Gators Ink 20 to Swim and Dive Signing Class

The 2023 class includes the No. 1 men’s and women’s recruit

Nick Yuska

11/16/2022

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The Florida men's and women's swimming and diving teams added 20 athletes to the 2023 signing day class, head coach Anthony Nesty announced today. Among the accolades of this impressive class includes the No. 1 men's and women's recruit, an Olympic Silver Medalist, multiple Olympic Trials Qualifiers, Team USA members, record holders, All-Americans, and Scholastic All-Americans.

It is a very exciting day for the program. The staff has solidly secured one of the best 2023 Men’s & Women’s classes in the nation. They are all truly a fantastic fit for our program and I know they will embrace our core values as student-athletes.
I would like thank our athletes, coaching staff, support staff and Associate Athletic Director, Mike Spiegler for their tremendous efforts with the recruiting visits last fall. They had a positive impact on this class and made tremendous efforts to make them feel welcome. I am very proud of the fact that the University of Florida is ranked 5th in the nation academically. The Men and Women in our 2023 class will not only be part of a great athletic program, but will have an abundant opportunity to pursue a degree from one of the best universities in the Nation. The Gator Nation welcomes the Men and Women of the 2023 Class. I am confident that they will continue the tradition of the Gators and will prove to serve as outstanding ambassadors of The University of Florida. It’s Great To Be A Florida Gator!

Men's and Women's Swimming and Diving Head Coach Anthony Nesty

2023 Florida swimming and diving signees:

Men:

Buff, Scotty

Dinunzio, Robert

Keogh, Evan

Knop, Amadeusz

Maldari, Caleb

Marshall, Jonathon

Parent, Joshua

Sullivan, Sean

Taylor, Andrew

Women:

Choate, Catie

Cowen, Melissa

Daley, Elan

Kruger, Lainy

Mattes, Michaela

Meeting, Carly

Mitchell, Alex

Podkoscielny, Julia

Rainey, Grace

Ramey, Josephine

Sims, Arabella

Catie Choate | Peachtree Corners, GA | Norcross High School

Georgia High School State Record Holder - 100 back
Four-time Georgia High School State Champion
Three-time Scholastic All-American
Two-time A finalist at Summer Juniors

Florida has been my dream school ever since the start of the recruiting process. I love the team's environment and rigorous academics.

2023 Signee Catie Choate

Melissa Cowen | Rothesay Bay, New Zealand | Rangitoto College

New Zealand Open record holder - 100 breast
New Zealand Open record holder - 200 breast
Junior Pan Pacs 2022 New Zealand
Graduate from Rangitoto College

I picked the University of Florida for the amazing team, staff, and program. when I visited UF, it exceeded my expectations for what I could achieve as an athlete and as an academic student.

2023 Signee Melissa Cowen

Lilly Daley | Toronto, Ontario, Canada | Bill Crothers Secondary School

Currently No. 1 in Canada in various events 18 and under
Junior Pan Pacs finalist and medalist for Canada
Record holder of 48 short course age group Bermuda records
Record holder of 4 short course open Bermuda records
Record holder of 26 long course age group Bermuda records
Record holder of 2 long course open Bermuda records
Record holder of 3 Canadian National age group records
10 Ontario short course records and 6 Ontario long course records
Record holder of 8 Carifta records and 3 CCCAN records
Swims with the High Performance Centre on Ontario

I chose the University of Florida because of the incredible athletics and academic opportunities being offered. I have first hand knowledge of the prestigious reputation of the university because of family alumns. I also felt strong intrapersonal connections between myself and the team, and am certain my future in this school will result in overwhelming success. I am beyond excited to be joining The Swamp. Go Gators!

2023 Signee Lilly Daley

Lainy Kruger | Taylor Mill, Kentucky | Notre Dame Academy

Two-time Kentucky State Champion in the 100 breast
2022 Kentucky State Champion - 200 free
All-American
Multiple school record holder

Michaela Mattes | Sarasota, Florida | Cardinal Mooney School

2022-23 U.S. National Junior Team Member
2020 U.S. Olympic Trials Qualifier in five events
Gold medal winner in the 1650 free and bronze in the 800 free at Jr. Pan Pacs
Selected to the 2022 18&U World Cup Team
2021 Junior National Champion - 500 free, 1650 free
Four-time FHSAA Class 1A State Champion in the 500 free (3x) and 200 IM
Three-time Scholastic All-American
2021 USA Today/HT Prep Female Swimmer and Athlete of the Year
2019 YMCA National Champion at 14 years old
#5 Recruit in the country and #1 in Florida according to CollegeSwimming.com

From the moment I stepped foot on campus, UF just felt like home. Between the coaching staff, the team, and the family-like culture, I knew that this was where I was meant to be.

2023 Signee Michaela Mattes

Carly Meeting | New Albany, Ohio | New Albany High School

13-time All-American
Eight-time Ohio State Champion
Three-time Academic All-American
Ohio record holder

I chose the University of Florida because of the outstanding academics and the amazing support staff.

2023 Signee Carly Meeting

Alexandra Mitchell | Brookhaven, Georgia | Rivers Academy

GISA High School State Champion
GISA High School Record - 500 Free
Georgia Senior State champion - 400 IM
Summer Juniors Finalist
Winter Juniors A Finalist
Three-time Scholastic All-American

(I chose the University of Florida) because of the amazing and supportive team and coaches combined with an excellent academic institution.

