Florida Swimming & Diving Inks 7 to National Letters of Intent
Friday, November 13, 2015 | Women's Swimming & Diving
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Seven future members of the Florida Swimming and Diving program inked National Letters of Intent to continue their academic and athletic careers at the University of Florida this week, Head Coach Gregg Troy announced on Friday.
After seeking out the country's top talent from coast to coast, the Florida coaching staff went overseas to Spain to finalize their first group of signees. This first addition to the 2016 class of signees includes Marco Guarente (Weston, Florida), Isabella Garofalo (St. Augustine, Florida), Savanna Faulconer (Simpsonville, South Carolina), Alex Farrow (Naples, Florida), Drew Clark (Sarasota, Florida), Laura Rodriguez Cao (Sabadell, Spain), and Nazareno Boscaino (Tampa Bay, Florida).
“We're very excited about this group of 2016 signees,” said UF head coach Gregg Troy. “This group brings a great deal of talent and character to the program. Not only in the pool, but in the classroom as well. We're looking forward to the immediate impact we expect this class to bring come 2016.”
Meet the Gators:
Marco Guarente
Weston, Florida | Breast / IM | Club: Azura Florida Aquatics
According to collegeswimming.com, Guarente is the 13th-ranked swimmer in the state of Florida's 2016 signing class. In the pool, Guarente won a bronze medal in the 200-meter breaststroke at the 2015 Junior National Championships in San Antonio. In addition, Guarente is a one-time gold and four-time silver medalist at the Venezuelan Youth Games. At the 2013 Central American and Caribbean Amateur Swimming Championships in Costa Rica, Guarente was a gold medalist in the 200-meter breaststroke. Guarente was also a 2012 Pan American gold medalist in the 200 breaststroke. In 2011, Guarente gathered three gold medals at the South American School Championships in Columbia, and a bronze medal at the Spring Southern Zone Sectionals in North Carolina. His first major accomplishment in the pool came at the 2010 Coni Youth Games in Italy where he swam to a first-place finish in the 50-meter breaststroke.
Isabella Garofalo
St. Augustine, Florida | Freestyle | High School: St. Joseph Academy
According to collegeswimming.com, Garofalo is the 15th-ranked swimmer in the state of Florida's 2016 signing class. In the pool, Garofalo was a 2015 50-freestyle All-American. She was a four-time state semifinalist in the 50 and 100-yard freestyle from 2012-15 and a USA Junior Nationals qualifier. In addition to her talents in the pool, Garofalo holds a 4.67 grade point average in the classroom and was a two-time scholastic All-American. Garofalo was the president of the school's National Honor Society and class Valedictorian.
Garofalo on Florida:
“I chose the University of Florida because of the tremendous coaching staff, the close-knit family atmosphere throughout the program, and their reputation of academic excellence.”
Savanna Faulconer
Simpsonville, South Carolina | Breast / IM | Club: Y-Spartaquatics
According to collegeswimming.com, Faulconer is the top-ranked recruit in the state of South Carolina and the 12th-ranked swimmer nationally to come out of the 2016 signing class. She was a ninth-highest overall point scorer at the 2014 Junior National Championships, marking her as one of the highest sought-after recruits in the country. In the pool, Faulconer is four-time South Carolina State Champion, two-time Junior National Team member, and a 2015 FINA Junior World Championship Team member. Outside of high school competition, Faulconer has qualified for the 2016 Olympic trials in three separate events. In the classroom, Faulconer is a two-time Scholastic All-American.
Faulconer on Florida:
“I loved the team atmosphere I felt at the University of Florida and I wanted the opportunity to compete alongside the best in the country. I'd also like to thank the University of Florida coaching staff for this opportunity -- I've always wanted to be a Florida Gator.
Alex Farrow
Naples, Florida | Diver | High School: Seacrest Country Day
Newcomer Alex Farrow marks the first diver to join the 2016 signing class. Farrow joins the Orange and Blue with a talented resume off the one and three-meter springboards which includes a 2014-15 Team MVP Award, a 2014 third-place finish off the one-meter board at the 2014 state championships, and a one-meter school record performance of 438.64. Farrow also excelled in the pool, swimming as a member of the schools record-setting 400-yard freestyle relay team. A two-sport athlete, Farrow holds track records in the 110-meter hurdles, 300 hurdles, and was a 110 hurdle state qualifier in 2015.
Farrow on Florida:
“I am incredibly excited to attend the University of Florida. I had a great visit and was fortunate enough to spend time with some amazing athletes and great friends. I'm excited to see what I can accomplish with Florida's coaching staff and the facilities on campus. It is such an honor to know I'll be joining the Florida program. I look forward to what 2016 has in store for me. Go Gators.”
Drew Clark
Sarasota, Florida | Freestyle | Club: YMCA Sharks
According to collegeswimming.com, Clark ranks seventh in the state of Florida and 45th nationally among the 2016 signing class. Clark, a distance specialist, has already qualified for the 2016 Olympic trials in the 1,500 freestyle – the same race finished fifth-overall in at the 2015 Summer Junior nationals. As a prep, Clark was a member of the 2014 Riverview High School 4A state championship team where he gathered high school All-American honors in both the 500-yard freestyle and the 400-yard freestyle. While a member of the YMCA short-course National Championship teams, Clark was a three-time short-course individual National Champion in the 1,650-yard freestyle (twice) and the 1,000-yard freestyle. To this day, Clark still holds the 1,650-yard freestyle record.
Clark on Florida:
“I chose the University of Florida because it is the best of all worlds for me. It has excellent academics, a great team atmosphere, one of the best coaching staffs in the country, and it's close to home. I come from a Gator family and look forward to continuing the family tradition here at UF.
Laura Rodriguez Cao
Sabadell, Spain | Freestyle | Club: Sabadell
Rodriguez Cao joins the 2016 signing class as the first newcomer from overseas. A 16-time Spain Relay Champion and 11-time Individual Champion, Rodriguez Cao joins the Orange and Blue after a trio of top-10 finishes at the 2015 Junior World Championships (8th in the 800-freestyle, 8th in the 800-free relay, and 10th in the 1,500-freestyle). In 2014, Rodriguez Cao had a strong showing at the 2014 European Junior Championships, placing second in the 1,500-freestyle, third in the 800-freestyle relay, and fifth in the 800-freestyle. Her first major swimming accomplishment came in the form of a runner-up finish in the 200-butterfly at the 2012 Camen Cup.
Rodriguez Cao on Florida:
"I am very grateful and excited to be a Florida Gator next year. The history and tradition behind the program with so many talented swimmers and divers drew me toward the program. The coaching staff has been outstanding and I'm looking forward to starting my experience as a Florida Gator next year. Go Gators."
Nazareno Boscaino
Tampa Bay, Florida | Free / Back | High School: Sickles
According to collegeswimming.com, Boscaino is the second-ranked swimmer in the 2016 signing class and the 21st-ranked swimmer nationally. A 2016 Olympic trial qualifier, Boscaino was a Senior National C Finalist, a Junior National Finalist, and was also named the 2014 Male Swimmer of the Year by Florida Swimming. As a both a freshman and a sophomore, Boscaino won the 500-yard freestyle title at the Florida State Swimming Championships.
Boscaino on Florida:
“I fell in love with the University of Florida the moment I stepped foot on campus. The Coaching Staff was great and the team was tremendous to be around. I can already see myself excelling here not only in the pool, but also in the classroom.”
