US names Toronto 2015 swimming team

“This is a very strong team we’re sending to the Parapan Am Games”

Twenty athletes were announced on Friday (3 April) by US Paralympics, a division of the United States Olympic Committee, to the US swimming team roster for the Toronto 2015 Parapan American Games from 7-15 August.

With 13 female and seven male swimmers, the US roster is highlighted by five Paralympians and four athletes who have competed at past IPC Swimming World Championships. Athletes will bring a breadth of experience with swimmers like 12-year-old Nelya Schasfoort making her first Parapan American Games appearance and five-time Paralympian, Curtis Lovejoy at age 57.

Representing Team USA at their first international competition are four newcomers - McClain Hermes, Casandra Shaffer and Zachary Shattuck.

“This is a very strong team we’re sending to the Parapan Am Games,” said Queenie Nichols, high performance director of US Paralympics swimming. “We have several young swimmers we’re excited to see start to emerge on the international scene. This summer will be a great opportunity for them to learn from our seasoned swimmers and experience their first international meet.”

Swimming events at Toronto 2015 will take place from 8-14 August at the CBC Pan Am/Parapan Am Aquatics Centre and Field House, also known as the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre. The event will be the fifth edition of the Parapan Am Games and will feature 1,600 athletes from 28 countries competing in 15 sports.

At the 2011 Parapan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico, the US Paralympics Swimming Team won a total of 24 medals to finish third in the medal standings behind Brazil and Mexico.

Full Toronto 2015 roster

*denotes U.S. Paralympian

Women

Haley Beranbaum, S5/SB5/SM5

Reilly Boyt, S6/SB6/SM6

Leslie Cichocki, S14/SB14/SM14

McClain Hermes, S12/SB12/SM12

Sophia Herzog, S6/SB6/SM6

Anna Johannes*, S9/SB8/SM9

Serafina King, S10/NE/NE

Ahalya Lettenberger, S8/SB7/SM8

Nelya Schasfoort, S7/SB7/SM7

Casandra Shaffer, S6/SB6/SM6

Natalie Sims, S9/SB9/SM9

Mallory Weggemann*, S8/SB7/SM8

Kayla Wheeler, S2/SB1/SM2

Men

Blake Adams, S13/SB13/SM13

Evan Austin*, S8/SB7/SM8

Curtis Lovejoy*, S2/SB1/SM2

Lucas McCrory, S7/SB7/SM7

Tom Miazga*, S8/SB7/SM8

Roderick Sewell, S8/SB6/SM8

Zachary Shattuck, S6/SB6/SM6

US Paralympics also recently announced their team for the 2015 IPC Swimming World Championships in Glasgow, Great Britain, from 13-19 July.

Tickets for Toronto 2015 and Glasgow 2015 are available now.