For the past five years, there has been one constant on coach Gregg Troy’s team: at least one Fraser brother in the water.
Saturday marks the ceremonial end to Brett and Shaune Fraser’s record-setting run at UF. The two Cayman Island Olympians have combined for 40 All-American accolades during their collegiate careers, making them two of the most prolific sibling swimmers Troy can remember.
Shaune, who graduated from Florida last year, will be in Gainesville with his parents to see Brett, a senior, and 13 other swimmers and divers compete in their last dual meet at the O’Connell Center Natatorium on Senior Day against No. 7 Tennessee at noon.
“They’re highly dependable; they weren’t erratic very much,” Troy said of the Frasers. “You could always count on them in dual meets cause they’re good racers and tremendous relay swimmers, so it does make a little of a void.”
Replacing the last of the brothers looks even more daunting with 12 additional seniors heading toward the end of their stint on the No. 5 men’s side. Four of the Gators’ top five race winners this season are seniors, including Conor Dwyer, the 2010 NCAA Swimmer of the Year.
The lone senior on the No. 8 women’s team is diver Monica Dodson.
Troy thinks he might get the best effort from those seniors who have fewer accolades and more to swim for in their last several opportunities competitively racing in the pool.
“There’s a couple where this will be their last dual meet — might even be their last meet,” he said. “Some of them might not make the conference meet.”
After losing to Auburn last week, when the Tigers’ seniors were honored, the Gators know how the pageantry and sentiment of the day can swing in the home team’s favor. Florida’s men’s and women’s teams haven’t lost a meet on Senior Day in seven years.
Before the meet, the athletes have a team dinner with their parents and family as guests. Troy said most of them get up and say a few words.
“It’s a little more emotional, and there’s a little more sense of importance for some of them,” he said.
