WVU is giving everything they have in San Antonio.
The last TYR Pro Swim Series of the year began Wednesday in San Antonio, and WVU swimmers are doing everything they can to earn Olympic Trials bids. Such a feat would be a start on a path to joining senior Ivan Puskovitch, who has already qualified in 10 kilometer marathon swimming, at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
Six Mountaineers competed across four long-course meter events on Thursday in San Antonio. Sophomore Ada Szwabinska represented WVU in the day’s first event, the women’s 100-meter freestyle, before senior Roanoke Shirk and junior Conner McBeth joined her in the men’s 100 freestyle.
Szwabinska had a decent showing in her first TYR Pro Swim Series event, placing 79th out of 113 participants, most of which include some of the highest level swimmers in the country. Her 100-meter freestyle time of 57.95 seconds was just .44 seconds off of her personal best.
Shirk and McBeth finished their 100 meters in almost the same time, with the Mountaineers placing 75th and 76th respectively. Neither swimmer held back, resulting in both marking personal bests. McBeth outdid his 52.22-second time from 2022’s Toyota US Open with a 51.99-second showing, while Shirk smashed his 2018 best of 53.49 seconds in 51.96.
Senior Danny Berlitz also competed Thursday in his first of four events at the Swim Series, the men’s 100-meter breaststroke. Berlitz finished in 1:03.76, which was a slight underperformance from last year’s Swim Series in Mission Viejo, Calif but was still good enough for 25th place.
Puskovitch and senior William Mullen closed the day for the Mountaineers in the 400-meter freestyle to close the day for WVU. Both swam their second event of the week after placing 13th and 17th respectively in the 1500-meter freestyle on Wednesday.
Like in the 1500, neither Puskovitch or Mullen managed to match his impressive career best but still performed at a high level. Puskovitch placed 41st in 4:05.48 (10.37 seconds off best) and Mullen finished 48th in 4:08.97 (8.62 seconds off best).
Sophomore Mia Cheatwood and junior Braden Osborn were also slated to compete in the women’s 100 breaststroke and men’s 100 freestyle respectively but did not. Their status for the remainder of the tournament is unknown.
All six Thursday competitors will swim again before leaving San Antonio. Friday, West Virginia will have five swimmers in four events, those being Roanoke Shirk in the men’s 200-meter freestyle, Berlitz and Puskovitch in the men’s 400 individual medley, Osborn, who is scheduled to swim the 100 butterfly, and senior Justin Heimes in the men’s 200 backstroke.
Heimes is looking to hit the Olympic Trials mark in his second event this season, as he has already qualified for Indianapolis in the men’s 100-meter backstroke. Friday’s preliminary rounds will kick off at 9 a.m. in San Antonio.
Photo from WVU Swimming & Diving
