BLACKSBURG – 13 current student-athletes, three incoming freshmen and three H20kie alums will represent the Virginia Tech swimming and diving program at the U.S. Olympic Swimming Trails in Omaha, Neb., this weekend.
Junior Robert Owen will be competing in a program-best four events while junior Maggie Gruber and classmate Jessica Hespeler will swim in two events on the women’s side.
The trials will kick-off on Sunday, June 26, starting with the men’s 400 individual medley and will wrap-up with two finals on Sunday, July 3.
“We are very excited about the opportunity to compete at our nation's highest event,” said Tech head coach Ned Skinner. “The swimmers have dreamed of this opportunity for a lifetime, and we are ready to go and represent Virginia Tech and The Hokie nation. We are very proud of the work and dedication our swimmers have exhibited and we are ready for a great meet. This means so much to our program to have an outstanding group and large group represent. We are ready to go and have an outstanding experience.”
Three incoming Hokie freshman from the recruiting class of 2016, Colin Murphy, Chloe Hicks and Eleanor Mattheson, will also get a crack at competing in Rio this weekend.
The order of events can be found here.
Men’s qualifiers
Brent Benedict: 50 freestyle
Lucas Bureau - 100 freestyle, 200 individual medley, 100 butterfly
Michael Craddock - 400 freestyle
Justin Edwards - 100 breaststroke and 200 breaststroke
Brandon Fiala - 100 breaststroke 200 individual medley
Ian Ho - 50 freestyle
Robert Owen 100 backstroke, 200 backstroke, 200 individual medley, 400 individual medley
Zach Switzer - 100 backstroke
Sean Workman 100 backstroke, 200 backstroke
Women’s qualifiers
Adriana Grabski - 50 freestyle
Maggie Gruber - 50 freestyle, 100 butterfly
Holly Harper - 100 backstroke
Jessica Hespler - 200 freestyle, 400 freestyle
2016-17 freshmen qualifiers
Colin Murphy - 1,500 freestyle
Chloe Hicks - 200 backstroke
Eleanor Mattheson - 400 individual medley, 200 butterfly
Alumni qualifiers
Jake Ores - 400 freestyle, 1,500 freestyle
Collin Higgins - 100 backstroke
CJ Fiala - 50 freestyle
For updates on Virginia Tech swimming & diving, follow the Hokies on Twitter Follow @VT_SwimDive