INDIANAPOLIS – The country’s best swimmers are right here in Indianapolis, and there’s a handful that didn’t have to travel very far to compete for their dream.
In fact, only a 30-minute drive separates Lucas Oil Stadium’s unique, new Olympic pool from the suburb that temporarily renamed itself “SwimCity USA.”
“Everything about it is special,” Maggie Mestrich, director of business development for Carmel Swim Club, said. “To have our swimmers competing in a football stadium – to elevate our sport to this level is incredible.”
Now, they’re greeted by rows of young fans asking for autographs. All of the 14 athletes from Carmel who made it to this year’s trials got their start in the Carmel Swim Club, including the city’s first swimmers to join Team USA back in 2021 – Jake Mitchell and Drew Kibler.
“In 2021, both Drew and Jake talked about watching trials when they were younger and how that served as an inflection point and an inspiration to them,” Mestrich said. “So we’re hoping that some of our younger swimmers get that spark by coming down this week to Lucas Oil Stadium.”
The club hopes to bring at least 60 swimmers and their families out every day of trials to cheer on their teammates, like Aaron Shackell – who’s already secured his trip to Paris.
“A lot of the guys, like Aaron Shackell, Gregg Enoch, Kayla Han – I get to see them like almost every day at practice,” Carmel Swim Club athlete Jack Street said. “Being able to see them compete at such a high level – it kind-of inspires people that see them to do the same.”
14-year-old Jack Street and his parents couldn’t be prouder of the club.
“It’s a great place to swim. There’s a place for everyone here,” Leslie Street said. “You don’t have to be an elite athlete to swim for Carmel Swim Club.”
“The privilege that we’ve had as parents to see that journey – not just for our kids but for all the others is – it’s pretty amazing,” Matt Street added. “Never thought I would be a part of something like this.”
The following list provided by Carmel Swim Club shows all the events with CSC competitors:
Saturday, 6/15:
- W 400 FR: Lynsey Bowen, Kayla Han
- W 100 FL: Kelly Pash, Alex Shackell
- M 400 FR: Gregg Enoch, Drew Kibler, Jake Mitchell, Aaron Shackell
Sunday, 6/16:
- M 200 FR: Drew Kibler, Jake Mitchell, Aaron Shackell, Andrew Shackell
- M 400 IM: Gregg Enoch
- W 100 BR: Molly Sweeney
- W 200 FR: Lynsey Bowen, Kelly Pash, Alex Shackell
Monday, 6/17:
- W 400 IM: Ellie Clarke, Kayla Han
- W 100 BK: Berit Berglund
Tuesday, 6/18:
- M 200 FL: Gregg Enoch, Aaron Shackell
- M 100 FR: Drew Kibler
- W 1500 FR: Kayla Han
- W 100 FR: Kelly Pash, Alex Shackell
Wednesday, 6/19:
- W 200 BR: Molly Sweeney
- W200 FL: Lynsey Bowen, Kelly Pash, Alex Shackell
Thursday, 6/20:
- W 200 BK: Ellie Clarke
- M 50 FR: Drew Kibler
- M 200 IM: Gregg Enoch, Sean Sullivan
Friday, 6/21:
- M 100 FL: Aaron Shackell
- W 200 IM: Kelly Pash, Molly Sweeney
- W 800 FR: Lynsey Bowen, Kayla Han
Saturday, 6/22:
