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BLACKSBURG – 13 current student-athletes, three incoming freshmen and three H20kie alums will represent the Virginia Tech swimming and diving program at the U.S. Olympic Swimming Trails in Omaha, Neb., this weekend.

Junior Robert Owen will be competing in a program-best four events while junior Maggie Gruber and classmate Jessica Hespeler will swim in two events on the women’s side.

The trials will kick-off on Sunday, June 26, starting with the men’s 400 individual medley and will wrap-up with two finals on Sunday, July 3.

“We are very excited about the opportunity to compete at our nation's highest event,” said Tech head coach Ned Skinner. “The swimmers have dreamed of this opportunity for a lifetime, and we are ready to go and represent Virginia Tech and The Hokie nation. We are very proud of the work and dedication our swimmers have exhibited and we are ready for a great meet. This means so much to our program to have an outstanding group and large group represent. We are ready to go and have an outstanding experience.”

Three incoming Hokie freshman from the recruiting class of 2016, Colin Murphy, Chloe Hicks and Eleanor Mattheson, will also get a crack at competing in Rio this weekend.

The order of events can be found here.

Men’s qualifiers

Brent Benedict: 50 freestyle

Lucas Bureau - 100 freestyle, 200 individual medley, 100 butterfly

Michael Craddock - 400 freestyle

Justin Edwards - 100 breaststroke and 200 breaststroke

Brandon Fiala - 100 breaststroke 200 individual medley

Ian Ho - 50 freestyle

Robert Owen 100 backstroke, 200 backstroke, 200 individual medley, 400 individual medley

Zach Switzer - 100 backstroke

Sean Workman 100 backstroke, 200 backstroke

Women’s qualifiers

Adriana Grabski - 50 freestyle

Maggie Gruber - 50 freestyle, 100 butterfly

Holly Harper - 100 backstroke

Jessica Hespler - 200 freestyle, 400 freestyle

2016-17 freshmen qualifiers

Colin Murphy - 1,500 freestyle

Chloe Hicks - 200 backstroke

Eleanor Mattheson - 400 individual medley, 200 butterfly

Alumni qualifiers

Jake Ores - 400 freestyle, 1,500 freestyle

Collin Higgins - 100 backstroke

CJ Fiala - 50 freestyle

For updates on Virginia Tech swimming & diving, follow the Hokies on Twitter Follow @VT_SwimDive