2023 Signee Alex Mitchell

Julia Podkoscielny | Fort Lauderdale, Florida | Pine Crest High School

11-time High School All-American
Nine-time FHSAA State Champion
U.S. Olympic Trial Qualifier
2021 U.S. Open Silver Medalist
2021 U.S. Junior Pan Pacific Games Team
2021-22 U.S. Junior National Team member
Three-time U.S. Swimming Scholastic All-American
Two-time Sun Sentinel Swimmer of the Year
Three-time Miami Herald Swimmer/Athlete of the Year

Grace Rainy | Davidson, North Carolina | William Amos Hough High School

Three-time North Carolina 4A State Champion - 100 breast
Three-time Scholastic All-American
High School All-American
Olympic Trial Wave 2 qualifier - 100 breast, 200 breast

I chose the University of Florida for the high level athletics and academics, (as well as) the energy and support of the team and coaching staff.

2023 Signee Grace Rainey

Josephine Ramey | Fishers, Indiana | Fishers High School

2021 Olympic Trials Finalist
2021 U.S. National Team
2022 U.S. National Junior Team
2021 World Cup Silver Medalist
2021 and 2022 Junior National Champion
Three-time NISCA High School All-American
Three-time USA Swimming Scholastic All-American

I chose the University of Florida for the amazing team atmosphere and tradition. UF has always been my dream school, and I immediately felt at home the second I stepped on campus.

2023 Signee JoJo Ramey

Bella Sims | Henderson, Nevada | Nevada Connections Academy

No. 1 recruit according to SwimSwam
Silver medalist in the 4x200 free relay at 2020 Olympics (Age 17)
Fastest high school sophomore in the 500 free since Ledecky, who had a 4:31.3 as a sophomore (2021)
Two short course world junior records broken during FINA World Cup last week – 200 free (1:52.59) and 100 back (55.75)
Team USA member
Gold in the 800 free relay at 2022 FINA World Championships in Budapest

Scotty Buff | Bowling Green, Ohio | Saint Francis De Sales High School

SwimSwam #1 Recruit in the Nation
USA National Junior Team member
Scholastic All-American
High School All-American
Vice President of National Honor Society

Robert Dinunzio III | Virginia Beach, Virginia | Ocean Lakes High School

2022-23 USA Swimming National Junior Team member
Represented Team USA at the 2022 Junior Pan Pacific Championships
Virginia State Record Holder
Medalist in the 800 free and 1500 free at 2022 Speedo Junior Nationals
2021-22 USA Swimming Scholastic All-American

I chose the University of Florida because of its outstanding combination of athletic and academic status, and the swim team's unmatched group of coaches and athletes.

2023 Signee Bobby DiNunzio

Evan Keogh | Siesta Key, Florida | Sarasota High School

won five events at the Florida Spring Senior Championships in March
raced the 200m back at Wave I of Olympic Trials
finished fifth in the 200m fly at Huntsville Futures
placed third in the 200 IM and sixth in the 100 fly as a junior at the Florida 4A State Championships

Amadeusz Knop | Nokomis, Florida | Venice Sr. High School

2020 Olympic Team Trials Qualifier
2022 International Team Trials Qualifier
Two-Time FHSAA State Champion
Two-time Sun Preps Boys Swimming Player of the Year
Weighted GPA of 5.01

I chose the University of Florida because of the incredible team environment and exceptional academics.

2023 Signee Amadeusz Knop

Caleb Maldari | Denver, North Carolina | Laurel Springs High School

Olympic Trials Qualifier
International Team Trials Qualfier
U.S. World Cup member
Two-time U.S. Open Finalist
U.S. Nationals Finalist
18U National Champion - 200 IM
Two-Time Scholastic All-American

UF has a long and presitgious history of academic excellence combined with a notable legacy of an outstanding swim program that will maximize my potential.

2023 Signee Caleb Maldari

Jonny Marshall | Akron, Ohio | Firestone Sr. High School

Great Britain National Team member
2022 Junior European gold medalist in the 400 medley relay, silver medalist in the 50 back, bronze medalist in the 100 back in Romania
Semi-Finalist at 2022 European Championships in Rome
USA Junior National Silver medalist in 100 back
Two-time Ohio High School State Champion in 100 back, two-time runner up in 200 free
Dual citizen of USA and Great Britian
Mother (Louise) and Father (Steve) both swam collegiately. Louise was also a member of the British national team.

I am looking forward to being a part of the Gator family and can't wait to be in Gainesville!

2023 Signee Jonny Marshall

Josh Parent | Wilbraham, Massachusetts | Minnechaug Regional High School

Two-time USA Junior National Team member
2022 Pan Pac Jr. Team USA member
2021 FINA Jr. World Championships Team USA member
Silver medalist at 2022 Pan Pacs - 1500 free
Three-time Olympic Trials Qualifier
Three-time Scholastic All-American
New England Multi-Record Holder
High School National Honor Society member

I chose Florida because of the atmosphere that the college provided. The people that go to Florida are some of the best people that I've ever met and it made me feel like I was at home when I went there. Florida is a place where I truly felt like I could be my own person and succeed.

2023 Signee Josh Parent