Forty-one of the USA Swimming top junior swimmers were selected to compete at two of the best international junior events taking place this spring — the Mel Zajac Jr. International Swim Meet and the Mare Nostrum. In total, 36 clubs will be represented among the 41 junior swimmers competing for the United States in international competition for the first time.
The 56th annual Mel Zajac Jr. International Swim Meet is a three-day event, beginning May 24 in Vancouver, British Canada. To be eligible for the Mel Zajac Jr. International, athletes must have a minimum of a top-50 Power Ranking on the world 100, be in high school and have never previously represented the United States in international competition. This group will follow in the footsteps of Team USA Olympians Maya DiRado, Missy Franklin and Tom Shields as Mel Zajac junior competitors. The event was also Dakota Luther’s first international trip in 2017, just one month before she made the 2017 U.S. World Championships team.
More meet coverage here.
Last year’s Mel Zajac event featured two Americans being highlighted as top junior female and male swimmers of the event after Isabelle Stadden set the eighth best time in the world in the 200-meter backstroke, finishing in 2:08.37. Gianluca Urlando received male honors after his 53.21 performance in the men’s 100m butterfly.
Just over two weeks and 5,000 miles later, the Mare Nostrum will take place in Canet-en-Roussillon, France (June 11 – 12) and Barcelona, Spain (June 15 – 16). Only the highest-ranked 18 and under athletes qualify for the Mare Nostrum, regardless of National Team or National Junior Team Status. Female swimmers must have a minimum of a top-50 world rank and male swimmers must post a top-75 in the world ranking from 2018.
The 18 American junior competitors are an increased total from the 2018 Mare Nostrum, when only 10 American juniors made the trip to Europe. Making appearances at the 2018 Mare Nostrum were former junior standouts and current National Team athletes Michael Andrew, Grace Ariola, Zoe Bartel, Brooke Forde, Bryce Mefford and Erica Sullivan.
Mel Zajac Jr. International Swim Meet Roster
USA Swimming Women’s Roster
| Name | Club | Coach |
| Kathryn Ackerman | Michigan Lakeshore Aquatics | Jim Whitehead |
| Abby Arens | Marlins of Raleigh | Paul Silver |
| Olivia Bray | Virgina Gators | Doug Fonder/Kathy Fonder |
| Caitlin Brooks | Gator Swim Club | Robert Pinter |
| Alexandra Crisera | Beach Cities Swimming | Monique Shelton |
| Annabel Crush | Lakeside Swim Team | Mike Deboor/Tony Carroll |
| Kaitlyn Dobler | The Dolphins Portland Swimming | Nacim Bouferrache |
| Coleen Gillilan | Fort Collins Area Swim Team | Mike Novell |
| Isabel Gormley | Asphalt Green Unified Aquatics | David Rodriguez |
| Charlotte Hook | TAC Titans | Bruce Marchionda/Robert Norman |
| Torri Huske | Arlington Aquatic Club | Evan Stiles |
| Anna Keating | Machine Aquatics | Dan Jacobs |
| Justina Kozan | Brea Aquatics | Jim Johnson |
| Janessa Mathews | Ohio State Swim Club | Kyle Goodrich |
| Amanda Ray | New Wave Swim Team | John Roy/Edward Lower |
| Emma Wheal | Western Hills Athletic Club | James Bynum |
USA Swimming Men’s Roster
| Name | Club | Coach |
| David Curtiss | Hamilton Y Aquatic Club | Susan Welsh |
| Matt Fallon | Somerset Valley YMCA | Dan Roth |
| Ian Grum | Dynamo Swim Club | Ian Murray |
| Julian Hill | Gator Swim Club | Robert Pinter |
| Jason Louser | Long Island Aquatic Club | Dave Ferris/Ginny Nussbaum |
| Joshua Matheny | Team Pittsburgh Elite Aquatics | Dave Shraven |
| River Wright | Bluefish Swim Club | Chuck Batchelor |
Head Coach: Ian Murray (Dynamo Swim Club)
Assistant Coach: Monique Shelton (Beach Cities Swimming)
Manager: Beau Caldwell
Team Physician: Dr. Adam Lewno
18 & Under International Team: Mare Nostrum Roster
| Name | Club |
| Phoebe Bacon | Nation’s Capital |
| Patrick Callan | Michigan/Titans |
| Shaine Casas | Texas A&M |
| Adam Chaney | Mason Manta Rays |
| Madelyn Donohoe | The Fish |
| Carson Foster | Mason Manta Rays |
| Jake Foster | Mason Manta Rays |
| Ethan Harder | Billings Aquatic Club |
| Isabel Ivey | California Berkeley/Lakers |
| Van Mathias | Indiana University/Multnomah Athletic Club |
| Ella Nelson | Nashville Aquatics |
| Lillian Nordmann | Magnolia Aquatics |
| Kieran Smith | University of Florida/Ridgefield Aquatic Club |
| Kevin Vargas | La Mirada Armada |
| Alex Walsh | Nashville Aquatics |
| Gretchen Walsh | Nashville Aquatics |
| Emma Weyant | Sarasota Sharks |
| Reece Whitley | California Berkeley/Penn Charter |
Head Coach: Ken Heis
Manager: Laura Ring
— The above press release was posted by Swimming World in conjunction with USA Swimming. For press releases and advertising inquiries please contact Advertising@SwimmingWorld.com.