ATLANTA, Ga. \u2013 Florida’s men’s swimming and diving program turned in a historic performance at the 2026 NCAA Division I Men’s Swimming & Diving Championships at the McAuley Aquatic Center, finishing second with 419 points.
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Best program finish since 1985 \ud83d\udc0a pic.twitter.com\/fPnyVhJAmc<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Gators Swimming & Diving (@GatorsSwimDv) March 29, 2026<\/a>
HEAR FROM HEAD COACH ANTHONY NESTY
All-Americans (Top-16 Finishes)<\/p>\n
Program Top-10 Times <\/p>\n
Records<\/p>\n
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\nThe Gators, who were predicted to finish anywhere between fourth-through-sixth, trailed Texas by only 26.5 points (445.5) and finished ahead of Indiana (351) and Arizona State (328) on the podium.
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\nFlorida’s finish is the program’s best in 39 years, dating back to a runner-up result in 1985. It is just the program’s second second-place finish all-time and the highest finish since winning back-to-back national titles in 1983 and 1984. The 419 points also set a program record, surpassing the previous high of 387 points scored in 2014. It’s also the sixth-instance since Anthony Nesty<\/a> assumed the role of Head Coach in 2018 that the Gators have secured a fifth-place or better finish.
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\nFlorida Men’s NCAA Championships finish since 2018: <\/p>\n
\n\t2018 \u2013 5th
\n\t2019 \u2013 6th
\n\t2021 \u2013 3rd
\n\t2022 \u2013 3rd
\n\t2023 \u2013 6th
\n\t2024 \u2013 3rd
\n\t2025 \u2013 4th\u00a0
\n\t2026 \u2013 2nd
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\n“This is a very special group of men who just finished the season as the national runner up – our highest team finish since 1985. From our freshmen to our seniors to our divers who scored the most points collectively out of every diving program at the meet. Everyone played a role in this historic finish and I am unbelievably proud! It’s great to be a Florida Gator!”
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\nOverall, the men won five national titles and added 14 additional podium finishes. 14 Gators earned 25 All-America honors (20 First-Team and five Second-Team) with 14 of the 15 athletes contributing to the team’s total score. The squad shattered two NCAA records, as well as program, U.S. Open and meet records, set three pool records and posted 11 program top-10 times.
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\nJosh Liendo<\/a> cemented his legendary status in Florida’s history, sweeping the 50 and 100 free and 100 fly for the second time in his career, joining Florida’s Caleb Dressel as the only Gators to achieve this feat twice. Liendo contributed 60 points to Gators’ total, earned seven All-America honors for a career total of 26 and shattered NCAA, U.S. Open, meet, and program records in the 100 fly twice in the same day. He also set career-best times of 18.6 and 39.91 in the 50 and 100 free, respectively.
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\nFlorida’s distance squad added 107 points, led by national titles from the Ahmed duo. Ahmed Jaouadi<\/a> became just the second Gator to win the NCAA mile, breaking NCAA, U.S. Open, meet and program records as a freshman with a 14:10.03 finish. Ahmed Hafnaoui<\/a> claimed the 500 free in 4:06.56 to become the third Gator ever to win the event. Senior Gio Linscheer<\/a> also added podium finishes with fifth-place showings in both the 500 free and 1,650 free, while Eric Brown<\/a> earned his first career All-America honor after placing 14th in the mile.
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\nFlorida’s diving squad, led by Head Coach Bryan Gillooly<\/a>, played a key role in the Gators’ historic finish, contributing 58 points to the team total. Conor Gesing<\/a> scored 27 points with a sixth-place finish on the 1-meter and fifth on the 3-meter springboards. Jesus Agundez Mora<\/a> added 15 points on the 1-meter in his NCAA debut, while Jesus Gonzalez<\/a> capped off Florida’s diving All-American honors with a third-place finish on platform, contributing 16 points.
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\nSaturday Release
\nJosh Liendo<\/a> completed the NCAA 100 free four-peat, touching in 39.91 to reset his No. 2 time in UF’s top-10 list and become the only swimmer to break 40 second more than once in the race. It marked Liendo’s third individual title of the meet and his ninth individual NCAA title in his career.
