Mallory Weggemann Among Stars On USA’s Parapan American Games Swim Team
Twenty athletes, including Paralympian Mallory Weggemann, were announced today by U.S. Paralympics, a division of the United States Olympic Committee, to the U. S. swimming team roster for the 2015 Parapan American Games, held Aug. 7-15 in Toronto.
With 13 female and seven male swimmers, the U.S. roster is highlighted by five Paralympians and four athletes who have competed at past world championships. Athletes will bring a breadth of experience with swimmers like 12-year-old Nelya Schasfoort (Avon Lake, Ohio) making her first Parapan Am appearance to five-time Paralympian, Curtis Lovejoy (Atlanta, Georgia) at age 57.
Representing Team USA at their first international competition are four newcomers—McClain Hermes (Dacula, Georgia), Schasfoort, Casandra Shaffer (Bend, Oregon) and Zachary Shattuck (Mt. Airy, Maryland).
“This is a very strong team we’re sending to the Parapan Am Games,” said Queenie Nichols, high performance director of U.S. Paralympics swimming. “We have several young swimmers we’re excited to see start to emerge on the international scene. This summer will be a great opportunity for them to learn from our seasoned swimmers and experience their first international meet.”
Swimming events at the 2015 Parapan American Games will take place from Aug. 8-14 at the CBC Pan Am/Parapan Am Aquatics Centre and Field House, also known as the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre. The event will be the fifth edition of the Parapan Am Games and will feature 1,608 athletes from 28 countries competing in 15 sports.
At the 2011 Parapan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico, the U.S. Paralympics Swimming Team won a total of 24 medals to finish third in the medal standings behind Brazil (first) and Mexico (second).
U.S. Paralympics swimming roster for the 2015 Parapan American Games:
*Denotes U.S. Paralympian | |||
Name | Hometown | Classification | |
Women | |||
Haley Beranbaum | Snohomish, Wash. | S5/SB5/SM5 | |
Reilly Boyt | Ft. Collins, Colo. | S6/SB6/SM6 | |
Leslie Cichocki | Palos Hills, Ill. | S14/SB14/SM14 | |
McClain Hermes | Dacula, Ga. | S12/SB12/SM12 | |
Sophia Herzog | Fairplay, Colo. | S6/SB6/SM6 | |
Anna Johannes* | Alexandria, Va. | S9/SB8/SM9 | |
Serafina King | Santa Monica, Calif. | S10/NE/NE | |
Ahalya Lettenberger | Glen Ellyn, Ill. | S8/SB7/SM8 | |
Nelya Schasfoort | Avon Lake, Ohio | S7/SB7/SM7 | |
Casandra Shaffer | Bend, Ore. | S6/SB6/SM6 | |
Natalie Sims | Minneapolis, Minn. | S9/SB9/SM9 | |
Mallory Weggemann* | Eagan, Minn. | S8/SB7/SM9 | |
Kayla Wheeler | Lynnwood, Wash. | S2/SB1/SM2 | |
Men | |||
Blake Adams | Lakeville, Minn. | S13/SB13/SM13 | |
Evan Austin* | Terre Haute, Ind. | S8/SB7/SM8 | |
Curtis Lovejoy* | Atlanta, Ga. | S2/SB1/SM2 | |
Lucas McCrory | Chapel Hill, N.C. | S7/SB7/SM7 | |
Tom Miazga* | Cedarburg, Wis. | S8/SB7/SM8 | |
Roderick Sewell | Florence, Ala. | S8/SB6/SM8 | |
Zachary Shattuck | Mt. Airy, Md. | S6/SB6/SM6 |
Watch a “Morning Swim Show” interview with Mallory Weggemann
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