USC Swim and Dive, A Month in Review
Recently, USC swimmers and divers have been busy in action all over world as Trojans competed in the Speedo Championships West, USA Open Diving Championships, Tokyo Olympics, and began preparing for a third season of ISL competition.
Just last week, a handful of Trojans competed at the Speedo Championships West in Irvine, highlighted by gold medal-worthy swims from Isabelle Odgers and Kaitlyn Dobler.
Senior Isabelle Odgers won the 200m breaststroke in 2:28.23 while sophomore Dobler took the 100m breaststroke in 1:07.46. Odgers was also fourth in the 200m IM.
Sophomore Ben Dillard blasted a 2:12.17 in the men's 200m breaststroke to lower the previous Trojan record (2:12.99) set in 2015 by Steven Stumph. He was also third in the 100m breaststroke, posting a 1:02.32.
USC had an additional five swimmers account for seven top-eight finishes at the Championships. Junior Harry Homans led the way for the Trojans with three top-eight finishes, as he touched second in the 200m fly (1:59.32) and 200m back (2:02.83), and eighth in the 100m fly (54.03). Dominic Margarino was sixth in the 200m free (1:50.62), Ivan Puskovitch third in the 400m IM (4:23.73), Hallie Kinsey fifth in the 100m fly (1:00.82) and Laticia Transom tied for fourth in the 50m free (26.04).
USA Open Diving Championship:
Also last week, incoming Trojan Grace Lee won the USA Open on 10-meter, taking the platform event with a score of 263 to qualify for the USA Winter Nationals.
Trojans in Tokyo:
USC swimmers recently wrapped up competition at the Tokyo Olympics as 16 Trojans from 15 different countries swam in the postponed 2020 Games.
USC's 16-swimmer contingent featured Trojan alumnae Haley Anderson (USA), Dylan Carter (Trinidad and Tobago), Santo Condorelli (Italy), Louise Hansson (Sweden), Katinka Hosszu (Hungary), Ous Mellouli (Tunisia), Robert Glinta (Romania), Vladimir Morozov (Russian Olympic Committee), Anika Apostalon (Czech Republic) and Kasia Wilk-Wasick (Poland).
In addition to the athletes competing, there were four former USC swimmers in Tokyo performing coaching duties for various countries including Mike Bottom (Yemen), Chase Bloch (Trinidad and Tobago), Ray Looze (USA), and Teri Mckeever (USA). As well as one former NCAA champion, Lindsay Benko-Mintenko, leading Team USA as the National Team Director. Five current student-athletes and one incoming student-athlete also represented USC at the Games as Alexei Sancov (Moldova), Victor Johansson (Sweden), Anicka Delgado (Ecuador), Nikola Miljenic (Croatia), Evangelos Makrygiannis (Greece) and Marlene Kahler (Austria) also competed in Tokyo.
Trojan swimmers reached eight finals (including relays) and five semifinals at the just-concluded 2020 Tokyo Olympics. USC's first medal of the 2020 Olympics was won by swimmer Santo Condorelli, who got a silver as part of Italy's 400m freestyle relay.
Six of the 16 Trojans were first-time Olympians, with Delgado and Kahler each posting national records during their Olympic debuts. Delgado lowered her own Ecuadorian national records in both the 50m free (25.36) and 100m free (55.56) in Tokyo. Kahler also set a pair of national records as she appeared in both the 400m free (4:08.37) and 1500m free (16:20.05).
Three Trojans finished top-five or better individually, as Katinka Hosszu (400m IM), Louise Hansson (100m fly) and Kasia Wilk-Wasick (50m free) led the way for the Trojans.
The 16 Trojans swimming in Tokyo was the most Olympians for USC Swim since Athens in 2004 (20).
ISL Season 3:
Looking ahead, eight Trojans will compete during season three of the International Swimming League (ISL), with an additional four USC swimmers contributing on deck as coaches and general managers.
Following a successful 2020 season organized against the odds, the ISL returns for a third season, with the "regular season" taking place from the end of August to the end of September. Following the regular season will be play-offs in November and the ISL Grand Finale in December. The regular season will take place in Naples, Italy, with the play-offs being held in the Dutch city of Eindhoven.
Olympic gold medalists Lenny Krayzelburg (LA Current) and Kaitlin Sandeno (DC Trident) return as general managers for the second consecutive season, while trojan alum Dave Salo (Tokyo Frog Kings) and Jeff Julian (Cali Condors) will return as coaches.
Swimming under former USC head coach Dave Salo will be Trojans Vladimir Morozov and Cristian Quintero.
2020 Olympic finalists Louise Hansson and Kasia Wilk-Wasick will represent the Toronto Titans alongside Trojan Anika Apostalon.
The Iron Lady Katinka Hosszu will appropriately represent Team Iron for the third consecutive season. Hosszu is also part owner of Team Iron. Joining Hosszu will be former USC swimmer Robert Glinta.
Finally, two-time Olympian Dylan Carter will join the London Roar during the upcoming third season of competition.
ABOUT THE ISL: The International Swimming League is a global professional swimming league that unites the world's best international swimmers in a team-based competition. The ISL successfully completed its second season in 2020, with 10 Clubs based in North America, Europe, and Asia.
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