July 4, 2009

ATHENS, Ohio - Ohio's swimming and diving team will be well represented at the 2009 United States World Championship Team Trials in Indianapolis, Ind. next week, July 7-11, as Bobcat swimmers Chelsey Bower, Amanda Cecere, Rachel Heim and Stacey Huber will all be vying for spots on the USA women's swimming team at the 2009 World Championships. Bower, Cecere and Heim all swam at the U.S. Olympic Trials last summer.

"We're very excited about heading to the team trials," said Ohio swimming and diving coach Greg Werner. "Chelsey, Amanda, Rachel and Stacey have improved dramatically during their tenure here at Ohio. To continue that progression by qualifying for the premier meet on U.S. soil this summer, and to have a chance to represent their country, is an accomplishment and opportunity that brings great satisfaction to not only each of these talented young ladies, but to the entire Ohio swimming and diving team. The staff, team, department and University are very proud of them."

Bower (Bethel Park, Pa.), who will be a senior beginning in 2009-10, qualified for both the 50 and 100 freestyles by bettering the entry standard in both yard and meter competitions. She is coming off a season in which she claimed conference titles in the 50 freestyle and the 200 and 400 freestyle relays and competed at the NCAA Championships in March. Bower is currently ranked 34th in the 50 freestyle and 66th in the 100 freestyle, respectively.

Cecere (Chelmsford, Mass.), who recently completed her sophomore season with the `Cats and placed second in the 200 butterfly at this past season's Mid-American Conference Championships, will be competing in the 200 meter butterfly. She qualified for the Trials by posting a time of 2:15.50. She is currently seeded 36th out of 78 competitors at the team trials.

Ohio's school and the MAC's record holder in the 100 fly and 100 back, Heim (San Diego, Calif.) equaled the World Championship Team Trials cut in the 100 meter butterfly at 1:01.59. She insured her entrance, however, by turning in a MAC record-shattering yard time of 53.24. The junior-to-be will swim both the 100 fly and 100 back and is currently seeded 56th in the 100 fly and 70th in the 100 back coming into the Trials.

A native of Gainesville, Fla., Huber will swim in the 800 freestyle at the Trials. She met standards in both the 1000 and 1650 freestyles, but it was her 1000 split of 9:58.76 in the 1650 freestyle at the MAC Championships that landed her in the competition. Huber capped off a fantastic sophomore campaign this last year by capturing the conference championship in the 1650 freestyle and posting school records in both the 1000 and 1650 freestyles. She is seeded 65th coming into the competition.

"All of these athletes have worked very hard and improved so much to get their times below the qualifying standards," Werner said. "They are well prepared, very excited and ready to go."

In addition to the foursome of Bobcat swimmers, Werner will also represent Ohio as he will be on the USA staff as the head men's team manager. After a brief training camp in Indianapolis, Werner will head to Riccione, Italy, for additional preparations before making the trek to Rome for the FINA World Championships. This is his 10th appointment to a U.S. National Team staff and his third straight World Championships.

The team trials will take place at the IUPUI Natatorium in Indianapolis. For more information on USA Swimming and results of the trials, visit www.usaswimming.org.