FGC Senior Champs: Two Records Broken as Blazing Times Meet Stormy Skies

Florida Gold Coast Swimming Senior Championships

• March 12-15, 2026
• Hosted by South Florida Aquatic Club
• Academic Village Swimming Pool, Pembroke Pines, Florida
• Short Course Yards (25 Yards), Prelims/Finals
• Results on Meet Mobile: “2026 FG SCY Senior Championships”
• Results

Championship week continued on Florida’s Gold Coast, and this time it was the senior swimmers’ turn to step up to the blocks for a 4-day prelims and finals format that showcased some of South Florida’s fiercest 15 & over competitors. 

South Florida Aquatic Club proved hospitable hosts to the 38 attending teams, but showed no mercy in the water, topping the men’s, women’s and combined point totals. While the weather swung from wet and wild to dry and mild, the swimmers remained relentless in their pursuit of the podium.

South Florida Aquatic Club Men’s Team

Standout Swims and Storylines

DAY 1

16-year-old Veronica Metz, of Jupiter Dragons Swim Team, scored her first gold of the weekend, winning the women’s 1650 freestyle decisively in 16:48.80, coming in under the Summer Juniors qualifying time. Da’jah German, 17, of Swim Fort Lauderdale, touched the wall second in 17.02.78, while third place went to Sarah Vasquez, 18, of South Florida Aquatic Club, who finished in 17:53.66.

Lev Cherepanov, 25, of Azura Florida Aquatics, took the men’s mile in 15:24.10 in his first freestyle gold of the meet. The elite pool and open water swimmer from Kazakhstan is fresh off his appearance at the Pro Swim Series in Westmont, where he placed 8th in the 800 and 5th in the 1500 free. He won the 1500-meter freestyle at Plantation Sectionals in February, and also took the title in the recent Sid Cassidy Open Water race in Coconut Creek, Florida. Maximiliano Paccot, 29, of Azura Florida Aquatics, took second in 15:49.95, while his teammate Jamarr Bruno, 21, touched third in 15:54.46.

Relay Record! The first night of competition also saw a meet record broken in the women’s 200 freestyle relay. The South Florida Aquatic Club team of Lliliana Novak, Carley Kaplan, Lismar Lyon and Laila Harran swam a winning time of 1:33.25, breaking the prior record of 1:34.58, set in 2025 by South Florida Aquatic Club.

DAY 2

Jianna Amores, 15, of South Florida Stallions, won her first gold of the meet, swimming a sizzling 25.24 in the women’s 50 back. She was followed by Oumy Diop, 22, who touched in 25. 59, and Maria Goncalves, 23, 25.78, both from Unattached/Azura Florida Aquatics. 

Andreas Da Silva, 17, of Wahoos of Wellington, took the men’s 50 back race in 22.52. He recently returned from the Pro Swim Series in Westmont, where he swam best times in the 50 free, 50 back and 100 back. Steven Aimable, 27, of Azura Florida Aquatics, touched second in 22.92, with Aldo Zepeda, 20, of South Florida Aquatics, and Stefano Mazzi, 17, of Eagle Aquatics, finishing in 23.20, for a third-place tie.

Michigan commit Gioia Balzano, 17, of Eagle Aquatics, secured the women’s 200 freestyle in a winning time of 1:46.27. Feagin Kaminski, 16, of Jupiter Dragons Swim Team, touched second in a best time of 1:48.57, while third place went to Da’jah German, 17, of Swim Fort Lauderdale, in a best time of 1:49.69.

Lev Cherepanov continued his winning ways, taking the men’s 200 free title in 1:39.99. Trace Colton, 15, of North Palm Beach Swim Club, finished second in a best time of 1:40.39, while Jake Kotz-Agramonte, 17, of Gulliver Swim Club, touched third in 1:40.89.

In the battle of the breaststrokers, Emma Han, 17, of Wahoos of Wellington, prevailed in the women’s 100 breast, touching the wall in 1:03.30, just .01 seconds ahead of 16-year-old Naiyla Di Sarno of South Florida Aquatic Club, who finished in 1:03.31. Nicole Frank, 22, Unattached/Azura Florida Aquatics, finished third in 1:03.53.

