ISL U.S. Rosters: Bilquist, Pebley Lead Trident; Dressel, King, Smoliga Still Lead Condors; Weitzeil, Rooney Join Current (FULL ROSTERS)

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Photo Courtesy: Connor Trimble

2020 ISL season rosters for the four American teams – DC Trident, the Cali Condors, the LA Current and the New York Breakers – released Wednesday.

ISL 2020: DC Trident

DC Trident has added some new faces for the upcoming second season of the International Swimming League (ISL).

The season is focused on sprinting. With Natalie Coughlin pregnant and not competing, and Katie Ledecky and Cody Miller opting not to compete right before the Olympic year, DC Trident GM Kaitlin Sandeno was focused on leadership as well.

Madison Kennedy is now the captain and Giles Smith the vice captain. Sandeno also got plenty of leadership with new swimmers, led by Amy Bilquist, Jacob Pebley, Ky-lee Perry, Miranda Tucker and Margo Geer.

Bilquist, the reigning U.S. champion in the 100-meter backstroke, brings versatility as well as leadership. She can swim both backstroke events as well as the 50 and 100 freestyle.

“I chose DC because it is something new, and I like to try new things. It gives me the opportunity to grow and be a leader on the team. It will give me a chance to do more events in addition to the backstrokes. DC was having so much fun last year that I felt like I wanted to be part of that. I need that fun going into an Olympic year,” Amy Bilquist told Swimming World.

Being recruited as a leader, not just a swimmer, was something that meant a lot to Bilquist, who was on the Current last year.

“It is so humbling. I feel so honored that Kaitlin could even see me as that type of person on her team. The past few years, I have been on superstar teams at Carmel High School and at Cal,” Bilquist said. “DC is more about making a culture, not that they don’t have superstars, too. But there is going to be more selfless swimming, which is the best kind of swimming. That is what I want to be a part of the most. For Kaitlin to see that leadership in my makes me want to be that person for DC.”

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Jacob Pebley. Photo Courtesy: Becca Wyant

Pebley was a 2016 Rio Olympian and last year was on the New York Breakers. He joins the Trident, giving the team a huge presence on the men’s side.

“Jacob is not only a huge asset in the backstroke evens, but his experience, leadership and positivity make him an incredible addition to our squad,” Sandeno said.

Perry is a somewhat under-the-radar pickup. The NCAA All-American from NC State has battled through injuries but is on the mend as she aims to make the Olympic team. She could be a huge factor in the 50 freestyle skins in the ISL.

“I was very excited. I was a little worried about what was going to happen in my career after college,” Perry said. “Braden (Holloway, NC State coach) and I set up a plan and we reached out to some ISL teams. DC Trident was the first to wan to give me a chance, and that is very exciting. It was nice to have someone reach out and want me to be on an ISL team.”

Ky-lee Perry. Photo Courtesy: NC State Athletics

It was a huge step for Perry, who is looking to challenge for an Olympic spot in 2021.

“That was my main goal, to be a professional. I can’t wait to embark on it,“ Perry said. “I think it is a really good fit for me. The energy they brought has been big. That is what we are all about at NC State, and the fact that I get another opportunity like that. That was what I was looking for in a pro team. Amy Bilquist reached out to me and we are excited to be teammates. My goal has been to be a pro and go through 2024. I want as much racing experience as possible and I will get a lot of that at DC Trident.“

Tucker was aiming to challenge for the NCAA title in the 100 breaststroke along with Lindsey Kozelsky, who also joined the Trident.

“I’ve been wanting to swim for ISL since it was first introduced,” Tucker told Swimming World. “Last year, I watched my friends compete and they had so much fun that I got kind of jealous. DC had always stuck out to me, not only because of the awesome people on it but also because of how energetic they are at matches. They are all such great personalities that work hard, trust each other, and have fun racing. The pandemic has pushed us all to break normalcy and carefully adapt, so it really means the world to me to still be able to join DC Trident and compete in the ISL. Swimming at a professional level has been a dream of mine since I was young, and a goal as I got older, so I am absolutely ecstatic to be able to experience such an amazing event as this.”

