Key Takeaways
- USA Swimming announced the 2026 Zone Select Camp rosters, inviting 120 athletes to two early‑June camps.
- Each camp will host 60 swimmers; selection uses automatic slots for top‑ranked athletes per zone and event, with the remainder filled by wildcards.
- Camps are split into a Western/Central location (UNLV) and an Eastern/Southern location (UMBC), each running for four days.
- Eligibility is based on a January–August 2025 long‑course meter (LCM) qualifying window and excludes prior national‑team participants.
- Coaches and team managers receive dedicated educational tracks, networking chances, and direct links to USA Swimming staff.
Overview of the 2026 Zone Select Camp Rosters
USA Swimming has officially released the participant lists for the 2026 Zone Select Camps, announcing that a total of 120 swimmers will attend two separate camps scheduled for early June. The organization will conduct one camp for the Western and Central zones and a second camp for the Eastern and Southern zones, each accommodating 60 athletes. Selection is primarily automatic: the top available swimmer in each Olympic event for the 12‑13‑year‑old girls and the 13‑14‑year‑old boys in every zone earn a spot. After those automatic qualifiers are assigned, the remaining places are allocated as “wildcards,” providing additional opportunities for high‑potential swimmers. Complete selection criteria are publicly available for review.
Purpose and Design of the Zone Select Camps
The Zone Select Camps are crafted to serve as the first exposure to the Team USA experience for emerging talent. USA Swimming describes the program’s mission as providing athletes with the “ignition, motivation, and information they need to continue setting goals, work hard, excel in swimming, and feel empowered to take ownership of their swimming careers.” By integrating educational sessions, mentorship, and competitive activities, the camps aim to ignite a lifelong passion for the sport while equipping swimmers with the tools necessary for continued development.
Eligibility Requirements and Selection Timeline
Swimmers become eligible for the 2026 camps through a defined qualifying period that runs from January 1, 2025, through August 31, 2025, encompassing only long‑course meter (LCM) performances. An athlete cannot attend if they have previously participated in a Zone Select, National Select, National Team, or Junior National Team training camp, nor if they have represented the United States—or any other country—at an international competition. These rules are intended to prioritize fresh talent while preserving a rotating pool of developing athletes for future opportunities.
Camp Schedule and Locations
The 2026 camps will be held at two university venues, each offering a four‑day residential experience. The Western/Central Zone camp convenes at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, from June 4 through June 7. The Eastern/Southern Zone camp takes place at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, from June 11 through June 14. Both locations are equipped to host training sessions, classroom workshops, and team‑building activities under the guidance of USA Swimming staff and regional coaches.
Coaching and Management Staff for Camp 1 (Western/Central)
The Western/Central camp’s leadership team includes Head Coach Tara Bolivar of Suburban Seahawks Club, accompanied by Assistant Coaches Amy Killpatrick (Rochester Swim Club), Devin Murphy (Kentucky Aquatics), Christine Haslem (Potomac Marlins), and Kevin Viliunas (Mission Viejo Nadadores). Head Manager Kerry Carleton represents Emmaus Aquatic Club, with Assistant Manager Joselyn Banks from Pikes Peak Athletics providing additional administrative support. Their combined expertise is designed to facilitate high‑quality instruction and mentorship throughout the camp curriculum.
Athlete Roster – Western Zone Selections
The Western Zone contingent features representation from a diverse set of clubs, with Irvine Novaquatics (Southern California) sending three athletes. Additional participants are drawn from Aquazot Swim Club, Evolution Racing Club, King Aquatic Club (Pacific Northwest), Pleasanton Seahawks (Pacific), and San Ramon Valley Aquatics (Pacific), each contributing two swimmers. The roster includes names such as Aaron Deng, Abigail Yu, Addison Hou, Alexander Spainhower, Anna Heumann, Aubrey Martinez, Brooklyn Lang, Coco Offenberg, Dane Bendiksen, Davis Blackson‑Dunbar, Elaine Luisetti, Ella Legg, Ella Moser, Emma Li, Grant Bellin, Hanz Palattao, Jake Loftus, Joey Salvetti, Kendall Gross, Maddy Szymanowski, Marina Zhao, Matthew Lanskikh, Patrick Chen, Quinn Montgomery, Rowan Yoo, Ryan Mak, Sammy Walseth, Summer Shaves, Tessa Hurguy, and Tommy Jiang, among others.
