5 Indiana natives made last Olympic team. 32 names to know at Indy's USA Swimming Trials.
INDIANAPOLIS – The U.S. Olympic swim trials are from June 15-23 in a 50-meter pool assembled inside Lucas Oil Stadium. Top two in each event qualify for the Paris Olympics, and usually top six in 100- and 200-meter freestyles for relays.
In 2021, there were five Indiana natives on the Tokyo team, second to California’s seven.
'Largest swim meet ever.' How an Olympic pool was built inside Lucas Oil Stadium
Swimmers to watch with Indiana ties:
Men
Brian Benzing, IU. NCAA runner-up in 100 breaststroke is transferring from Towson to Indiana University.
Michael Brinegar, Columbus/IU. Olympian in 2021 in 800 and 1,500 freestyles, finishing second at U.S. trials in both. World junior open-water champion in 2018.
Brendan Burns, IU. Three-time NCAA champion, including 100 backstroke the past two years. Has never made U.S. team in long course pool.
Wyatt Davis, Carmel. Last year, in his first nationals final since 2019, he was third in 50 backstroke. In 2022, his most recent college season at Michigan, he was second in 100 backstroke in Big Ten. World junior champion in 200 backstroke in 2019, winning six medals. Davis, 22, won record 14 state titles. On Jan. 2, he accepted a three-month suspension from the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency after testing positive June 30, 2023, for cannabis.
Gregg Enoch, Carmel. Louisville signee won 200 individual medley and 500 freestyle at state meet, and he anchored two winning relays. At East winter juniors, he won 500 free in 4:14.36, which would have broken Jake Mitchell’s public school record if it had been a high school meet.
Isaac Fleig, Fishers Area Swimming Tigers. Wisconsin native took a gap year, relocated to train in Southern California, then joined Indiana club. Won 1,500 freestyle in 15:23.25 at Indianapolis’ spring sectional, close to his best of 15:19.90.
Chris Giuliani, Notre Dame. Bronze medalist in 4x100 freestyle at 2023 World Championships. In NCAA freestyle races, he was fourth in 50, fifth in 100, third in 200.
Drew Kibler, Carmel. Former national high school swimmer of the year became Carmel’s first Olympic swimmer, first individual NCAA champion (at Texas), first World Championships medalist. Has made past three global teams. Training under coach Bob Bowman, who recently left Arizona State for Texas.
Matt King, IU. The 22-year-old is transferring to Indiana after college seasons at Alabama and Virginia. Has won SEC and ACC titles, plus six relay medals at 2023 and 2024 World Championships.
Josh Matheny, IU. Qualified in 100 and 200 breaststrokes for 2023 World Championships, where he won two relay medals.
Owen McDonald, IU. Transferring from Arizona State to IU. In NCAAs at Indianapolis, he was No. 3 scorer for champion Sun Devils. Second at NCAAs in 200 individual medley, third in 200 backstroke, sixth in 100 backstroke.
Cody Miller, IU. The 32-year-old remains an active figure in the sport, especially on social media. He won 100 breaststroke bronze and 4x100 medley relay gold at 2016 Olympics.
Jake Mitchell, Carmel. Finished eighth in 400 freestyle at 2021 Olympics after memorably meeting Tokyo standard in solo time trial at Olympic Trials. Won silver medal in 4x200 freestyle at 2023 World Championships. His B-final time of 4:10.48 in 500 freestyle was fourth-fastest overall at NCAAs.
Will Modglin, Zionsville. Two-time national high school swimmer of the year. Coming off freshman season at Texas. He won B final at NCAAs in 44.20 — .08 off the fastest ever by a college freshman — and would have placed fifth in A final. It was a school record at one of swimming’s most storied programs.
Blake Pieroni, Chesterton/IU. Came out of retirement in bid to make third Olympic team. The 28-year-old has won three Olympic gold medals and four world golds, all in relays.
Kyle Ponsler, Fishers. As North Carolina State sophomore, he was 10th in NCAA 400 individual medley with time that would have placed sixth in A final. Former state champion in 500 freestyle.
