BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – When USA Swimming announced the members of the 2015-16 National Team on Tuesday, there was a strong contingent of swimmers that had ties to Indiana University. Among those included were current and former IU team members along with athletes that are currently training with the Indiana coaches in preparation for the 2016 Olympics.
The current members of IU team that were named to the national team include Lilly King (Evansville, Ind.) in the 100 breaststroke, and Blake Pieroni (Valparaiso, Ind.) in the 200 freestyle. King’s time of 1:06.69 at the U.S. National Championships in August ranks as the eighth-fastest time in the world this year while Pieroni is 29th in the world in the 200 free.
Former IU standouts that made the cut are Cody Miller (Las Vegas, Nev.) in the 100 breaststroke and 200 breaststroke along with Lindsay Vrooman (Baden, Pa.) in the 400 freestyle and 800 freestyle. Miller checks in eighth in the world in the 100 breaststroke and 11th in the world in the 200. For Vrooman, she is ranked No. 20 in the world in the 400 free and No. 11 in the 800 free.
Zane Grothe (Boulder City, Nev.), a graduate of Auburn University, is currently training with the IU coaches and staff in Bloomington and he was named to the team in the 200 freestyle and 400 freestyle. Groth ranks ninth in the 400 free and 26thin the world in the 200 free.
Joining the U.S. National Team coaching staff are current Indiana head coach Ray Looze, associate head coach Mike Westphal and former IU swimmer Logan Schaefer.
Benefits offered to USA Swimming National Team members include reimbursement for travel to USA Swimming Arena Pro Swim Series meets and training camp opportunities. Select athletes are eligible for monthly assistance and elite athlete health insurance. A full list of opportunities available to members of the National Team is available online at usaswimming.org.
Swimming news courtesy of Indiana Swimming & Diving.