Florida Adds Six Newcomers to 2016 Signing Class
Wednesday, November 18, 2015 | Men's Swimming & Diving
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- University of Florida head coach Gregg Troy announced the addition of six talented newcomers to the Florida Swimming and Diving program on Tuesday. The six new additions brings the Gator commits to a total of 13 incoming freshmen.
This second addition of Florida commits features Tyler Silver (Cary, North Carolina), Corey Neas (Rochester, New York), Robert Delk (Lawrenceville, Georgia), Kahra Williams (Gainesville, Florida), Makayla Sargent (Victor New York), and Brooke Madden (Centerville, Indiana).
Head Coach Gregg Troy on the 2016 Recruiting Class:
“Overall we're really excited about this incoming men's class. It's an extremely talented group with a good mixture from all over the country. We addressed some weakness and improved in depth in some areas. There are a lot of guys that could walk in and make an immediate impact.
“On the women's side, we brought in an intentionally large women's class. We felt depth has been an issue in the past couple years so we recruited very strongly within the state and not just fill certain roles, but also give us depth throughout the entire team. This class is tremendously versatile with very high-profile athletes and will definitely fill in the weaknesses and problems we've had over the past few years.”
Meet the Gators:
Robert Delk
Lawrenceville, Georgia | Free/Back | HS: Collins Hill
Newcomer Robert Delk joins the Gator Swimming program as an accomplished young athlete. A 2016 Olympic Trial Qualifier in both the 100 and 200 backstrokes, Delk comes in as the fifth-ranked recruit in the state of Georgia and the 114th ranked swimmer among the 2016 National signing class. At the age of 10, Delk was rated the No. 1 swimmer nationally in the 50-meter backstroke and No. 2 nationally in the 100-meter backstroke. To this day, he holds four high school records at Fort Collins in addition to the Georgia state record in the 100-meter backstroke from when he was 10-years old. Delk holds eight USA Swimming National Recognitions. The two-time top-eight finisher at the 2015 Summer Junior Nationals also swam to a 17th-place finish in the 2015 5k National Open Water Championships.
Coach Troy on Delk:
“Robert Delk is a good all-around swimmer and he swims distance and freestyle. He's a very talented backstroke swimmer as well from an outstanding program in Atlanta. He's going to add not only depth in the backstroke area but also depth in the freestyle. He's got some real good basics and we're excited about his potential.”
Delk on Florida:
“The University of Florida offers the best academic and swim environment in which I can best achieve my academic and athletic goals.”
Tyler Silver
Cary, North Carolina | Back/Fly | Club Swim Team: Marlins of Raleigh
According to collegeswimming.com, Silver is the fifth ranked recruit out of the state of North Carolina and is the 166th-ranked recruit nationally. In the pool, Silver comes to the University of Florida as an accomplished swimmer -- swimming to a 4A state championship in the 100-yard backstroke and qualifying for the USA Winter Nationals in both 2014 and 2015. Silver also served as the captain at both Athens Drive High School and as a member of his club team -- Marlins of Raleigh. In the classroom, Silver was a two-time scholastic All-American.
Coach Troy on Silver:
“Tyler is a good quality backstroke and butterfly specialist. And one of the best swimmers coming out of the state of North Carolina.
Silver on Florida:
“I fit in well with the team when I met them. I know that with the great coaching staff and academic programs I will have the opportunity to be successful at the University of Florida.”
Corey Neas
Rochester, New York | Diver | AAU Team: Upstate NY Diving
Neas marks the second diver to join Head Diving Coach Dale Schultz's list of 2016 Gator commits. A 2015 National Interscholastic Swim Coaches Association Diving All-American, Neas was a top-20 finisher at the 2015 USA Diving National Championships and finished third at the UDA Diving Zone Championships. Neas also finished second off the one-meter at the 2014-15 New York Section V Class B Championships. At the New York State competition in 2015, Neas finished fourth overall, diving to a score of 531.10.