After racing to a tie in prelims of the men’s 100 breast, Raul Antadillas, 17, of Swim Coral Springs, who also represents Panama internationally, finished first in finals, in a time of 55.11, just ahead of Chris De Angulo, 17, of Miami Swimming, who touched in 55.21. Alex Ivanof, 17, of Plantation Swim Team, touched third in 55.89.

The women’s 100 fly shaped up to be a showdown between Venezuelan international swimming champion, Lismar Lyon, 25, of South Florida Aquatic Club, and Jianna Amores, with Lyon taking the touch in 52.03, and Amores finishing second, in 52.68. The two are familiar competitors, having just raced the 100 fly at Plantation Sectionals, where Amores placed first, and Lyon was runner-up. Feagin Kaminski, 16, of Jupiter Dragons Swim Team, touched the wall third in 54.45.

Julian Granison, 17, from Wahoos of Wellington, won the 100 fly in 48.36, in his only event entry of the competition. Set to suit up for the Florida Gators in 2027, Granison recently swam a best time in the 100 fly at the Pro Swim Series in Westmont. Noah Mejias, 15, of South Florida Aquatic Club, touched second in 50.29, just a touch ahead of Steven Aimable, 27, of Azura Florida Aquatics, who took third place, in 50.30.

Tessa Broedell, 16, of North Palm Beach Swim Club, took the women’s 400 IM title in a best time of 4:25.62, for her first gold of the weekend. Broedell will be keeping her talent close to home, with an in-state with a commitment to the University of Miami Hurricanes in 2027. Mckenzie Baur, 15, of Pine Crest Swimming, finished second in 4:35.01, while Athena Rilo, 15, of Saint Andrews Swimming, touched third in 4:37.58.

Trey Chesney, 17, of Jupiter Dragons SwimTeam, touched first in 3:56.23 to take the men’s 400 IM title. Oliver Cannings, 17, of Gulliver Swim Club, was the only other swimmer in finals to finish under the four-minute mark, touching second in a best time of 3:59.30. Noah Mejias, 15, of South Florida Aquatic Club, finished third in 4:03.94.

DAY 3

The 50 fly showdown was as fun as it was fast, as the meet record was broken multiple times in one day. In the morning session, 15-year-old Jianna Amores of South Florida Stallions swam a blazing 23.90, breaking the FGC Senior Champs record of 23.95, set by Jamaican Olympian Alia Atkinson in 2014. In finals, Amores went even faster, hitting the wall in 23,88, but finished just behind Lismar Lyon, who took the title and the meet record, in 23.63.

On the men’s side, Jacob Rubin, 26, of Florida Atlantic Aquatics, led a fast field of 50 flyers, finishing first in 21.47. Rubin swam collegiately with Florida Atlantic University and the University of Montevallo. He was followed by Charles Howard, 17, of Jupiter Dragons Swim Team, 21.81, and Devaughn Robe, 20, of TS Aquatics. 

In the 200 IM, Nicole Frank, 22, Unattached/Azura Florida Aquatics, was the women’s champion in a time of 2:02.70. Frank swam collegiately for Florida International University, and represents Uruguay internationally. Veronica Metz, who won the 1650 on Night 1, touched second in 2:03.37, while Tessa Broedell, the 400 IM winner, touched third in 2:06.28.

In the men’s 200 IM race, Raul Antadillas picked up his second gold of the weekend, finishing in 1:51.24, out-touching Gulliver Swim Club’s Oliver Cannings, who finished second in 1:51.40. Third place went to Alec De Angulo, 16, of Miami Swimming, in a time of 1:52.74.

The 50 freestyles were fast and furious, with Lismar Lyon taking the women’s title in a season’s best time of 22.50 for her third gold of the meet. Her teammate, Laila Harran, 16, touched second in 23.12, while third place went to Da’jah German, 17, of Swim Fort Lauderdale, who touched the wall in a best time of 23.54.

In the men’s 50 free, Andreas Da Silva returned to the top of the podium in a winning time of 20.36, just out-touching Jacob Rubin, who hit the wall in 20.37. Charles Howard, 17, of Jupiter Dragons Swim Team, touched third in 20.63.

