2018 Eric Namesnik Memorial Open
- June 1st-3rd, 2018
- Canham Natatorium, Ann Arbor, Michigan
- 50m (LCM)
- Psych Sheets
The 2018 Eric Namesnik Memorial Open, a meet that was formerly part of the USA Swimming Grand Prix Series, will take place this weekend on the University of Michigan campus. Besides its role as a high-level local club meet, the event serves as a memory of former University of Michigan Eric Namesnik. Namesnik, a two-time Olympic silver medalist in the 400 IM, was a volunteer assistant for nearby Eastern Michigan University, a club coach for the hosts Wolverine Aquatics, and spent 7 years as an assistant coach at Michigan before he died in a car crash in 2006 when he was just 35-years old.
Besides a large contingent of club swimmers from Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan who descend on this centralized meet every year, the majority of the University of Michigan varsity team will participate. That includes Felix Auboeck, who was the runner-up last year in both the 500 free and 1650 free at the NCAA Championships. The 2016 Austrian Olympian will swim the 50, 100, 200, 400, and 1500 meter freestyles.
His distance training partner PJ Ransford is one of only 9 men who will take on the 800 free.
Also attending the meet is Siobhan Haughey, a Hong Kong national who was 2nd at NCAAs last year in the women’s 200 free.
Among the more unexpected names is that of Wu Qingfeng, a 15-year old from China who is swimming unattached. She was as fast as 24.89 in the 50 free at last year’s Chinese National Games, when she was still 14. This weekend in Ann Arbor, she’ll swim as the #2 seed in the 200 free (2:00.72), the top seed in the 50 free (24.62), and the top seed in the 100 free (54.59).
USA Swimming National Team members Ali DeLoof, Sierra Schmidt, Miranda Tucker, PJ Ransford, Vanessa Krause, and Charlie Swanson will all also be in attendance at the meet.
Does CW have any standout age groupers?
Yes
Who, if I may ask? I’m not very familiar with the club and only the national teamers are mentioned above.
Patrick Callan vs Felix Auboeck in 200/400. A preview of every Michigan practice for the next few years. Auboeck is my favorite foreign swimmer after making a huge jump in 2017. Callan could explode training with him.
Snik was a good friend. His untimely passing left a mark on many 90s swimmers. He was also active in USA Swimming at many levels. So great to have a meet named after him. We miss you, Snik.
Such a fun meet to take part in while honoring Namesnik.
“Snik” was coaching Wolverine Aquatics, a now defunct team that was part of the merger that created the current Club Wolverine. Club Wolverine as it currently stands was not yet finalized when the tragic accident, following a winter morning swim practice, occurred. Prior to this, he was an integral part of Jon Urbancheck’s UofM staff. RIP Eric.
Eric was the longtime assistant coach at Michigan under Jon Urbanchek. And he was set to lead the merger of three Ann Arbor based age group clubs before his tragic death.
Yes
Eric won two silvers. Both in 4im. 1992 and 1996