Miranda Tucker. Photo Courtesy: Dan D’Addona

Geer is another sprinter who continues to perform at an elite level; her experience will make her a valuable leader and relay swimmer for the Trident in the ISL.

DC Trident Key Losses

Katie Ledecky, USA
Siobhan Haughey, Hong Kong
Natalie Coughlin, USA
Cody Miller, USA
Andreas Vazaios, Greece
Brianna Throssell, Australia
Anika Apolstalon, Czech Republic
Kevin Cordes, USA
Jay Litherland, USA
Lisa Bratton, USA

DC Trident Key Additions

Amy Bilquist, USA
Jacob Pebley, USA
Margo Geer, USA
Ky-lee Perry, USA
Miranda Tucker, USA
Lindsey Kozelsky, USA
Kathrin Demler, Germany
Ali Galyer, New Zealand
Remedy Rule, Philippines

ISL: DC Trident Roster

Women

Bailey Andison, Canada
Emily Barksdale, USA
Amy Bilquist, USA
Kathrin Demler, Germany
Bethany Galat, USA
Ali Galyer, New Zealand
Margo Geer, USA
Leah Gingrich, USA
Madison Kennedy, USA
Lindsey Kozelsky, USA
Linnea Mack, USA
Ky-lee Perry, USA
Ting Quah, Singapore
Remedy Rule, Philippines
Miranda Tucker, USA

Men

Zach Apple, USA
Meiron Cheruti, Israel
Tommy Cope, USA
Abrahm DeVine, USA
Ian Finnerty, USA
Zane Grothe, USA
Zach Harting, USA
Robert Howard, USA
Drew Loy, USA
Conner McHugh, USA
Mark Nikolaev, Russia
Jacob Pebley, USA
Mohamed Samy, Egypt
Matheus Santana, Brazil
Giles Smith, USA
Velimir Stjepanovic, Serbia

ISL 2020: Cali Condors

The Cali Condors still look like a force to be reckoned with, stacked a plethora of dominant swimmers, especially American swimmers with a couple of Australian and Polish stars.

The Condors still have Caeleb Dressel, Olivia Smoliga, Lilly King, Melanie Margalis, Kelsi Dahlia and Hali Flickinger as well as Mitch Larkin and Ariarne Titmus from Australia.

Cali Condors Key Losses

Kylie Masse, Canada
Anton Ipsen, Denmark
John Shebat, USA
Andrew Wilson, USA
Kelsey Wog, Canada

Cali Condors Key Newcomers

Sherridon Dressel. Photo Courtesy: Bethany Hocker

Kevin Cordes, USA
Sherridon Dressel, USA
Beata Nelson, USA
Coleman Stewart, USA

Cali Condors Roster

*not participating

Haley Anderson, USA
Khader Baqlah, JOR
Bowe Becker, USA
Gunnar Bentz, USA
Erika Brown, USA
Veronica Burchill, USA
*Jack Cartwright, Australia
Marcin Cieslak, Poland
Kevin Cordes, USA
Kelsi Dahlia, USA
Caeleb Dressel, USA
Sherridon Dressel, USA
Kelly Fertel, USA
Nic Fink, USA
Hali Flickinger, USA
Townley Haas, USA
Molly Hannis, USA
*Meg Harris, Australia
Natalie Hinds, USA
Tate Jackson, USA
Lilly King, USA
Radoslaw, Kawecki, Poland
*Mitch Larkin, Australia
*Clyde Lewis, Australia
Kacper Majchrzak, Poland
Melanie Margalis, USA
Lia Neal, USA
Beata Nelson, USA
Tom Peribonio, Ecuador
Justin Ress, USA
Allison Schmitt, USA
Meghan Small, USA
Olivia Smoliga, USA
Coleman Stewart, USA
Mark Szaranek, Scotland
*Ariarne Titmus, Australia
Eddie Wang, USA

ISL 2020: LA Current

The LA Current are another team loaded with talent, though the team lost several stars from last year’s group.

The team will be without Nathan Adrian, Ryan Held, Blake Pieroni, Leah Smith, Kathleen Baker, Chase Kalisz, Matt Grevers and Farida Osman.

