Florida’s Conor Gesing jumps off the 1-meter board into the air during a meet against FSU at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center Natatorium in Gainesville, Fla., on Friday, Jan. 30, 2026. (Kaley Mantz/WRUF)

Florida Swim and Dive Aim for National Glory at NCAA Championships

Subhead: Gator swimmers Liendo, Marshall, Bottazzo and Choate will be strong forces at the tournaments

After more than a decade of dominance in the SEC, the Gators are entering the 2026 DI NCAA Championships with something more: motivation.

Florida’s men’s swim and dive team finished second at the 2026 SEC Championships in Knoxville, Tennessee Feb. 21. The day marked the second straight year the Gators fell short of the conference title after their 12-year dynasty ended last season.

The men’s team finished with 1,292 points behind Texas, which claimed the SEC title with 1,449.5 points. Florida’s women placed third with 1,015.5 points, finishing just 70.5 points behind runner-up Tennessee, while Texas also captured the women’s championship.

While the team trophies slipped away, the Gators will look for better results in Athens, Georgia.

Ten women swimmers qualified to represent Florida in the NCAA’s, so far three swimmers will be representing the men’s team individually with four more qualifying for relays.

Divers will be determined by performances achieved at the Zone B Diving Championships held from Sunday through Wednesday. Divers advancing will be announced Thursday.

Swimmers to watch out for at NCAAs

Josh Liendo

Florida senior and dual Olympian Josh Liendo qualified in the 100-meter butterfly (43.06) and the 50-meter freestyle (18.42).

The senior also qualified for the 200-meter and 400-meter freestyle relay teams alongside sophomores Alexander Painter, and Devin Dilger, and junior Scotty Buff.

He will also compete in the 200-medley relay with junior Johnny Marshall, senior Koen de Groot, and Buff.

Liendo has achieved the NCAA title in the 100-meter butterfly event for the past two years, and he earned the national title in the 50-meter freestyle in 2024.

Also in 2024 his 200-meter freestyle and medley relay teams became national champions.

Liendo made history at the SEC championship this season for claiming six gold medals for the most in Gator history. He was also named Men’s Swimmer of the Meet.

Johnny Marshall

Junior and olympian Johnny Marshall punched his ticket to the NCAAs when he finished first in the 200-meter backstroke at SEC champs (1:36.38), with the fastest time in the nation.

“I was confident in my ability and my training and just shoutout to all my training partners,” Marshall said. “You saw Catie Choate, we train together, and I mean there is a reason we both won.”

Although he has yet to make the national podium for the event in his last two NCAA appearances he is determined to end that trend this year.

Marshall however, did become a national champion as part of the 2025 400-medley relay team. This season he will compete as part of the 200-medley relay team.

Catie Choate

Junior Catie Choate also qualified and took conference championship gold in the 200-meter backstroke (1:49.94).

In her last two NCAAs Choate posted consecutive All-American times in the event but has yet to finish on the podium. This year proves however, to be different as she has finally broken the 1:50 mark that kept her out of the top five these last two years.

In 2024 Choate finished eighth overall (1:53.54), and in 2025 she finished 10th (1:51.25). The over three second improvement in time indicates hope of a strong performance this year for the junior.

Anita Bottazzo

Italian sophomore Anita Bottazzo finished at the top of the conference championship podium in the 100-meter breaststroke (57.11) and 200-meter breaststroke (2:07.26) to qualify in both events for NCAAs.

Bottazzo also qualified for the 200-meter and 400-meter medley relay teams, as well as the 800-meter freestyle relay.

In 2025 she had her NCAA debut. Bottazzo earned Second-Team All-American honors for her 57.84 100-meter breaststroke, and 20th overall in the 200-meter breaststroke (2:08.74).

Also in her national debut her team finished fifth overall in the 200-medley relay and finished on the podium for third overall in the 400-meter medley relay.

Botazzo has matured in age and skill however and will look to improve her performance for her second NCAA appearance.

The teams will travel to Athens, Georgia, at the University of Georgia’s Gabrielsen Natatorium. The women’s swim team will compete from March 18-21. The men will compete from March 25-28 in Atlanta, Georgia, at Georgia Tech’s McAuley Aquatic Center.

Category: Gators Swimming and Diving