Gators Swim & Dive Dominate SEC Awards

The Florida Gators swim and dive teams have consistently produced an elite pool of talent, highlighted by this year’s SEC awards. 

Joshua Liendo was named the Southeastern Conference Men’s Swimmer of the Year as Gators Swim & Dive took home 16 All-SEC team honors, two individual SEC awards and two SEC coaching awards.

Liendo, along with Jesus Gonzalez, Scotty Buff, Koen de Groot, Ahmed Jaouadi, Jonny Marshall, Alex Painter and Devin Dilger were named to the men’s All-SEC first team– leading all conference  teams in first-team honors.

Redshirt junior Ahmed Hafnaoui was named to the All-SEC third team. Jaouadi and Jesus Agundez were named to the SEC All-Freshman team, with the prior winning SEC Men’s Freshman Swimmer of the Year.

Additionally, Anthony Nesty and Bryan Gillooly swept the SEC Swim & Dive coaching awards, with Nesty winning men’s Swim Coach of the Year and Gillooly winning men’s SEC Dive Coach of the Year.

The Gators placed second at the NCAA Men’s Swimming & Diving Championships, where Liendo won gold in three events: the 100-meter butterfly, 100-meter freestyle and the 50-meter freestyle. Jaouadi and Hafnaoui won gold in the 1,650-freestyle and the 500-meter freestyle, respectively, while Gonzalez placed third on platform.

On the women’s side, Anita Bottazzo, Catie Choate and Camyla Monroy earned All-SEC First Team honors, while freshman Grace Rabb was named to the All-SEC Freshman and Second teams. 

In March, the Gators placed 10th at the NCAA Women’s Swimming & Diving Championships, where Bottazzo placed second in the 100-yard breaststroke. 

Category: Gators Swimming and Diving