Gators Shine on Day Three of NCAA Championships
FEDERAL WAY, Wash. – Senior Emma Weyant and sophomore Bella Sims stole the spotlight for the Gators on Friday, both earning national runner-up titles. The Florida women’s swimming team secured five podium finishes and accumulated eight All-American honors during day three of the 2025 NCAA Division I Championships at the Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center.
The Gators showcased their talent by qualifying for all five swimming finals with Sims, Weyant, Olivia Peoples, and Mabel Zavaros reaching the Championship Final. Additionally, Anita Bottazzo, Julie Brousseau, and Lainy Kruger advanced to the Consolation Finals after finishing in the top-16 of their respective events.
Sims Shatters Records
Sims achieved the best 100-back result for the program since Sinead Russell in 2013. The Tokyo Olympian fiercely competed with Virginia’s Claire Curzan, touching the wall just 0.01 seconds behind her competitor. Sims finished the event in second place with a time of 49.12, marking it as the 13th fastest time in history. Her previous record of 48.97 from the SEC Championships earlier this year remains third all-time and the top in program history.
Weyant Continues to Excel
Two-time Olympic medalist Weyant secured a second-place finish in the 400 IM, maintaining her rank during the breaststroke segment and finishing strong. Hailing from Sarasota, Florida, she recorded a time of 3:59.05, earning her second consecutive runner-up title and her third All-American accolade in this event.
Strong Relay Performance
The Gators capped their remarkable performance with a third-place finish in the 400 medley relay, featuring Sims, Bottazzo, Peoples, and Micayla Cronk. This marks Florida’s most impressive relay result in the event since 2010. With Sims leading off with a 49.54 in the 100 back, the team achieved an overall time of 3:25.18.
Additional Highlights
In the 400 IM Final, Zavaros showcased remarkable performance, clocking 4:01.68 in prelims—an improvement of over two seconds from her previous best, ranking her fourth in program history. She finished sixth in the finals with 4:03.99, earning her first podium and third All-American honor of the week. Fellow freshman Brousseau placed 13th overall in the B Final with a time of 4:05.83, claiming her second All-American honor.
Diving Competition and Future Prospects
In the three-meter springboard, Camyla Monroy finished with a cumulative score of 270.75, placing 32nd despite a solid final dive. Florida currently stands in sixth place in the championships with 177 points. With the final day of competitions approaching, the Gators are poised to make a significant impact.
Upcoming Events
Saturday will feature preliminary events for the 200 back, 100 free, 200 breast, and 200 fly at 1 p.m. ET, followed by platform diving trials at 3 p.m. Finals will kick off at 9 p.m. with the concluding events of the 2025 Women’s NCAA Division I Championships.