Aaron Shackell, Carmel. Former national high school record-holder in 200 freestyle was a Junior Pan Pac gold medalist in 200 butterfly. Left Cal program to train in Carmel for trials, then heads to Texas for 2024-25 college season.
Luke Whitlock, Noblesville/Fishers Area Swimming Tigers. Eighteen-year-old has come on strong to become contender to make Olympics in 800 and 1,500 freestyles, in which he ranks No. 3 among Americans this year.
Women
Berit Berglund, Carmel. Coming off freshman season at Texas, finishing ninth in 100 backstroke at NCAAs in 50.70. Set state record of 51.50 in high school and was three-time state champion.
Lynsey Bowen, Carmel. Gold medalist in 4x200 relay at 2023 junior worlds. Junior national champion in 800 freestyle. Three state titles in 500 freestyle, two in 200 freestyle. State record in 500 free.
Lily Christianson, Osceola. State champion in 50 and 100 freestyles for Penn High School. State record in 50 free. U.S. junior champion in 50 freestyle. North Carolina State signee.
Ellie Clarke, Carmel. At 14, she is among youngest to qualify for Olympic Trials. Junior national champion in 200 backstroke as 13-year-old.
Mariah Denigan, IU. Distance freestyler has already made Olympic team in 10K open water. Sixth in 10K at 2023 worlds. Seventh in 1,650 freestyle at NCAAs.
Kayla Han, Carmel. Relocated from La Mirada, Calif. Sixteen-year-old was world junior champion in 800 freestyle. Represented Team USA at February’s worlds in Doha. At 13, she was youngest to compete at 2021 Olympic Trials.
Lilly King, Evansville/ IU. After five Olympic medals, 23 world medals (long and short course) and eight NCAA titles, the 27-year-old tries to hold off younger breaststrokers. At 2023 worlds, she was out of the medals in both 100 and 200 breaststrokes.
Julie Mishler, Wawasee/Fishers Area Swimming Tigers. She won 50 freestyle at March’s sectional in 25.07 — No. 8 all-time in 15-16 age group — and beat Alex Shackell. Mishler won 50 free at East winter juniors, too.
Kristina Paegle, IU. She had one of most dramatic finishes in IU history, swimming 46.65 anchor in 4x100 freestyle relay to allow Hoosiers to beat Ohio State by one-half point for Big Ten championship. Sophomore from Bloomington South was 11th in 100 freestyle at NCAAs. Holds state records in 100 and 200 freestyles.
Kelly Pash, Carmel. Won four medals at 2023 Pan American Games, including silver in 100 butterfly and bronze in 200 butterfly. Coming off college season at Texas in which she was second in 200 butterfly and fourth in 100 fly at NCAAs. Fifth in 200 fly at 2021 Olympic Trials. Helped Texas finish second in 2022, 2023 and 2024 NCAA team standings.
Anna Peplowski, IU. At NCAAs, she was second in 200 freestyle (.07 from first) and third in 500 freestyle. Silver medalist at 2023 worlds from heats of 4x200 freestyle relay.
JoJo Ramey, Fishers. Coming off freshman season at Florida, finishing 12th in 200 backstroke at NCAAs. She is stronger in long course, having placed seventh at 2021 Olympic Trials as a 16-year-old.
Alex Shackell, Carmel. At 16, she was first out of Carmel girls program to win a world medal, taking silver in anchoring 4x200 freestyle relay last year. State champion in freestyle, butterfly, backstroke. At East winter juniors, she won 200 butterfly in 1:50.15 — No. 6 American ever, record for girls 17-18 and fast enough to have won 2024 NCAAs.
More: After another dominant meet, Carmel teen Alex Shackell closer to realizing Paris dream
Molly Sweeney, Carmel. Through sophomore season, the former soccer player is 8-of-8 at state. Competed at junior worlds. East winter juniors double champion, including second-fastest 200 breaststroke ever in 15-16 age group.
'Never had this happen before.' Soccer's in her genes, but Molly Sweeney at home in pool.
Contact IndyStar correspondent David Woods at dwoods1411@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter: @DavidWoods007.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: US Olympic Swimming Trials 2024 Indiana swimmers to know
