The psych sheet for the 2017 NCSA Junior National Championship has been released. Next week hundreds of swimmers will travel to Orlando for what is always a competitive meet.
At a meet where 40 swimmers get a finals swim in each event, there are plenty of swimmers and races to keep an eye on. Here are eight to pay close attention to.
View the full psych sheet here.
Girls
Morgan Tankersley
Greater Tampa Swimming Association’s 17 year old Tankersley has an incredible range across the freestyle events. She is entered in seven events next week and takes the top seed in two of them: the 200 and 500 freestyle. She’s also second seed in the 100 free and third in the 50 free.
Tankersley is also in the mix in the distance events. She is the fifth seed in the 1000. She enters the 1650 with her 1000 time, but given her presence in that event, she could be a significant player from an early heat.
Margaret Aroesty
Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick
Aroesty is set up to be the breaststroke queen of the meet. Long Island Aquatic Club’s National Junior Team member takes the top seed in the 50, 100, and 200 breaststrokes. She enters with few challengers in the 100 as her 58.98 makes her the only swimmer under a minute. Ema Rajic is seeded second, but well back at 1:00.77.
In the 200, the University of Southern California commit has three Marlins of Raleigh swimmers on her tail: Ashley McCauley, Abigail Arens, and Julia Poole. Aroesty is also second seed in the 200 IM, sandwiched between teammate Kristen Romano and Poole.
Phoebe Bacon
While only 14, Nation’s Capital’s Bacon is a swimmer to watch next week. One of the youngest swimmers at Olympic Trials this summer, Bacon has the experience to be competitive here. She enters with four top three seeds: the 50 and 100 backstroke and the 50 and 100 butterfly.
Madison Homovich
Photo Courtesy: David Farr
Homovich has long been a name at the top of the distance events. She holds 11 North Carolina LSC short course records and looks to continue her distance success on the national stage this week. The Marlins of Raleigh’s high school junior is the top seed in the 1000, 1650, and 400 IM.
In the 400 IM she looks to have a great race with Romano. In the 1000 Sierra Schmidt is seeded a full four seconds behind her and in the mile Homovich leads the way by 14 seconds. She’ll have a long week, as she heads to Orlando entered in nine events, and is seeded in the top 20 in seven of them.
Boys
Reece Whitley
Whitely is a swimmer to watch whenever he dives in the pool. After challenging and setting National Independent School records just two weeks ago, Penn Charter Aquatic Club’s 17 year old could be chasing National Age Group records next week.
Whitley will be racing the clock in the 100 breaststroke, where he enters with a 51.84, over three seconds faster than the second seed, but less than a tenth shy of Kevin Cordes‘ NAG of 51.76. Whitley also leads the way in the 50 and 200 breaststroke and 200 IM.
Jack Dolan
Photo Courtesy: Swimming World TV
After racing at Speedo Sectionals in Columbia this weekend, Dolan will travel to Orlando to race again. Only 16, the Rockwood Swim Club swimmer has top seeds in four of his seven events: the 50 and 100 freestyle and 50 and 100 backstroke.
At Winter Nationals in December, Dolan posted the fourth fastest all time 50 freestyle time for 15-16 boys. Currently the only entry under 20 seconds, Dolan will see if he can climb the rankings in that event this week. He’ll also race in what should be an impressive 200 freestyle field, where he is seeded fifth.
Trey Freeman
The Baylor Swim Club junior (entered in the psych sheet as Robert) will be looking to take the distance trifecta next week. Freeman is top seed in the 500, 1000, and 1650 freestyles. He’s also second seed in the 200 free.
In the 1650 he’s entered 20 seconds ahead of the field while his 1000 seed time is nine seconds faster than the next best swimmer and his 500 time is five seconds quicker. The University of Florida commit appears on the psych sheet an impressive 15 times, however, so only time will tell which events he ends up racing.
Camden Murphy
Photo Courtesy: Taylor Brien
Murphy enters the meet as the most dominant men’s butterflyer. The 17 year old from Kingfish Aquatic Club in Michigan has the top seed in the 50 and 100 butterfly and is seeded third in the 200 butterfly. Last year, when the meet was swum long course at night, Murphy won the 100 butterfly. This year with a short course finals, he will look to repeat as champion.
Meet Links
Do you know if the meet will be streamed?
Adriel Natan
Monyka Murphy!!
Good luck to Charlie!!