2026 Plantation Spring Sectionals
- February 12-15, 2026
- Plantation, Florida
- Long Course Meters (50 meters), Prelims/Finals
- Meet Site (with Results PDFs)
- Psych Sheets
- Meet Mobile: “2026 SZSS Spring Championships” (or search Plantation)
The Sarasota Sharks continued to circle the waters on Day 3 of the Southern Zone Spring Sectionals in Plantation on Saturday, maintaining their top spot in the team standings for both women and men.
Following her dominant 400 IM victory on Friday, Sarasota’s Sydney Hardy, 15, also took the win in the 200 IM on Saturday, with a time of 2:17.90, holding her position atop the women’s individual standings. 16-year-old Lucy Velte, of Empire KC Swim Club, who swam to a tie with Hardy in prelims, took the second place finals finish in 2:18.11. Mafe Castro, 16, of Montverde Aquatic Club, rounded out the top 3 in the event, with a time of 2:22.17.
Hardy also won the 800 free on Thursday.
Coupled with her strong 200 IM performance, Velte also demonstrated her sprinting ability, winning the 50 freestyle in 26.13, narrowly out touching South Florida Aquatic Club’s Lismar Lyon, who hit the wall second in 26.18. Abi Burke of T2 Aquatics touched 3rd in 26.54.
In addition to her sprinting skills, Burke also demonstrated her freestyle range, winning the 400 free in a best time of 4:19.80, ahead of Clare Custer, 4:23.85, and Sydney Hardy, 4:26.67.
Burke, who is a two-time FHSAA 2A state champion in the 200 and 100 freestyle, also won the 200 free on Friday, and sits second overall in the meet standings. Custer, who is committed to Harvard University, is an FHSAA 4A state champion in the 500 free and Winter Juniors East champion in the 1650 free.
On the men’s side, Juan Vallmitjana, of South Florida Aquatic Club, also held on to the top spot in the individual rankings, winning the 400 free in 3:58.83, nearly 5 seconds faster than Lev Cherepanov of Azura, who finished second in 4:03.97. Third place went to 15-year-old Jack Reburn, of South Lakes Aquatic Club, in a time of 4:06.03. Likewise demonstrating his fierce forte for freestyle, Vallmitjana also won the 800 free and 200 free earlier in the meet.
Owen Ekk, of Area Tallahassee Aquatic Club, who currently sits second in the men’s individual meet rankings, won the 200 IM in 2:06.71, ahead of Vito Sgroi of Sarasota, 2:07.11, and Trey Chesney of Jupiter Dragons Swim Team, 2:07.75. Ekk also took 4th in the 50 freestyle. He is a two-time FHSAA 3A state champion in the 200 IM and 100 free, and has committed to Stanford University for 2027.
Bogdan Zverev, of the Sarasota Sharks, is third in the individual rankings, with a 5th place finish on Saturday in the 200 IM. He is a two-time FHSAA 4A state champion in the 200 IM and 100 butterfly, and is committed to University of Alabama.
OTHER DAY 3 WINNERS
- Brooks Peyton, 16, of Gator Swim Club, won the women’s 100 back in 1:04.48, followed by Gabia Gelumbickas of Saint Andrews Aquatics, 1:04.59, and Stella Belmore of Montverde Aquatic Club, 1:05.07. Peyton is committed to the University of Cincinnati in 2027, while Gelumbickas is committed to swim at Eastern Michigan University next fall.
- Anthony Pineiro, South Florida Stallions, who won the men’s 100 back in 57.86, will be suiting up for the Florida State Seminoles next fall. Mason Schroeder, swimming unattached, finished second, in 58.11, while Andreas Da Silva, Wahoos of Wellington, claimed third place, in 58.18. Da Silva was a two-time FHSAA 4A state champion in the 100 back and 100 fly.
- Julian Granison, Wahoo’s of Wellington, prevailed in the men’s 50 freestyle in 23.07. The FHSAA 4A state champion in the 50 freestyle, is committed to the University of Florida Gators in 2027. Andreas Da Silva touched the wall second in 23.62, just ahead of Jacob Rubin, Florida Atlantic Aquatics, 23.64
TEAM SCORES AFTER DAY 3
Top 5 Women’s Teams
- Sarasota Sharks 816
- South Florida Aquatic Club South Florida Aquatic Club 287
- Empire KC Swim Club 274
- Gator Swim Club 256
- Saint Andrew’s Aquatics 252
Top 5 Men’s Teams
- Sarasota Sharks 471
- Azura Florida Aquatics 340
- South Florida Aquatic Club
- Saint Andrew’s Aquatics
- Montverde Aquatic Club 204
Top 5 Combined Teams
- Sarasota Sharks 1,287
- South Florida Aquatic Club 581
- Saint Andrew’s Aquatics 475. 50
- Montverde Aquatic Club 451
- SwimRise Aquatics 347
Clever headline
The meet was extremely watered down, as most of the elite swimmers decided to swim indoors at the Rosen. A few others did the Sid Cassidy Open Water Swim. This meet has extreme potential, but not outdoors in Plantation.
The beautiful thing about swimming in Florida is there is plenty of talent to go around! Likewise, lots of opportunity to swim across the entire state, whether it be indoors, outdoors, open water or pool swimming. I consider that a win!
I like this!
The numbers say something else. The vast majority of the races were faster in Plantation. You clearly don’t know how the weather is in South Florida in mid February.