Badger Swimmers Head to World Championship Trials
March 31, 2005 | Women's Swimming & Diving
Seven current and former University of Wisconsin swimmers will compete this weekend at the 2005 World Championship Trials, held April 1-6 at the Indiana University Natatorium in Indianapolis.
Senior Carly Piper (Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich.), sophomore Susan Johnson (Toledo, Ohio), freshman Jackie Vavrek (West Chicago, Ill.) and senior Tim Liebhold (Chapel Hill, N.C.) are the current Badgers entered in the competition. Meanwhile, former UW athletes Dale Rogers, Matt Marshall and Bethany Pendleton also are headed to Indianapolis.
'The group that's headed to the World Trials all have national'and some, international'experience,' head coach Eric Hansen said. 'I feel pretty good about our chances of getting some of these athletes on the U.S. team, one of our primary goals heading into this season.'
Leading the pack with the most events are Piper, who will compete in the 200-, 400-, 800- and 1500-meter freestyles, and Liebhold, who is entered in the 200- and 400-meter IM and the 100- and 200-meter backstroke.
In addition, Johnson will be swimming in the 100-meter butterfly and the 100- and 200-meter backstrokes, while Vavrek will take part in the 50-meter freestyle.
As for the recent graduates, Rogers will compete in the 100-meter breaststroke and the 50-, 100- and 200-meter freestyle; Marshall is in the 100-meter butterfly and the 50- and 100-meter freestyle; and Pendleton will compete in the 200- and 400-meter IM, the 100- and 200-meter freestyle and the 200-meter backstroke.
The top swimmers in each event will move on to the World Championships in Montreal. Some swimmers who don't make the U.S. Team and are full-time students will be invited to compete in the World University Games.
Senior Adam Mania (Hickmam, Neb.) has already qualified for the World Championships as a member of the Polish team.