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\nJonny Marshall<\/a> represented Florida in the 200 back, touching the wall in 1:37.15 to secure second place.\u00a0 He improved from his No. 6 seed time to contribute 17 points to Florida’s total score. His finish marks the juniors best finish in the event at NCAA’s, bettering his fourth-place in 2024 and fifth in 2025.
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\nJesus Gonzalez<\/a> earned a spot on the podium after placing third on platform with a 427.25 finals score. The sophomore advanced for his first finals session of the week after taking the top spot with a 435.05 in prelims.
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\nThe men’s 400 free relay of Devin Dilger<\/a> (42.86), Alexander Painter<\/a> (41.00), Scotty Buff<\/a> (41.14) and Liendo (40.38) put together a 2:44.38 in the final event of the meet to earn third.
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\nMorning Session
\nAlexander Painter<\/a> and Aiden Norman<\/a> also swam in the 100 free and 200 back events, with Painter going a 41.96 for 28th place in the 100 Free and Norman touching in 1:40.78 for 31st.
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\nFreshman Jesus Agundez Mora<\/a> closed out his first NCAA Championships appearance on platform, opening with scores of 72.00 and 60.80. A 14.85 on his back 3\u00bd somersault tuck took him out of scoring contention, but he responded with a 64.00 and capped his list with a 74.80 on a reverse 3\u00bd somersault tuck to finish 24th overall (329.00).
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\nFLORIDA’S FULL TALLY
\nPodium (Top-8 finishes)<\/p>\n
\n\tNational Champions
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\n\tSecond Place
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\n\tThird Place
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\n\tFourth Place
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\n\tFifth Place
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\n\tSixth Place
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\n\tFirst Team
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\n\t\tAhmed Jaouadi<\/a> \u2013 1,650 Freestyle & 500 Freestyle
\n\t\tAhmed Hafnaoui<\/a> \u2013 1,650 Freestyle & 500 Freestyle
\n\t\tGio Linscheer<\/a> \u2013 1,650 Freestyle & 500 Freestyle
\n\t\tJosh Liendo<\/a> \u2013 100 Butterfly, 50 Freestyle & 100 Freestyle
\n\t\tScotty Buff<\/a> \u2013 100 Butterfly
\n\t\tKoen de Groot<\/a> \u2013 100 Breaststroke
\n\t\tJesus Agundez Mora<\/a> \u2013 1-Meter
\n\t\tConor Gesing<\/a> \u2013 1-Meter & 3-meter
\n\t\tJonny Marshall<\/a> \u2013 200 Backstroke
\n\t\tJesus Gonzalez<\/a> \u2013 Platform
\n\t\tJonny Marshall<\/a>, Koen de Groot<\/a>, Scotty Buff<\/a>, Josh Liendo<\/a> \u2013 200 Medley Relay
\n\t\tJosh Liendo<\/a>, Alexander Painter<\/a>, Scotty Buff<\/a>, Devin Dilger<\/a> – 200 Freestyle Relay
\n\t\tJonny Marshall<\/a>, Koen de Groot<\/a>, Josh Liendo<\/a>, Alexander Painter<\/a> \u2013 400 Medley Relay
\n\t\tDevin Dilger<\/a>, Alexander Painter<\/a>, Scotty Buff<\/a>, Josh Liendo<\/a> – 400 Freestyle Relay
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\n\tSecond Team
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\n\t50 Freestyle
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\n\t100 Freestyle
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\n\t500 Freestyle
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\n\t1,650 Freestyle
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\n\t100 Butterfly
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\n\t200 Freestyle Relay
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\n\t400 Medley Relay
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\n\tNCAA
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\n\tU.S. Open
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\n\tProgram
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\n\tPool
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\nFans can stay up to date with the Florida Gator swimming & diving teams by following @GatorsSwimDv<\/a> on X and catch up with the latest news and content of the team. Like the team’s Facebook page at Florida Gators Swimming & Diving<\/a> Fans can also keep up with the team by following them on Instagram at @Gatorsswimdv<\/a>
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