Get ready for a thrilling finale as the 2025 Speedo Winter Junior Championships – East reaches its climax! But here's where it gets controversial: Can rising stars like Rylee Erisman and Charlotte Crush truly dethrone the records set by legends like Katie Ledecky and Regan Smith? The stage is set in Indianapolis, Indiana, from December 10-13, 2025, where the fastest young swimmers in the East will battle it out in the 25-yard short course pool (SCY).
Day 4 Prelims kick off at 9 a.m. EST, with the 1000 freestyle starting at 1 p.m. EST and finals at 5 p.m. EST. And this is the part most people miss: the relays on Wednesday begin at 4 p.m. EST, adding an extra layer of team strategy to the individual prowess on display. For those eager to dive deeper, here are the essential links:
- Meet Central: https://www.usaswimming.org/eventmvc/2025/12/10/default-calendar/speedo-winter-junior-championships-east
- Psych Sheets: https://swimswam.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/juniors-east-psych-sheet.pdf
- How to Watch: https://swimswam.com/how-to-watch-the-2025-winter-junior-championships-east-west/
- Live Results: https://swmeets.com/Realtime/SCJuniors/2025/
The first three days have been nothing short of electrifying, with Erisman shattering a Katie Ledecky record and two meet records falling. But the question remains: Can Erisman maintain her dominance in the 100 freestyle after breaking Gretchen Walsh’s National High School record last month? She’s the top seed, starting in heat 18, lane four, with a commanding lead of over a second. Yet, swimming is a sport of inches, and upsets are always lurking.
The day begins with the 200 backstroke prelims, where Charlotte Crush leads the girls’ field by over two seconds, and Baylor Stanton tops the boys’. Here’s a bold prediction: Collin Holgerson, fresh off the fastest-ever 100 back for a highschooler, could challenge Stanton for the top spot. Next up is the 100 freestyle, where Crush aims to secure an ‘A’ final spot behind Erisman, and Liam Carrington, the 200 free champion, leads the boys’ field by a slim margin.
The 200 breaststroke promises nail-biting action, with Karina Plaza, a 15-year-old phenom, leading the girls’ field by just four-tenths of a second. In the boys’ event, Ian Heysen holds a slender lead over Matthew Wolfle. The morning wraps up with the 200 butterfly, where Audrey Derivaux and Liam Smith are the top seeds, each with comfortable leads.
Controversial question: Are these young swimmers pushing the limits too early, or is this the new normal in competitive swimming? Share your thoughts in the comments!
Here’s a closer look at the top qualifiers and records for key events:
Girls’ 200 Yard Backstroke — Prelims
- Meet Record: 1:48.32 – Bella Sims (2022)
- Top 8 Qualifiers:
1. Charlotte Crush – 1:50.91
2. Audrey Derivaux – 1:52.54
3. Reina Liu – 1:53.40
...
Boys’ 200 Yard Backstroke — Prelims
- Meet Record: 1:39.62 – Daniel Diehl (2022)
- Top 8 Qualifiers:
1. Baylor Stanton – 1:42.29
2. Davis Jackson – 1:43.41
3. Denzo Senekal – 1:44.05
...
Girls’ 100 Yard Freestyle — Prelims
- Meet Record: 46.29 – Abbey Weitzeil (2014)
- Top Seed: Rylee Erisman
Boys’ 100 Yard Freestyle — Prelims
- Meet Record: 41.23 – Ryan Hoffer (2015)
- Top Seed: Liam Carrington
As the final prelims session unfolds, one thing is certain: records are at risk, and the future of swimming is here. But will the favorites hold their ground, or will new stars emerge? Tune in to find out, and don’t forget to join the debate in the comments!
