Over 100 US National Teamers Set to Compete at San Antonio PSS (PSYCH SHEET) | SwimSwam

By Nicole Miller on SwimSwam

2021 TYR Pro Swim Series- San Antonio 

• January 14-17, 2021
• North East ISD Blossom Athletic Complex, San Antonio, TX
• Long Course Meters (LCM)
• psych sheet

USA Swimming dropped the psych sheets for one of the first two stops of the TYR Pro Swim Series in San Antonio, Texas. 

The San Antonio site, which was invite-only, is set to feature over 100 current and former US National Team members. The psych sheets for the second site of the January PSS stop in Richmond, VA have not been released yet.  Richmond and San Antonio were originally set to host alongside Irvine, CA. However, USA Swimming canceled the Irvine meet last week following COVID-19 restrictions.

World record-holders Regan Smith, Ryan Murphy, and Lilly King highlight the psych sheets, each holding top seeds in multiple events. Smith is currently ranked as the top swimmer in both the women’s 100 and 200 backstroke and the 100 and 200 butterfly. Murphy, the world record holder in the men’s 100 backstroke, holds the top seed in that event plus the 200 backstroke. King, SwimSwam’s 2020 US Women’s Swimmer of the Year, is the top seed in both the women’s 100 and 200 breaststroke. 

Murphy is also set to race against some of the top butterfliers in the world, entering the 100 butterfly against a stacked field that includes Maxime Rooney, Tom Shields, and Andrew Seliskar. Rooney currently holds the top seed in the event with his personal best of 50.68. All 4 swimmers recently competed as members of the LA Current during the 2020 ISL season. 

In a preview for what’s set to come during the 2021 Olympic Trials, the women’s backstroke events feature a loaded field. In addition to the 100 and 200 backstroke world record holder Smith, the field also features former world record holder Kathleen Baker, US Open Champion Phoebe Bacon, World Champion Olivia Smoliga, and US National Teamer Isabelle Stadden. In addition, the field features age-group stars Emma Weyant, Natalie Mannion, and Katie Grimes. 

Even without Caeleb Dressel, the men’s sprint freestyle events will be a tight battle between some of the fastest men in the world. Olympic gold medalist Ryan Held holds the top seed in the 100 freestyle, while he is seeded second in the 50 freestyle behind World Champion Zack Apple. Behind Held, the field in both events includes the aforementioned Apple, Rooney, Tate Jackson, and Harvard star Dean Farris. 

American record holder Abbey Weitzeil is set to follow up her record-breaking ISL season with her first LCM competition of the year. Weitzeil holds the top seed in the 50 freestyle, and the second seed in the 100 freestyle. Ahead of Weitzeil is former American record-holder Mallory Comerford. US National Team members Margo Geer, Smoliga, and Natalie Hinds are also seeded within the top 5 of both events. 

Following her breakout US Open performance, 15-year-old Bella Sims is looking to take down a crowded field in the distance freestyle events. Sims is currently set to compete in the 800 freestyle, 200 freestyle, 400 IM, 400 freestyle, and 1500 freestyle. However, she’ll have to overcome her teammate and distance star Erica Sullivan, along with Wisconsin swimmer Ally McHugh and 2021 Olympic qualifier Haley Anderson. 

The men’s IM events will also feature a slew of potential Olympic qualifiers, including 2016 Olympians Chase Kalisz and Jay Litherland, along with youngsters Jake Foster and Carson Foster. In the 400 IM, Club Wolverines’ Charlie Swanson holds the second seed behind Litherland, and he could be looking to make some noise. 

The closest races for both genders may come in the breaststroke events, where a strong field of swimmers headline the meet. On the women’s side, Bethany Galat, Madisyn Cox, and Micah Sumrall will be battling with the aforementioned King for the top spot. The men’s side features Cody Miller, Andrew Wilson, Ian Finnerty, Nic Fink, and Kevin Cordes, all of whom are among the top contenders for the US Olympic Team come June. 

 

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