Florida Swimming & Diving Dominate in Season Opener

Gators swim and dive is off to a strong start to 2026 after two dominating victories in the team’s respective season openers.

No. 2 Florida traveled to Coral Springs Aquatic Complex to face off against Florida Atlantic on Saturday. The Gators left with a 232-63 victory over the Owls.

Over at the Centennial Sportsplex in Nashville, Tennessee, No. 10 Florida women trounced Vanderbilt with a 206-55 win. 

It was a clean sweep for Florida who won all 14 individual races at both meets.

On the men’s side, sophomore Nil Cadevall led the Gators with three first-place finishes in three events. Sophomore Ahmed Jaouadi and junior Devin Dilger followed close behind as both notched a first-place finish in two events. 

For the 1,000-meter freestyle, the Gators filled the podium with Jaouadi in the lead, followed by Luke Corey and Santiago Alzate.

Across the 14 swimming events, 13 Gators came in second place. 

In their debut, freshman Tai Pearson secured his first collegiate win in the 100-meter butterfly (47.67) and freshman Zoltan Bagi with three second-place finishes: 100-meter butterfly (48.58), 200-meter medley relay (1:27.60) and 400-meter free relay (3:00.37).

On the women’s side, the Gators opened with a first-place 200-meter medley relay. They continued to sweep the top spots, with freshman Valentina Procaccini opening the individual events with her first collegiate win in the 1,000-meter freestyle (9:52.75). She followed this up with another victory in the 500-meter freestyle. Maddie Moreth also secured her first collegiate win in the 100-meter breaststroke and secured the top spot later on in the 200-meter breaststroke.

The Gators swept the podium with Julie Brousseau winning the 300-meter freestyle (1:48.64), and Maeline Bessard and Bomin Kim following close behind. 

Lainy Kruger finished first in the 200-meter butterfly (2:02.99). Junior Beatriz Bezerra, won the 50-meter freestyle (22.45) and the 100-meter butterfly (54.36), with sophomore Syliva Statkevicius claiming the 100-meter freestyle (50.69). 

Brousseau closed with another victory, this time in the 200-meter individual medley.

For diving, Florida topped all four diving events, with Camyla Monroy leading in the 1-meter (316.58 points) and 3-meter events (320.70). Jesus Agundez Mora and Jesus Gonzalez finished first in the 1-meter and 3-meter. Miguel Tovar and Juliana Giron made their collegiate debuts, with the former finishing in second in the 1-meter and Giron in second and third place in the 1- and 3-meter events. 

Florida swim and dive will travel to Lexington on Saturday to take on the Kentucky WIldcats for its first dual meet of the season.

Category: Gator Sports, Gators Swimming and Diving