ISL Rosters: Where They Stand Two Weeks Out From Season Two Opener In Budapest

By Ben Dornan on SwimSwam

We are nearly two weeks out from the October 16th start date of the International Swimming League’s second season. Last year’s inaugural season saw 8 teams race at 7 meets, with Energy Standard ultimately defeating the California Condors, London Roar, and Los Angeles Current at the Las Vegas final. The New York Breakers, DC Trident, Aqua Centurions, and Iron were the other four teams to take part in the season but were unsuccessful in making it to the finals.

For the 2020 season, two new teams were introduced for the league; the Toronto Titans and Tokyo Frog Kings. Earlier in September, each team’s roster was announced but since then, several athletes have pulled out and others have announced their signing.

A significant number of said withdrawals came from COVID-19 related travel restrictions affecting Australian athletes with mainly hit athletes representing London Roar, the New York Breakers, and the Cali Condors.

Following the loss of 5 Australians, the Cali Condors have bolstered their roster with some big names such as Allison Schmitt, Lia Neal, and Haley Anderson to fill out the women’s roster. Their most recent addition, Tomas Peribonio brought the men to 16, officially filling their roster for the season. The Breakers have also replaced their lost Aussies and have filled out their roster, with the Roar adding a few new names to bring the team to 31/32.

Also currently sitting with a full roster for the upcoming season, the Toronto Titans recently confirmed that several of their Canadian team members have not received full support from their national swimming federation for their involvement in the league. A recent meeting involved Swimming Canada presenting the Titans’ Canadian contingent with factual information regarding the COVID-19 risks associated with their participation in the league.

Joining the Condors, the Breakers, and the Titans with full rosters are Energy Standard, the Tokyo Frog Kings, and Iron. That makes it 6 teams with and 4 teams without a full roster.

Via the Breakers, who have signed 17 men and 15 women, we’ve learned that the rule on roster limits, while initially presented as 16 women and 16 men, seems to be enforced as 32 total swimmers.

Following the loss of five Italians from their roster and subsequent withdrawal of Simone Sabboni and Elena di Liddo, the Aqua Centurions have just added 9 names. This brings them to 15 men and 16 women and just one spot left to fill.

Check out each team’s roster as of September 28, 2020, down below, along with a recap on recent additions and withdrawals from the league.

Note: The following rosters are the most current, up to date versions made available by the ISL and are still subject to change over the next few weeks leading up the October 16th.

Energy Standard

Additions

• Benedetta Pilato

Spots To Be Filled: 0

Aqua Centurions

Additions

• Mykhailo Romanchuk
• Valentine Dumont
• Haley Black
• Fabio Santi
• Apostolos Papastamos
• Kathryn Greenslade
• Katalin Burian
• Stefania Pirozzi
• Alexandra Touretski
• Theodora Drakou
• Tain Bruce
• Lara Grangeon

Withdrawals

• Ilaria Bianchi
• Silvia Scalia
• Silvia di Pietro
• Elena Di Liddo
• Sara Franceshi
• Matteo Ciampi
• Simone Sabbioni

Spots To Be Filled: 1

Cali Condors