See all of our 2025 Swammy Awards here
2025 Honorees: Annabelle Hayes & Luca Ferrera
For the 2nd year in a row, there were no individual National Age Group Records set in the 10 & Under age group. This makes determining the Swammy a little bit more difficult, but a few swimmers set themselves apart by leading the nation in more events than anyone else.
10 & Under Girls
Annabelle Hayes, Irvine Novaquatics
Annabelle Hayes from Irvine Novaquatics recently turned 11, but she had an electric 2025 as a 10-year-old. At the conclusion of the 2024-25 SCY season and the 2025 LCM season, she held top-10 times in 18 events and the top time in the country in 11 events.
While she had a strong short course season, which finished with her leading the country in three events, the 100 free, 500 free, and 100 back, her long course season was where she made her mark on the all-time rankings.
The only stroke where she didn’t hold top-10 times was breaststroke, but in long course she was the top swimmer in all four tracked distances of freestyle, both backstrokes, the 50 fly, and the 200 IM.
She set the 2nd fastest times in history in the 100 back, where her 1:09.72 was just four tenths off Miriam Sheehan‘s 2015 NAG Record time of 1:09.36, and in the 200 IM, where she swam 2:29.87 to miss Kayla Han‘s 2019 record of 2:28.70.
She also moved up to 14th in the 50 free (28.90), 4th in the 200 free (2:15.42), 6th in the 400 free (4:42.04), 20th in the 50 back (33.31), and 9th in the 50 fly (30.82).
Hayes was also a member of two NAG record relays in 2025. Irvine Novaquatics broke the 10 & Under SCY and LCM records in the 200 medley relay, and Hayes was the backstroker on both relays. We don’t have splits for the short course relay, but she led off in 34.25 on the long course relay.
Nation Leading Times
SCY
- 100 free — 56.60
- 500 free — 5:24.96
- 100 back — 1:02.93
LCM
- 50 free — 28.90 (#14 All-Time)
- 100 free — 1:03.92
- 200 free — 2:15.42 (#4 All-Time)
- 400 free — 4:42.04 (#6 All-Time)
- 50 back — 33.31 (#20 All-Time)
- 100 back — 1:09.72 (#2 All-Time)
- 50 fly — 30.82 (#9 All-Time)
- 200 IM — 2:29.87 (#2 All-Time)
Honorable Mentions
- Addie Farrier, Clearwater Aquatic Team: Addie Farrier is only 9, but she currently leads the country’s IMX and IMR ratings for all 10 & Under swimmers. The Clearwater Aquatic Team swimmer has a total current score of 5140 in the IMX events (200 free, 100 back, 100 breast, 100 fly, and 200 IM) which is more than 500 points ahead of 2nd place Olivia Covey from the Bellevue Club Swim Team. She currently leads the country in the girls’ 10 & Under 100 fly with the 1:02.69 she swam in December. She also holds top 10 times in the 2026 10 & Under rankings in the 50 free (26.77 – 8th), 100 free (58.22 – 4th), 200 free (2:08.37 – 6th), 100 back (1:05.38 – 2nd), 50 fly (28.89 – 4th), 100 IM (1:06.92 – 8th), and 200 IM (2:22.86 – 5th).
- Erica Wang, Lakeside Aquatic Club: Erica Wang has held numerous top-10 times in the country three seasons in a row. Last short course, she sat in the overall top-10 rankings in the 50 breast and 100 breast. In long course, she improved her rankings, jumping up to earn top spots in the 50 free, 100 free, 200 free, 400 free, 50 breast, 100 breast, 50 fly, 100 fly, and 200 IM. In the current 2025-26 short course season she leads the nation in the 100 breast at 1:10.80, which is the 21st fastest 10 & Under time in history, and the 200 IM in 2:19.72. She also holds top times in the 100 free (58.93 – 8th), 50 back (30.21 – 3rd), 50 breast (32.28 – 2nd), 50 fly (28.90 – 5th), 100 fly (1:03.79- 3rd), and the 100 IM (1:05.13 – 3rd).
10 & Under Boys
Luca Ferrera, Saint Petersburg Aquatics
Luca Ferrara won this award last year, and he turned 11 during the long course season, but his performance during the 1st half of 2025 earned him the top spot on the list.
He finished the 2024-2025 SC season as the top swimmer in seven different SCY events and the 2025 LC season as the top swimmer in four events despite aging out before the end of the year. He also had a top 10 time in every stroke except breaststroke, showing off his versatility.
Ferrera also moved up the all-time rankings in numerous events, jumping up to the top 10 in the 100 free, 200 free, 500 free, and the long course 100 free, and long course 200 free.
Nation Leading Times
SCY
- 50 free — 25.59
- 100 free — 54.46 (#6 All-Time)
- 200 free — 1:58.88 (#8 All-Time)
- 500 free — 5:15.95 (#10 All-Time)
- 50 fly — 27.55
- 100 fly — 1:01.70
- 100 IM — 1:03.86
LCM
- 100 free — 1:02.96 (#10 All-Time)
- 200 free — 2:15.33 (#9 All-Time)
- 400 free — 4:45.97 (#12 All-Time)
- 50 fly — 30.79 (#13 All-Time)
Honorable Mentions:
- Gabriel Brown, Fishers Area Swim Team: Gabriel Brown recently turned 10, but he has been making his mark on the 10 & Under age group for a few seasons now. During both the 2024-25 SC season and the 2025 LC season, Brown led the country’s 10 & Under overall IMX rankings including the boys and girls. He had a total 5222 points in short course and 5467 points in long course. This season he sits 3rd with 4679, but his score from last season would sit 400 points ahead of current leader Robert Legg. He currently leads the country in the 200 free (1:59.61) and has top 10 times every event except the 100 fly where he sits 11th. He is in the top 5 in the 100 free (2nd – 56.54), 500 free (2nd – 5:17.53), 50 back (3rd – 29.19), 100 back (2nd – 1:01.93), 50 breast (2nd – 34.55), 100 breast (4th – 1:13.33), 50 fly (5th – 28.68), 100 IM (2nd – 1:04.89), and 200 IM (3rd – 2:15.66)
**Ethan Heng is international, but he had an exceptional year. He finished 2025 leading the nation in almost every event and setting top five times in history for the 9-10 age group in five different events. He also tied the NAG record (which he isn’t eligible for due to his international status) in the boys’ 50 freestyle at 24.42. He was originally listed as the winner, but we updated the article due to his international status.
