University of Minnesota swimmers will take advantage of their own pool as the 2008 U.S. Open is being held at the University Aquatic Center on the Minnesota campus. Minnesota swimmers will battle against some of the best in the nation, including 24 members of the U.S. National Team. The U.S. Open will serve as the selection meet for the 2009 World University Games, to be held from July 2-7, 2009, in Belgrade, Serbia. The highest placing athlete in each event who will be enrolled as a full-time university student through Jan. 1, 2009 will to be invited to the World University Games Team.

The meet will follow the traditional schedule of morning prelims and evening finals with the morning sessions starting each day at 9 a.m. and evening finals beginning at 6 p.m. All-session passes are available for $50 for adults and $45 for children. Day passes are $14 for adults and $10 for children, and single-session passes are $9 for adults and $6 for children.

Scott Usher (Grand Island, Neb.), a 2004 Olympian, is scheduled to compete in both breaststroke events, while American-record holder Mary Descenza (Naperville, Ill.) will be on deck to contest the 100m and 200m freestyle, 100m and 200m backstroke, 100m and 200m butterfly and the 200m IM. Joining Descenza and Usher is three-time National Champion Ariana Kukors (Auburn, Wash.), Pan American gold medalist Caitlin Leverenz (Tucson, Ariz.), and World University Games gold medalist Michael Klueh (Evansville, Ind.).

Excerpts from USA Swimming press release