Huskers Prepare for U.S. Trials with Omaha Cup

A total of 15 University of Nebraska swimmers will try to add their names to the list of qualifiers for the U.S. Olympic Trials when they hit the water for the Omaha Cup at the CenturyLink Center in Omaha, June 17-18.

The Omaha Cup gives approximately 400 swimmers a last chance to qualify for the U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials, which also will be held at the CenturyLink Center, June 26-July 3. The Omaha Cup also presents swimmers who already have qualified for the Trials a chance to swim in the same conditions that they will see during the Trials.

Preliminary sessions start at 9 a.m., while finals begin both days at 6 p.m.

"The Omaha Cup is really a great opportunity for swimmers to prepare themselves for one of the biggest races of their lives," Nebraska Coach Pablo Morales said. "Because all the events around the U.S. Olympic Trials are so close to us in Omaha, our swimmers have the opportunity to take full advantage of both the Omaha Cup and be part of the Trials."

Six Nebraska swimmers already have punched their tickets to the Trials, and five of those swimmers are set to race in the Omaha Cup in both the events they have qualified, and events they are hoping to add qualifying times.

Huskers Katt Sickle (400 freestyle), Morgan McCafferty (100 backstroke), Jordan Ehly (200 breaststroke), Taryn Collura (50 freestyle), Erin Oeltjen (100 backstroke, 200 backstroke) and Alexandra Bilunas (50 freestyle) have earned spots in the U.S. Trials. All except Bilunas, an Omahan who recently moved to Nashville to begin dental school, will be competing in multiple events at the Omaha Cup.

Other Huskers who will be trying to earn spots in the Trials or on their home country's Olympic teams with qualifying performances at the Omaha Cup include: Cassie Brassard (Canada), Bria Deveaux (Bahamas), Aimee Fischer, Kaylyn Flatt, Lindsay Helferich, Jackie Jeschke, Bridget Pacilio, Dana Posthuma and Julia Roller.

Deveaux, who was one of Nebraska's top sprint freestyle and butterfly swimmers over the past four seasons after coming to Lincoln from Nassau, Bahamas, will use the Omaha Cup as a chance to earn an Olympic B standard in the 100 fly.

Fischer, a junior-to-be from Lincoln Southwest High School, joins Omaha natives Oeltjen (Millard West) and Dana Posthuma (Omaha Burke) as Nebraskans competing at the Omaha Cup for the Huskers.

Huskers at the Omaha Cup (June 17-18)

• Cassie Brassard, Jr., Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
  (200 free, 200 back, 100 back, 400 free)
• Taryn Collura, Grad, Phoenix, Ariz. (100 fly, 50 free, 100 free)
• Bria Deveaux, Grad, Nassau, Bahamas (100 fly)
• Jordan Ehly, Jr., Las Cruces, N.M. (100 breast, 200 IM, 200 breast)
• Aimee Fischer, Jr., Lincoln, Neb. (800 free, 200 IM, 400 IM, 400 free)
• Kaylyn Flatt, So., Centennial, Colo. (800 free, 200 free, 400 free)
• Lindsay Helferich, So., Odessa, Texas (200 back, 100 back)
• Jackie Jeschke, So., Augusta, Ga. (200 back, 100 back)
• Morgan McCafferty, So., Reynoldsburg, Ohio (200 back, 100 back)
• Anna McDonald, So., Evergreen, Colo. (200 IM, 200 back, 400 IM, 100 back)
• Erin Oeltjen, Sr., Omaha, Neb. (100 fly, 50 free, 100 back)
• Bridget Pacilio, So., Colleyville, Texas (100 breast, 200 IM, 400 IM, 200 breast)
• Dana Posthuma, So., Omaha, Neb. (100 fly, 200 fly)
• Julia Roller, Sr., Naperville, Ill. (200 free)
• Katt Sickle, Sr., Grain Valley, Mo. (200 free, 100 free, 400 free)