PAST WINNERS
| YEAR | 10-U GIRL | 10-U BOY |
| 2024 | Vanessa Delev | Luca Ferrera |
| 2023 | Vanessa Delev | Ayden Tan |
| 2022 | Drue Rogers | Ayden Tan |
| 2021 | Delaney O’Toole | Reef McMeeking |
| 2020 | Lexi Sereno | Spencer Belbot |
| 2019 | Kayla Han | Joey Campagnola |
| 2018 | Alexis Mesina | Timothy Lee |
| 2017 | Erika Pelaez | Kaii Winkler |
| 2016 | Leah Hayes | Jaeddan Gamilla |
| 2015 | Miriam Sheehan | Ronald Dalmacio |
| 2014 | Meghan Lynch | Andrew Rogers |
| 2013 | Lillie Nordmann | Winn Aung |
| 2012 | Regan Smith | Destin Lasco |
Annabelle and her sister are my neighbors. Such sweet girls. They organized Christmas caroling in our neighborhood this year. I knew that Annabelle was a swimmer but never knew she had any #1 rankings, let alone 11! Wow
No photos?
Just something I find interesting: The Woodlands swim team lists their team record in the 50 free 10U at 24.42 which also equals the NAG record. But it’s not recorded in the swims DB. Gray Umbach was certainly capable of the swim. I’m not sure if there’s a story there…
I’ve spent a lot of time sifting through the SWIMS database, the Top 100 lists, and old Top 16 swim archives. All I can say is that the Top 100 list for 10U boys is very flawed.
The two most common issues are pre 2000 times and high schoolers been listed as age 9 or 10.
I have tried to send data to USAS with very little success.
I have Gray’s fastest 10u 50yd free as 25.42 on 3/10/05.
Swim dad is ON IT!
as always
Amazing swimmers that are doing great things with the sport. Have seen Gabe first hand. Works hard and deserves the recognition. Indiana is Swimming and he represents it well.
Surprised Gabe’s dad hasn’t commented yet.
He did below. Also he’s the one responsible for Ethan having the award taken away. He is special.
Seems like Hayes was the rightful honoree for the girls but why take away the award from Ethan Heng when USA Swimming lists international swimmers in their rankings of age group swimmers?
USAS lists swims of every USAS member that swims on a sanctioned meet. This includes a foreign designation and international swimmers.
Their National Age Group records have a few additional criteria and is covered under Article 140 on the rule book. Eaton’s record tying 50 free 24.42 during the leadoff of a free relay is not included on USAS’ NAG page due to this.
But NAG’s aside, if the award is about picking a single best swimmer for the year in each age group, don’t Eaton’s times make him the best 10U boys swimmer?
Possibly. He doesn’t appear to have any long course times recorded and his short course times only span 2 weeks. His only other times in MeetMobile are mid Nov form a meet in China as an 11yr old and they are SCM.
It is really hard to track many international swimmers especially age groupers since the meet data isn’t easily accessible. Out of the 3 boys listed, Eaton is the only one without an IMR/IMX score.
It’s refreshing to see that I still live rent free in someone’s head just for supporting my kid.
Anyway, I’m not responsible for anything. I emailed SS and said that Eaton wasn’t going to be recognized as the NAG holder with Winn’s 24.42 50 free because he isn’t a US citizen (article 140.3.a.1). I don’t make the rules but that is why you won’t see Eaton added to the NAG list.
Both Luca and Eaton are faster than Gabe. And that’s great. Gabe specifically sought out Luca and became friends with him after doing a meet at his home pool.
Seems weird that you have such a strong opinion of me and my kid. But to each… Read more »
glad YOU think that’s great. We all feel better now.
you name drop like a pro.
My guess is Gabe’s dad wasn’t a swimmer.
not sure if that makes a difference
It makes a difference because parents who never swam themselves usually have no clue how brutal the sport can be and many assume their child will always be at the top.
I guess we will see.
These people saying you never know who will show up in the future may be right but I guarantee Luca and Annabelle aren’t even thinking about that right now. I bet they are just so stoked to be the 2025 10U honorees. Congrats to both of them and congrats to all who got honorable mention.
Im not sure that ranking 10 and unders is the greatest idea…
Every year someone makes this kind of comment. Yes 10 is young but if you look at the current greats, age 10 was when a lot of the current Olympians started showing their potential. It will be interesting to see where Annabelle and Luca end up in the sport.
So well deserved! Congratulations to Annabelle and Luca! I bet we’ll be seeing you two in 2032!
I have never seen Luca swim but Annabelle is a force…Watched her go 24.76 and 24.75 in the 50FR in the relays at WAG.
yeah she used to swim near me at stamford sailfish aquatics, super impressive. I didn’t know she moved across the country
She moved because her older sister is a water polo player who is training in Southern California. She’s still close with her CT swim friends and coaches. It’s really nice to see her doing so well.
During our visit to California, my kids spent a week swimming at Nova and had a great experience. They said Annabelle was incredibly friendly and made them feel very welcome. I’m so happy for her to have been selected for this award.