TEMPE, Ariz. – USA Swimming announced the names of the youth swimmers who will represent the 2019-20 U.S. National Junior Team, with three Sun Devils making the 83-person roster. Freshmen Claire Nguyen (Open Water), Lindsay Looney (200 fly) and Julian Hill (200 free) were among those that made the cut.
To be selected to the National Junior Team, athletes must first meet the general criteria of being USA Swimming members at the time of their qualifying performance, being eligible to represent the U.S. in international competition and being 18-years-old or younger.
Upon meeting those qualifications, the athletes are then selected based upon the performance criteria: Priority One (top two athletes in each individual Olympic event), Priority Two (third and fourth ranked swimmer in the 100 and 200 meter long course freestyle) and Priority Three (additional female athletes who have a world tanking within the top 75 in an individual Olympic event and male with a ranking within the top 100).
Looney, who was one of eight women selected for the 200 fly, comes to Tempe from Denison, Tex. Majoring in psychology at Arizona State, Looney found major success in the pool as well as in the classroom during her time at Denison High School as she was a seven-time Texas 5A UIL State Champion and held records in the 100 fly and 200 IM entering into her freshman year as a Sun Devil. She was also a member of the National Honor Society, Senior Class Treasurer and made the Scholastic All-America team.
Nguyen found similar results while at Riverside High School in Leesburg, Va., as she was a member of the French National Honor Society. A member of the Riverside team that won states in 2017, Nguyen was also the All-Loudoun Swimmer of the Year from 2017-19, earning four varsity letters as a Ram.
As the final Sun Devil to garner National Junior Team honors, Hill joins the Sun Devils after an accomplished high school career in the classroom and pool. Hill was a seven-time NISCA All-American and three-time Florida 4A State Champion in the 200 free (2017, 2018) and 500 free (2018). Coming into his freshman season in Tempe, he also held the F.W. Buchholz High School record in the 200 free and 500 free. On the world level, Hill has qualified for the 2020 Olympic Trials in the 200 and 400 freestyle events.
Catch all three Sun Devil swimmers in action this Friday, Sep. 27 at the annual Maroon & Gold Scrimmage. Action kicks off at 3 p.m., and as with all Sun Devil swimming and diving events, the meet is free to the public.
To be selected to the National Junior Team, athletes must first meet the general criteria of being USA Swimming members at the time of their qualifying performance, being eligible to represent the U.S. in international competition and being 18-years-old or younger.
Upon meeting those qualifications, the athletes are then selected based upon the performance criteria: Priority One (top two athletes in each individual Olympic event), Priority Two (third and fourth ranked swimmer in the 100 and 200 meter long course freestyle) and Priority Three (additional female athletes who have a world tanking within the top 75 in an individual Olympic event and male with a ranking within the top 100).
Looney, who was one of eight women selected for the 200 fly, comes to Tempe from Denison, Tex. Majoring in psychology at Arizona State, Looney found major success in the pool as well as in the classroom during her time at Denison High School as she was a seven-time Texas 5A UIL State Champion and held records in the 100 fly and 200 IM entering into her freshman year as a Sun Devil. She was also a member of the National Honor Society, Senior Class Treasurer and made the Scholastic All-America team.
Nguyen found similar results while at Riverside High School in Leesburg, Va., as she was a member of the French National Honor Society. A member of the Riverside team that won states in 2017, Nguyen was also the All-Loudoun Swimmer of the Year from 2017-19, earning four varsity letters as a Ram.
As the final Sun Devil to garner National Junior Team honors, Hill joins the Sun Devils after an accomplished high school career in the classroom and pool. Hill was a seven-time NISCA All-American and three-time Florida 4A State Champion in the 200 free (2017, 2018) and 500 free (2018). Coming into his freshman season in Tempe, he also held the F.W. Buchholz High School record in the 200 free and 500 free. On the world level, Hill has qualified for the 2020 Olympic Trials in the 200 and 400 freestyle events.
Catch all three Sun Devil swimmers in action this Friday, Sep. 27 at the annual Maroon & Gold Scrimmage. Action kicks off at 3 p.m., and as with all Sun Devil swimming and diving events, the meet is free to the public.