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Sept. 25, 2008

2008-09 USA Swimming National Team

AUBURN - Six current and former Auburn swimmers have been named to the USA Swimming 2008-09 National Team, the organization announced Thursday. The team is an honorary national team, commending American swimmers for their accomplishments in national-team events over the year.

Current Tigers Tyler McGill and Ava Ohlgren made the team for their efforts this past summer. McGill was selected to the team in the 100 butterfly after he finished fourth at Olympic Trials with a time of 52.20. Ohlgren made the team in the 200 individual medley after her time of 2:11.96 in the semifinals of the Olympic Trials.

"It feels good to be recognized in that kind of way, especially with all the talent the United States has," said McGill. "It is an honor and I am actually leaving next week to go to a national team retreat and I am really excited about that, getting to meet new people, experience new things and get in the right direction as far as getting faster and getting better."

Ohlgren was also honored to get a spot on the team, but more excited at reaching a long-time goal.

"I think it is awesome, it has been one of my goals for a while and I kept barely missing it, so it is great to finally make it," said Ohlgren. "It is great being a part of the national team and you get some awesome opportunities with it."

Also making their way onto the team are former Tigers Mark Gangloff (100 breast), Eric Shanteau (100 breast, 200 breast, 200 IM), Kara Denby (50 free) and Margaret Hoelzer (100 back, 200 back).

Gangloff, who represented the U.S. at the 2008 Olympics, earns his way on the team with his 100 breast time of 1:00.10 that finished second at Olympic Trials. Shanteau, also an Olympian, led the Auburn contingent by making the team in three events. His time of 1:00.63 in the 100 breast finished third at Olympic Trials while his 2:10.10 at the Olympics placed him 10th in the 200 breast semifinals. He also earned his way on in the 200 IM with a third-place time of 1:58.15 at Olympic Trials.

Denby makes the team after finishing fifth at Olympic Trials in the 50 free with a time of 25.12. Holezer, an Olympian for the United States, rounds out the former Tigers after her performance at Olympic Trials. She made the team in the 100 back with a second-place time of 59.21 while her winning time of 2:06.09 in the 200 back at the time was a world record.

To be named to the USA Swimming National Team, a swimmer must have one of the top six times in Olympic events swum in finals from the previous year's Olympic Games, Olympic Trials and U.S. Open. Relay leadoffs and time trials are not included in the final listing.

The Auburn swimming and diving team continues its preseason training with its annual Orange & Blue meet at 4 p.m., Friday at the James E. Martin Aquatic Center. The meet is open to the public as the Tigers will compete in a series of unusual relay events, including 200 breaststroke relay, 200 underwater relay, 200 backstroke relay, crescendo relay and the 200 butterfly relay.

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