it finished atop the medal standings with 115 medals (34 gold, 49 silver and 32 bronze). Silverman broke a 13-year-old world record in the 400-meter freestyle S10 race, swimming a 4:03.57, and Konkoly had a shining Team USA debut with three gold medals.
Team USA begins the 2015 season at the Can-Am Para-swimming Championships from 20-22 March in Toronto, Canada, where the 2015 Parapan American Games will also be staged from 7-15 August. The 2015 IPC Swimming World Championships also take place in Glasgow, Great Britain, from 13-19 July.
Additional athletes may be added to the team rosters throughout the season.
2015 National A team
Women
Cortney Jordan, S7/SB7/SM7
Michelle Konkoly, S9/SB8/SM9
Jessica Long, S8/SB7/SM8
Letticia Martinez, S11/SB11/SM11
Rebecca Meyers, S13/SB13/SM13
Colleen Young, S13/SB13/SM13
Kayla Wheeler, S2/SB1/SM2
Men
Cody Bureau, S9/SB9/SM9
Tharon Drake, S11/SB11/SM11
Tucker Dupree, S12/SB12/SM12
Curtis Lovejoy, S2/SB1/SM2
Roy Perkins, S5/SB4/SM5
Ian Silverman, S10/SB9/SM10
Brad Snyder, S11/SB11/SM11
2015 National B team
Women
Hannah Aspden, S9/SB8/SM9
Brickelle Bro, S8/SB7/SM8
McKenzie Coan, S8/SB7/SM8
Anna Eames, S10/SB9/SM10
Noga Nir-Kistler, S6/SB5/SM6
Martha Ruether, S13/SB13/SM13
Elizabeth Smith, S9/SB9/SM9
Leanne Smith, S7/SB6/SM7
Men
Evan Austin, S8/SB7/SM8
Ryan Duemler, S8/SB7/SM8
Robert Griswold, S9/SB8/SM9
Dalton Herendeen, S10/SB8/SM10
2015 Emerging team
Women
Reilly Boyt, S6/SB6/SM6
Leslie Cichocki, S14/SB14/SM14
Lindsay Grogan, S9/SB9/SM9
Sophia Herzog, S6/SB6/SM6
Serafina King, S10/NE/NE
Ahalya Lettenberger, S8/SB7/SM8
Natalie Sims, S9/SB9/SM9
Breanna Sprenger, S1/SB1/SM1
Samantha Tubbs, S9/SB9/SM
Men
Blake Adams, S13/SB13/SM13
Rafael Castillo, S6/SB6/SM6
Lucas McCrory, S7/SB7/SM7
Tom Miazga, S8/SB7/SM8
Tyler Sharp, S9/SB9/SM9
2015 Military team
Women
Elizabeth Wasil, S10/SB9/SM10