COLUMBIA, Mo. - Sophomore Joseph Gutierrez (Las Vegas, Nev.) of the Mizzou men's swimming team was named to the USA Swimming 2020-2021 U.S. National Junior Team, USA Swimming announced. Gutierrez was chosen as an open water selection for the second year in a row. 

Gutierrez earned a spot on the National Junior Team thanks to his performance at the 2019 USA Swimming 10K Open Water Championships. The freshman placed 18th overall in the event but third amongst 18-and-under athletes with a time of 1:57.25.90. The top six 18-and-under finishers at the Championships were named to the National Junior Team.

As a freshman in 2019-20, Gutierrez won three event titles and was named the SEC Men's Freshman of the Week on Feb. 4. He currently ranks fifth all-time at Mizzou in the 1000 free. 

Gutierrez and the Mizzou men's and women's swimming and diving teams travel to Louisville, Ky. to take on No. 13/14 Louisville on Friday, Jan. 15.