Following a 10th-place finish for the Florida women and a runner-up finish for the men at last spring’s NCAA Championships, the Gators enter the 2026-27 season looking to maintain momentum while navigating significant roster turnover.
Both men’s and women’s programs return to competition Sept. 26. The men open their season against Florida Atlantic and Nova Southeastern in Boca Raton, Florida, while the women travel to Nashville, Tennessee, for a dual meet against Vanderbilt.
This season marks the beginning of a new chapter for Florida after the departure of several of last year’s key contributors. The men lost Eric Brown, Koen de Groot, Charlie Hutchison, Aleksas Savickas and Josh Liendo and the women saw Anita Bottazzo enter the transfer portal last spring.
Bottazzo was a heavy contributor to the women’s success at Southeastern Conference Championships in 2026, adding 248 points to the team’s total and winning the 100- and 200-yard breaststroke. Bottazzo was also a seven-time All-American and earned second place in the 100-yard breaststroke at the NCAA Championships.
Liendo headlines the Gators’ departures as one of the program’s most accomplished swimmers in recent years. A two-time Olympian, 26-time All-American and owner of 15 career NCAA titles, including nine individual championships, Liendo leaves behind a decorated career. He was also named the 2026 SEC Male Swimmer of the Year and the CSCAA Co-National Swimmer of the Year.
Although Florida has yet to officially release its full 2026-27 roster, the program has announced several notable additions to both teams.
The men’s incoming group includes Olympian and Texas transfer David Johnston, Auburn transfer and All-American Abdalla Youssef, freshman breaststroke specialist Liam Smith, European Junior champion Zoltan Bagi, South African butterfly specialist Tai Pearson and 2024 Olympic Trials qualifier Santi Alzate.
On the women’s side, Florida has added talent across the levels. French Junior National champions Carla Serra and Maeline Bessard will join the program alongside South Korean swimmer Bomin Kim, who is expected to provide significant depth to the middle distance group. Italian swimmers Valentina Procaccini and breaststroke specialist Francesca Zucca are also set to join the roster, along with 2024 Olympic Trials qualifier Maddie Moreth.
While Florida will welcome several new faces, the women’s team will also see the return of an experienced group of leaders. Senior Catie Choate enters the season as a five-time All-American and SEC champion in the 200-yard backstroke, joined by fellow team captains Sofia Plaza and Jojo Ramey. Two-time All-American Michaela Mattes, four-time All-American and Olympian Julie Brousseau and SEC Championship silver medalist Grace Rabb are also key returners.
The men’s team will be led by team captains and SEC Champions Scotty Buff, Devin Dilger and Caleb Maldari. They will be joined by experienced returners like six-time All-American Alexander Painter and the 2026 SEC Male Freshman Swimmer of the Year, Ahmed Jaouadi.
The team will be led by a coaching staff that remains intact under head coach Anthony Nesty, who enters his ninth season leading the program and his 29th overall with Florida. Nesty was recently named one of six finalists for the American Swimming Coaches Association George Haines Coach of the Year Award.
Florida has also added Chelsea Piper as an assistant coach. Piper joins the Gators after seven seasons at Vanderbilt, including two as an associate head coach. During her time with the Commodores, the women’s program set 15 school records.
Florida’s early-season schedule offers several opportunities to gauge where the roster stands. The Gators open SEC competition Oct. 2 against Kentucky before facing Virginia Oct. 17 and Georgia Oct. 30.
Virginia presents one of the schedule’s toughest tests, particularly for the women. The Cavaliers are coming off their sixth straight NCAA championship, and Florida hasn’t defeated Virginia the last four times they’ve faced off. Florida’s men, however, have won all four most recent meets with the Cavaliers.
The annual SEC rivalry meet against Georgia will close out October. Florida swept its most recent dual meet against the Bulldogs, with the men winning 191-154 and the women earning a 194-145 victory. The Gator men hold a 9-3 all-time record against Georgia, while the women are 8-3.
Florida will conclude its fall competition in mid-November at the Georgia Invitational in Athens before a select group of swimmers moves on to the U.S. Open Championships in early December.
With a mix of returning talent and new additions, the Gators’ fall schedule will provide an early look at how the team will fare heading into championship season.
Contact Lily Perkins at lperkins@alligator.org. Follow her on X @lily_perkins10.
Lily Perkins is a fourth-year journalism sports and media student in her first semester at The Alligator as a sports enterpise writer. In her free time she enjoys cooking, spending time with friends, and of course, watching sports.