Athlete Roster – Central Zone Selections
The Central Zone roster is anchored by three Indiana‑based clubs: Center Grove Aquatic Club, Fishers Area Swimming Tigers, and Zionsville Swim Club. Selections include athletes like Jax Capen (Academy Bullets Swim Club), Livy Solt, Alex Jones, Autumn McIntosh, Brayden Chen, Kate Allen, Jayden Xia, Matthew Cuadros, Emma Fouke, Angelina Drew, Marin Hitzeman, Karsyn Ward, Audrey Wolf, Grace Gannon, Wyatt Jones, Joy Drees, Kelley Burke, Caleb Tan, Emma Sina, Dante Framke, Cooper McQuiston, Maggie Mongoven, Sean Zhao, Bryn Heideman, Alyce Gaffke, Elliot Leasure, Parker Miller, Greg Flermoen, Everett Heiser, Khairi Slater, and several additional swimmers who round out the zone’s depth.
Camp 2 – Eastern/Southern Zone Coaches and Managers
The Eastern/Southern camp’s staff comprises Head Coach Kyle Margheim of Sioux Falls Swim Team, Assistant Coaches Asher Phipps (Metro Area Life Time), Lauren Waterworth (Legacy Swim Club), Stephen Henderson (Annapolis Swim Club), and Sarah Welter (Valparaiso Swim Club). Head Manager Mikaela Bagley represents Minnetonka Swim Club, while Assistant Manager Evan Steffy is affiliated with Indiana Swimming. Their collective experience is intended to provide robust instructional frameworks and networking platforms for the attending athletes.
Athlete Roster – Eastern Zone Selections
In the Eastern Zone, two clubs—Nation’s Capital (Potomac Valley) and Scarlet Aquatics (New Jersey)—each boast four swimmers heading to camp, while Long Island Aquatic Club (Metropolitan) and North Baltimore Aquatic Club (Maryland) contribute three athletes apiece. Notable participants include Brendan Miller, Bryce Heo, Caden LaPlante, Charlie Brown, CJ Friends, Elizabeth Palmer, Ellie Brenner, Ethan Han, Ethan Reines, Fiona Blaho, Gavin Del Fierro, Gianna Mattrey, Jimmy Jacobs, Jude Burkhart, Kacie Cheung, Kaitlyn Zhang, Kennedy Masten, Mackey Tolar, Madison Suchecki, Manu Maher, Mara Ahearn, Mila Fisher, Payton Garnsey, Rafa Fontana, Ryan Yao, Ryker Levi, Willa Kulp, and Yuri Shlivko, representing a blend of regional powerhouses.
Athlete Roster – Southern Zone Selections
The Southern Zone will be represented by programs such as Laker Swim Club (Florida), which sends the largest contingent of three athletes. Additional clubs sending two swimmers each include Bolles School Sharks, Saint Petersburg, and TAC Titans (North Carolina). The Southern roster features swimmers like Allie Sanders (SwimAtlanta), Andrew Kruger (Northern KY Clippers), Anne Russell, Ansley Bess, Ava Dipasquale, Bryce Dadulla, Caelan Tracy, Carter Wooten, Charlie Russell, Elise Berl, Erin Weaver, Eugene Novak, Jack Reburn, Jamison Lange, Jayden Tsai, Jonathan Husbands, Jordan Xanthos, Keira Druck, Louise Vidarsson, Madison Deeb, Natalia Lesniewska, Noah Castaneda, Olivia Rogers, Reef McMeeking, Skylar Revere, Stokes Oxrieder, TAC Titans representatives, Walker Price, Zaryna Wardlay, and Ziva Liu.
Overall Impact and Future Opportunities
Collectively, the 2026 Zone Select Camps embody a strategic pipeline that bridges age‑group competition with elite‑level Team USA exposure. By offering targeted coaching, educational workshops, and direct connections to national staff, the camps enhance the developmental trajectory of promising swimmers while fostering a sense of community among regional teammates. Participants leave not only with refined technique but also with a clearer vision of their athletic aspirations, positioning them for continued growth toward national and international competition. The structured yet inclusive approach ensures that each swimmer—regardless of club affiliation—receives valuable mentorship and a tangible step forward in their swimming journey.