So here we go! Now, be forewarned that I didn’t end up doing much predicting this year. Mostly thinking/rambling out loud. You love it. I’m sure that’s why you come here anyway. What few predictions I did make stand a chance at being 95% wrong. But I don’t care. It’s fun for me!

SENIORS

#1. Lacey Nymeyer (Arizona)
This is a no brainer. I would be absolutely shocked if Lacey didn’t continue her swimming career. For the longest time I thought she was a senior last year with Whitney. Anyway, there isn’t a snowball’s chance in hell that she signs with Nike. Nike scooped up Whitney last year and pretty much sucks at scooping up major talent. They’re set up perfectly what with Zona being a Nike school. However, she could sign since the Swoosh is losing their 2 longest signed females Kaitlin and Maritza) after this summer. I’ll put it this way: I’d be surprised if she went Nike, but not shocked. As for agents, who knows. Octagon only seems to sign “superstars”, and while Lacey rocks, I don’t know if she fits the mold they have or whatever. I’d guess PMG, but so many are signing with agents I’ve never heard of that I should probably give up guessing agents.

#2. Caroline Burckle (Florida)
Ahh, the Lochtenator’s better half. I’d like to think including her here is more than wishful thinking. I’m dying to see how Caro does when she can focus exclusively on swimming as a professional. She was a member of the 2005 World Champs squad, so the talent is obviously there. The events she swims are deep, but I still think she can make some noise. Should she sign, I’m chalking one up for Speedo. Congrats to Caro for being awarded the Honda Award for Swimming.

There’s a host of other swimmers who, should they make the decision to continue, could have quite a long career. I mean, take a look at Randall Bal. His events (backstroke) are so loaded that he didn’t make last year’s World Champs or any Olympic team, but he still pushes the competition and does very well for himself. He won this season’s World Cup men’s title which came with a hefty $100,000 prize. If he swam for any other country, he’d be a super star! Same goes for those like Robert Margalis. So, I guess for many, it’s just a decision of how much they enjoy competing in the sport and if they wish to continue or move on to other things in life. I’m not familiar with enough of this year’s class to make that call well. Emily Silver, Emily Kukors, Andrea Hupman, Christine Magnuson, Kara Denby…they have all earned swimwear contracts with their work in the pool. It’s just a matter on if that’s what they want!

UNDERCLASSMEN

The reason I’ve included the underclassmen is because it’s an Olympic year and there’s the distinct possibility that some girls “pull a Kaitlin” and turn pro. Ya like that, KS? I’m just excited cuz I get to see her in a few days.

#1. Rebecca Soni
If, big if, she goes pro, she’d likely be the “big fish” in the pond of signees. Speedo has all the other top US breaststrokers, so I can see Nike, even TYR, going after her hard!

#2. Gemma Spofforth
She may want to capitalize on opportunities in her native, England. Her progress, and now dominance, in the backstroke events may lure her to the professional ranks. I mean, that’s what Cesar Cielo is doing. He’s only one year away from graduation, unlike Gemma, who is just a sophomore. I’m sure this is a longshot, but I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention Gemma too. Plus, she has a cool name. I know I didn’t predict a swimwear co. I don’t tend to know the landscape of foreign athletes well enough to gauge.

#3. Dana Vollmer
Why not? Dana’s turned up the heat significantly since transferring to Cal. She made the World Champs roster last year and helped set the current 800 Free Relay World Record. All this and she hasn’t even come close to peaking. I’m not saying she’ll go pro, but the credentials are absolutely there considering this is THE big year in the quad plan.

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