Gators Flood SEC Postseason Awards List
Tuesday, April 14, 2020 | Men's Swimming & Diving
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The Southeastern Conference unveiled its swimming and diving postseason awards on Tuesday afternoon, highlighted by sophomore Kieran Smith being named Male Swimmer of the Year and men's head coach Anthony Nesty receiving Men's Swimming Coach of the Year for the second-straight season. Florida would also place five on the All-SEC First Team, eight on the Second Team and three on the All-Freshman Team.
Smith, this year's SEC Swimmer of the Meet, earns his first career Swimmer of the Year accolade after a record-breaking SEC championship performance. He would set a new American and NCAA record in the 500 free (4:06.32) on the second night of competition, as well posting a new SEC and Florida 200 free record with his lead-off split of 1:30.11 to help Florida win its eighth-straight 800 free relay event title in SEC record fashion.
He would claim another SEC event crown in the 400 IM and reel in a bronze medal with his third-place finish in the 100 free. Additionally, he was a member of two Gator relays that earned runner-up finishes.
The Gators have now won the award eight of the last 10 years (Caeleb Dressel- 2016-18, Marcin Cieslak- 2011-12 & 2013-14 and Conor Dwyer- 2009-11).
Nesty, in his second year at the helm of the Gators men's program, garners his second-straight Coach of the Year honor after leading Florida to its eighth-straight and 41st-overall SEC title. At SEC's, Florida tallied 15 medals, five SEC event titles and set 17 new top-10 program swims.
Under his leadership, 14 Gators were named All-Americans, which tied for the fifth-most in the nation and the most in the SEC.
Five Gators would earn All-SEC First Team accolades: Khader Baqlah, Clark Beach, Robert Finke, Gerry Quinn and Kieran Smith, The First Team consists of the top finisher in each event at SEC's.
Isaac Davis, Will Davis, Eric Friese, Brennan Gravley, Marco Guarente, Dillon Hillis, Dakota Mahaffey and Grant Sanders all garnered All-SEC Second Team honors after a second or third-place SEC finish in a respective event.
Friese and Gravley were joined by fellow classmate Kevin Vargas as members of the All-Freshman team, consisting of top-eight finishers or the highest scoring freshman of each event at SECs, excluding relays. The trio qualified for an A-final in their first conference competition- Gravley (1,650 Free), Friese (100 Fly) and Vargas (400 IM)- to earn the honor.
Complete List of the 2020 SEC Swimming & Diving All-SEC Awards:
Follow the Gators:
| FloridaGators.com | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook |
Smith, this year's SEC Swimmer of the Meet, earns his first career Swimmer of the Year accolade after a record-breaking SEC championship performance. He would set a new American and NCAA record in the 500 free (4:06.32) on the second night of competition, as well posting a new SEC and Florida 200 free record with his lead-off split of 1:30.11 to help Florida win its eighth-straight 800 free relay event title in SEC record fashion.
He would claim another SEC event crown in the 400 IM and reel in a bronze medal with his third-place finish in the 100 free. Additionally, he was a member of two Gator relays that earned runner-up finishes.
The Gators have now won the award eight of the last 10 years (Caeleb Dressel- 2016-18, Marcin Cieslak- 2011-12 & 2013-14 and Conor Dwyer- 2009-11).
Nesty, in his second year at the helm of the Gators men's program, garners his second-straight Coach of the Year honor after leading Florida to its eighth-straight and 41st-overall SEC title. At SEC's, Florida tallied 15 medals, five SEC event titles and set 17 new top-10 program swims.
Under his leadership, 14 Gators were named All-Americans, which tied for the fifth-most in the nation and the most in the SEC.
Five Gators would earn All-SEC First Team accolades: Khader Baqlah, Clark Beach, Robert Finke, Gerry Quinn and Kieran Smith, The First Team consists of the top finisher in each event at SEC's.
| 200 Free | Khader Baqlah |
| 500 Free | Kieran Smith (American record) |
| 1,650 Free | Robert Finke (American record) |
| 400 IM | Kieran Smith |
| 800 Free Relay | Khader Baqlah, Clark Beach, Kieran Smith, Robert Finke, Gerry Quinn |
Isaac Davis, Will Davis, Eric Friese, Brennan Gravley, Marco Guarente, Dillon Hillis, Dakota Mahaffey and Grant Sanders all garnered All-SEC Second Team honors after a second or third-place SEC finish in a respective event.
| 1,650 Free | Brennan Gravley |
| 100 Breast | Dillon Hillis |
| 200 Breast | Grant Sanders |
| 400 IM | Grant Sanders |
| 200 Free Relay | Isaac Davis, Will Davis, Eric Friese |
| 200 Medley Relay | Will Davis, Dakota Mahaffey, Eric Friese, Marco Guarente |
| 400 Medley Relay | Dillon Hillis, Will Davis, |
Friese and Gravley were joined by fellow classmate Kevin Vargas as members of the All-Freshman team, consisting of top-eight finishers or the highest scoring freshman of each event at SECs, excluding relays. The trio qualified for an A-final in their first conference competition- Gravley (1,650 Free), Friese (100 Fly) and Vargas (400 IM)- to earn the honor.
Complete List of the 2020 SEC Swimming & Diving All-SEC Awards:
| Award | Name (School) |
|---|---|
| Male Swimmer of the Year | Kieran Smith (Florida) |
| Male Freshman Swimmer of the Year | Brooks Curry (LSU) |
| Men's Swimming Coach of the Year | Anthony Nesty (Florida) |
| Male Diver of the Year | Kurtis Matthews (Texas A&M) |
| Co-Male Freshman Divers of the Year | Manny Vazquez Bas (LSU) & Victor Povzner (Texas A&M) |
| Co-Men's Diving Coaches of the Year | Jeff Shaffer (Auburn) and Jay Lerew (Texas A&M) |
Follow the Gators:
| FloridaGators.com | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook |
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
2024-25 Season Video
Wednesday, July 02
Men's 400 Medley Relay
Wednesday, April 02
Julian Smith - 100 Breaststroke
Wednesday, April 02
Josh Liendo 100 Butterfly
Wednesday, April 02
