University of Tennessee Athletics
World Aquatics Championships: 16 Vols and Lady Vols Set to Represent UT in Fukuoka
July 19, 2023 | Swimming & Diving, Women's Swimming & Diving, Men's Swimming & Diving
FUKUOKA, Japan – Tennessee swimming & diving will be well represented at the 2023 World Aquatics Championships throughout the next two weeks, as 16 Vols and Lady Vols are set to compete on the global stage.
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Current, former and future Vols and Lady Vols will be competing during the championships in swimming, diving and open water swimming. Athletes representing the Big Orange hail from 14Â different countries and five continents. Among the star-studded group of competitors will be six Olympians: Lyubomir Epitropov (Bulgaria), Michael Houlie (South Africa), Mona McSharry (Ireland), Cherelle Thompson (Trinidad & Tobago), Kira Toussaint (Netherlands), Joaquin Vargas (Peru) and Ellen Walshe (Ireland).
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Below is the full list of individuals heading to Japan from Rocky Top, including Associate Head Coach Rich Murphy as well as Kristen Romano, who trains professionally under Director of Swimming & Diving Matt Kredich and his staff.
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Gui Caribe (Brazil)
Jordan Crooks (Cayman Islands)
Brooklyn Douthwright (Canada)
Lyubomir Epitropov (Bulgaria)
Martin Espernberger (Austria)
Bryden Hattie (Canada)
Michael Houlie (South Africa)
Mona McSharry (Ireland)
Kayky Mota (Brazil)
PJ Stevens (Slovenia)
Liam Stone (New Zealand)
Joey Tepper (USA)
Cherelle Thompson (Trinidad & Tobago)
Kira Toussaint (Netherlands)
Joaquin Vargas (Peru)
Ellen Walshe (Ireland)
Rich Murphy (Coach for Peru)
Kristen Romano (Puerto Rico – UT Pro Group)
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Highlighting the group for Tennessee is Jordan Crooks. The rising junior from the Cayman Islands is looking to continue his recent dominance after winning a National Championship, three SEC Championships and a Short Course World Championship. The 2023 SEC Swimmer of the Year's historic run began in December 2022, when he took the gold in the 50 free at the Short Course World Championships to become the first swimmer from the Cayman Islands to ever medal at a major championship. After becoming just the second person ever to swim sub-18 seconds in the 50 free in short course yards, Crooks won the NCAA and SEC Championships in the event.
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McSharry and Toussaint boast the most experience on the international stage and will be ones to watch throughout the competition. McSharry, who specializes in the breaststroke, brought home a bronze medal in the 100 breast during the 2021 Short Course World Championships and advanced to the finals in the event during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. This past season, she was the national runner-up in the 100 breast and finished fourth nationally in the 200 breast at the NCAA Championships. Toussaint is one of the most decorated Lady Vols on the international stage, having won medals with the Dutch at both the World Championships and Short Course World Championships. She's a two-time Olympian and is one of the best backstrokers in the world.
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In addition to Crooks' and McSharry's success at NCAAs this year, the Canadian duo of Brooklyn Douthwright and Bryden Hattie were both national runners-up in an event. Hattie was named SEC Diver of the Year after winning gold on platform and 3-meter at SECs and then All-America First Team recognition in both events. Douthwright enjoyed a breakout sophomore season that finished with her winning the SEC title in the 200 free before placing second nationally in the event.
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A pair of freshmen All-Americans punched their ticket to worlds in Gui Caribe (Brazil) and Martin Espernberger (Austria). Caribe is one of the top rising sprinters and will look to breakout on the world stage, while Espernberger specializes in the 200 fly.
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VFL and national champion Liam Stone will compete on the boards for New Zealand this week. Joey Tepper will swim in the open water competition with Team USA. Kayky Mota (Brazil) and PJ Stevens (Slovenia) round things out for Tennessee.
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For the most up-to-date information about the program, follow Tennessee swimming & diving on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook.
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Current, former and future Vols and Lady Vols will be competing during the championships in swimming, diving and open water swimming. Athletes representing the Big Orange hail from 14Â different countries and five continents. Among the star-studded group of competitors will be six Olympians: Lyubomir Epitropov (Bulgaria), Michael Houlie (South Africa), Mona McSharry (Ireland), Cherelle Thompson (Trinidad & Tobago), Kira Toussaint (Netherlands), Joaquin Vargas (Peru) and Ellen Walshe (Ireland).
Â
Below is the full list of individuals heading to Japan from Rocky Top, including Associate Head Coach Rich Murphy as well as Kristen Romano, who trains professionally under Director of Swimming & Diving Matt Kredich and his staff.
Â
Gui Caribe (Brazil)
Jordan Crooks (Cayman Islands)
Brooklyn Douthwright (Canada)
Lyubomir Epitropov (Bulgaria)
Martin Espernberger (Austria)
Bryden Hattie (Canada)
Michael Houlie (South Africa)
Mona McSharry (Ireland)
Kayky Mota (Brazil)
PJ Stevens (Slovenia)
Liam Stone (New Zealand)
Joey Tepper (USA)
Cherelle Thompson (Trinidad & Tobago)
Kira Toussaint (Netherlands)
Joaquin Vargas (Peru)
Ellen Walshe (Ireland)
Rich Murphy (Coach for Peru)
Kristen Romano (Puerto Rico – UT Pro Group)
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Highlighting the group for Tennessee is Jordan Crooks. The rising junior from the Cayman Islands is looking to continue his recent dominance after winning a National Championship, three SEC Championships and a Short Course World Championship. The 2023 SEC Swimmer of the Year's historic run began in December 2022, when he took the gold in the 50 free at the Short Course World Championships to become the first swimmer from the Cayman Islands to ever medal at a major championship. After becoming just the second person ever to swim sub-18 seconds in the 50 free in short course yards, Crooks won the NCAA and SEC Championships in the event.
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McSharry and Toussaint boast the most experience on the international stage and will be ones to watch throughout the competition. McSharry, who specializes in the breaststroke, brought home a bronze medal in the 100 breast during the 2021 Short Course World Championships and advanced to the finals in the event during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. This past season, she was the national runner-up in the 100 breast and finished fourth nationally in the 200 breast at the NCAA Championships. Toussaint is one of the most decorated Lady Vols on the international stage, having won medals with the Dutch at both the World Championships and Short Course World Championships. She's a two-time Olympian and is one of the best backstrokers in the world.
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In addition to Crooks' and McSharry's success at NCAAs this year, the Canadian duo of Brooklyn Douthwright and Bryden Hattie were both national runners-up in an event. Hattie was named SEC Diver of the Year after winning gold on platform and 3-meter at SECs and then All-America First Team recognition in both events. Douthwright enjoyed a breakout sophomore season that finished with her winning the SEC title in the 200 free before placing second nationally in the event.
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A pair of freshmen All-Americans punched their ticket to worlds in Gui Caribe (Brazil) and Martin Espernberger (Austria). Caribe is one of the top rising sprinters and will look to breakout on the world stage, while Espernberger specializes in the 200 fly.
Â
VFL and national champion Liam Stone will compete on the boards for New Zealand this week. Joey Tepper will swim in the open water competition with Team USA. Kayky Mota (Brazil) and PJ Stevens (Slovenia) round things out for Tennessee.
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For the most up-to-date information about the program, follow Tennessee swimming & diving on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook.
Players Mentioned
Fly
/ Swimming & Diving
Sprint Free
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
Back/Free
/ Swimming & Diving
Breast
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
Free/Fly/IM
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
Diving
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
Breast
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
Free/Breast
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Free/IM
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
Free/Back
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