Midway graduate Neil Wachtler will compete in the Phillips 66 National Championships at William Woollett Aquatics Center in Irvine, Calif., which begins today and runs through the weekend. The high-stakes meet serves as part of the selection for the 2020 USA National Teams for the 2018 Pan Pacific Championships, 2019 World Championships, World University Games and Pan American Games. Wachtler, finishing his sophomore season for the University of Denver team, will compete Friday in the 50m backstroke and Saturday in the 100m backstroke, where he is seeded 35th and 42nd respectively.
The 2018 Phillips 66 National Championships will feature several decorated swimmers, including five-time Olympic gold medalist Katie Ledecky, Caeleb Dressel, who tied Michael Phelps’ record for most gold medals won at a single World Championships last July with seven, five-time Olympic champion Missy Franklin, two-time gold medalist Simone Manuel, two-time Olympic gold medalist Lilly King, five-time Olympic gold medalist Nathan Adrian and three-time Rio gold medalist Ryan Murphy. Results from the national championships and August’s Pan Pacific Championships will determine the U.S. roster for next year’s World Championships.
