Club Wolverine shines at Junior Nationals in California – four swimmers qualify for 2020 Olympic Trials

Club Wolverine swam out to California last month and represented the state of Michigan splashingly well – and that’s an understatement.

A small group of CW swimmers participated in the Junior Nationals in Palo Alto, CA in August. Coach Gunnar Schmidt was pleased with the results from his swimmers.

Club Wolverine had four swimmers have qualify for the 2020 Olympic Trials: Hannah Bellard in the 200 Fly; Sydney Stricklin in the 50 Free; Sophia Tuinman in the 200 Backstroke; and Casey Chung in the 100 Backstroke.

Here are a few of the highlights.   

Hannah Bellard opened up the meet for CW by winning the C Final in the 200 Fly. Her time placed her third in the nation for 13-14 girls.

Sophia Tuinman finished seventh in the 200 Backstroke, and 18th in the 100 Backstroke.

Abraham Apfel finished 19th in the 200 Backstroke.

Casey Chung finished 17th in the 200 Backstroke, and 9th in the 100 Backstroke.

Jordyn Libler finished 21st in the 200 Breaststroke.

Niklas Eberly finished 17th in the 100 Fly.

Kaylee Williams finished 21st in the 400 Free.

Matthew Segal posted a 15-16 Boys Club Wolverine Record in the 100 Breaststroke.

Club Wolverine’s 4×200 women’s relay (Sydney Stricklin, Kaylee Williams, Sophia Tuinman, Hannah Bellard) Relay finished sixth. 

Club Wolverine’s 4×100 women’s Medley Relay (Casey Chung, Jordyn Libler, Hannah Bellard, and Sydney Stricklin) finished sixth.

Unfortunately, both relays won’t count as 15-18 Michigan State Records because Hannah Bellard is age 14. But the only other teams to post times faster are from 2006. These relays competed as Club Wolverine and consisted of University of Michigan students and professional swimmers.