Coach Schultz on Neas:
“Corey Neas is a real solid diver. He dove well at Junior Nationals. He's extremely talented and will be a very strong addition to dive along Sam Smith in the future for this Florida Diving team.”
Neas on Florida:
“Ever since I was little, I've always wanted to be a Gator. When I came on my official visit, I felt as if I was home. The Gainesville area and community really helped create a home-like feeling.”
Kahra Williams
Gainesville, Florida | Freestyle | Club: Gator Swim Club
Williams, according to college swimming, is the fourth-ranked recruit in the state of Florida and the 89th-ranked recruit nationally. Already a 2016 Olympic Trials Qualifier in the 400 and 800 freestyle, Williams was a silver and bronze medalist at the 2015 Summer Junior Nationals in the 800 (silver) and 1,500 freestyle (bronze). Williams was a 2014 Florida State High School Athletic Association silver medalist in the 1,500 freestyle. Outside of the pool, Williams was a 2013 member of the National Diversity Select group and a 2012 Southern Zone Select Camp attendee. Was also a Florida Zone Team member from 2010-2012.
Coach Troy on Williams:
“Kahra is a local girl that finished as a distance freestyle finalist at the Junior Nationals. She also swims a good 200 butterfly. Since she's local, we know she has a tremendous work ethic and a really great attitude.”
Williams on Florida:
“I've been a Gator fan my entire life and am thrilled to be a part of such an outstanding school and swimming program. The culture and closeness of the team, combined with the coaching staff in addition, left me no doubt that Florida was the right school for me.”
Makayla Sargent
Victor, New York | IM/Breast/Free | Club: Victor Swim Club
According to collegeswimming.com, Sargent is the No. 1 rated recruit in the state of New York and the 69th among the Country. In the pool, she has already qualified for the 2016 Olympic Trials in three separate events. Sargent was a 2015 All-American as a prep in the 200 IM -- the same event in which she finished second in at the 2015 Speedo Champions Series after touching out with a time of 2:17.96. Owns a New York state title in the 200 IM and finished third in the 400 IM at the 2015 Summer Junior Championships. Sargent is also a standout in the classroom, where she holds a 4.0 grade point average and is a two-time Scholastic All-American.
Coach Troy on Sargent:
“Makayla was a Junior National Finalist in the 400 IM in the breaststroke. She swims all 200s of the strokes and has tremendous depth. She's going to give us a great addition to our versatility in a number of different ways.”
Sargent on Florida:
“I feel especially fortunate to have the opportunity to attend the University of Florida and represent the Gators. I know this team will continue the proud tradition of success and I am so excited to train with the best.”
Brooke Madden
Centerville, Indiana | Diver | High School: Centerville
Newcomer Brooke Madden will join Coach Schultz's group of divers in the 2016 class. A 2012 Olympic Trials qualifier, Madden brings an already accomplished resume to the Gator diving program. Following a three-meter championship title at the Junior Pan American games, Madden went on to follow up with championship titles off the platform and three-meter at the Junior national Championships. Madden also gathered a 2010 Canada Cup Championship in three-meter synchronized competition and a 2012 Hobie Billingsly International Championship off the platform. At the high school level, Madden dove to a seventh-place finish in one-meter competition at the 2014 state competition and improved to a fourth-place showing in 2015.
Coach Schultz on Madden:
“Brooke is an extremely talented individual. She's one of the most talented divers I've ever been around. By the age of 13 she had already qualified for the 2012 Olympic Trials. She has the opportunity to be the foundation for a great future for Florida diving and we're really excited about having her here.”
Madden on Florida:
“The University of Florida offers an outstanding academics in addition to the remarkable swimming and diving program. Each of the team and staff members were incredibly welcoming during my official visit. I couldn't be more excited to become a Gator.”
Click here to see the rest of the 2016 Signing Class: Florida Swimming & Diving Inks 7 to National Letters of Intent