But the team has added Ali DeLoof, Maxime Rooney and Abbey Weitzeil.

LA Current Key Losses

Nathan Adrian, USA
Ryan Held, USA
Blake Pieroni, USA
Leah Smith, USA
Jack Conger, USA
Amy Bilquist, USA
Kathleen Baker, USA
Farida Osman, Egypt
Annie Lazor, USA
Michael Chadwick, USA
Chase Kalisz, USA
Matt Grevers, USA

LA Current Key Newcomers

Abbey Weitzeil. Photo Courtesy: Becca Wyant

Ali DeLoof, USA
Maxime Rooney, USA
Abbey Weitzeil, USA

LA Current Roster

Dylan Carter, Trinidad & Tobago
Apostolos Christou, Greece
Ali DeLoof, USA
Ella Eastin, USA
Marco Ferreira, Brazil
Helena Gasson, New Zealand
Beryl Gastaldello, France
Kristian Gkolomeev, Greece
Anastasiya Gorbenko, Israel
Santiago Grassi, Argentina
Jacob Heidtmann, Germany
Will Licon, USA
Alyssa Marsh, USA
Katie McLaughlin, USA
Andi Murez, Israel
Ryan Murphy, USA
Josh Prenot, USA
Claire Rasmus, USA
Maxime Rooney, USA
Makayla Sargent, USA
Fernando Scheffer, Brazil
Julia Sebastian, Argentina
Andrew Seliskar, USA
Tom Shields, USA
Felipe Silva, Brazil
Kierra Smith, Canada
Kendyl Stewart, USA
Aly Tetzloff, USA
Zane Waddell, South Africa
Abbey Weitzeil, USA
Madi Wilson, Australian
Tomoe Zenimoto Hvas, Norway

New York Breakers

The New York Breakers had the biggest roster shakeup of any of the U.S. teams.

The team lost Breeja Larson, Pernille Blume, Jacob Pebley, Lia Neal and the DeLoof sisters.

But the team has added Felix Auböck, Cam McEvoy, James Wilby and Boglarka Kapas.

NY Breakers Key Losses

Breeja Larson, USA
Pernille Blume, Denmark
Ali DeLoof, USA
Catie DeLoof, USA
Gabby DeLoof, USA
Lia Neal, USA
Marius Kusch, Germany
Jacob Pebley, USA

NY Breakers Key Newcomers

Felix Auböck, Austria
Cameron McEvoy, Australia
Boglarka Kapas, Hungary
Sarah Vasey, Great Britain
James Wilby, Great Britain

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James Wilby. Photo Courtesy: Becca Wyant

NY Breakers Roster

*not participating

Brandonn, Almeida, Brazil
Michael Andrew, USA
Felix Auböck, Austria
*Meg Bailey, Australia
Signe Bro, Denmark
Svetlana Chimrova, Russia
Lewis Clareburt, New Zealand
Emily Escobedo, USA
Erika Fairweather, New Zealand
Chloe Golding, Great Britain
*Abbey Harkin, Australia
Boglarka Kapas, Hungary
Ajna Kesely, Hungary
Marco Koch, Germany
Joe Litchfield, Great Britain
*Cameron McEvoy, Australia
*Jack McLoughlin, Australia
*Mollie O’Callaghan, Australia
Jeanette Ottesen, Denmark
Michal Poprawa, Poland
Christpher Reid, South Africa
Molly Renshaw, Great Britain
Matt Richards, Great Britian
*Mikkayla Sheridan, Australia
Jakub Skierka, Poland
*Brendon Smith, Australia
Arina Surkova, Russia
Jan Switkowski, Poland
Alicja Tchorz, Poland
Adam Telegdy, Hungary
*Matthew Temple, Australia
Pieter Timmers, Belgium
Daria Ustinova, Russia
Sarah Vasey, Great Britain
Tevyn Waddell, USA
Kasia Wasick, Poland
Jacob Whittle, Great Britain
Damian Wierling, Germany
James Wilby, Great Britain
Abbie Wood, Great Britain

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