In the women’s 200 backstroke, Feagin Kaminski, 16, of Jupiter Dragons Swim Team, scored a decisive victory, finishing in a best time 1:57.50 and securing the Summer Juniors qualifying time. Laila Harran, 16, of South Florida Aquatic Club, touched second in 2:05.39, while her teammate, Boston College commit Carley Kaplan, 17, placed third in a time of 2:06.53.

In the men’s 200 backstroke race, Andreas Da Silva struck gold again, in a winning time of 1:47.15. He was followed by Andy Serrano-Pena, 18, of Gulliver Swim Club, who finished in 1:49.49. Serrano-Pena is committed to the United States Military Academy at West Point in the fall. Lucas Fernandez-Chung, 17, of Miami Swimming, touched third in 1:51.48.

The breaststrokers continued their battle on the third day of competition, as Naiyla Di Sarno won the 50 breast in a best time of 29.03, followed closely by Lismar Lyon in 29.15 and 100 breast winner Emma Han in 29.32.

Raul Antadillas returned to the top of the podium in the men’s 50 breast, with a winning time of 25.51, followed closely again by Chris De Angulo, who touched the wall in 25.57. Eric Veit, 27, of South Florida Aquatic Club, finished third in 25.94.

In the women’s 500 free, Gioia Balzano returned to the top of the podium in a winning time of 4:50.37, followed by Da’jah German, 17, of Swim Fort Lauderdale, the only other competitor under the 5-minute-mark, finishing in 4:56.28. Bogdana Kuptcova, 15, of Eagle Aquatics, swam a best time of 5:07.87, to take third place.

Lev Cherepanov was back on top in the men’s 500 free, winning the event in 4::29.18, followed closely by 15-year-old Trace Colton of North Palm Beach Swim Club, who stopped the clock in a best time of 4:30.97. Julian Lozano, 17, of Gulliver Swim Club, finished third in 4:33.80.

Day 4

In the women’s 100 backstroke, Brazilian Maria Goncalves, 23, Unattached/Azura Florida Aquatics, finished first in 56.15. She swam collegiately at Florida International University and Nova Southeastern University. Carolyn Levy-Powell, 18, of Pine Crest Swimming, finished second in 56.86, while Maria Perez, 17, of South Florida Aquatic Club touched third, in 57.34.

The men’s 100 backstroke came down to the touch, with Steven Aimable, 27, of Azura Florida Aquatics taking the win in 50.02, followed closely by Alec De Angulo, 16, of Miami Swimming in 50.09, and Stefano Mazzi, 17, of Eagle Aquatics, in a time of 50.13.

Tessa Broedell returned to the top of the podium in the women’s 200 breaststroke, in a time of 2:16.52, just ahead of Naiyla Di Sarno, who finished second, in 2:16.73. Emma Han touched third in 2:20.86.

The men’s 200 breast was a fight to the finish, with Chris De Angulo finishing first, in 2:02.39, followed by Trey Chesney in 2:03.00, and Alex Ivanof, 17, of Plantation Swim Team, who touched third, in a time of 2:03.36.

Gioia Balzano was once again golden in the women’s 100 free, stopping the clock in 49.51, just out-touching Lismar Lyon, who finished second, in 49.56. Laila Harran, 16, of South Florida Aquatic Club, touched third in 50.74.

It was Andreas Da Silva once again hitting the wall first in the men’s 100 free, stopping the clock in 43.71, just ahead of Charles Howard, 17, of Jupiter Dragons Swim Team, who touched second, in 43.89. Julian Lozano, 17, of Gulliver Swim Club, took third in a time of 46.23.

Gioia Balzano continued her golden ways in the 200 fly, finishing first in 1:58.43, followed by Feagin Kaminski, who took second in 2:01.07. Estella Beltrami, 15, of Blue Marlins of Hialeah Gardens, touched third in 2:08.30.

Steven Aimable also struck gold twice in one night, winning the men’s 200 fly in 1:49.84, following his first-place finish in the 100 back. Brady Baur, 17, of Pine Crest took second place in 1:51.19, while Santi Campuzano, 17, of Lake Lytal Lightning, touched third in 1:52.19.

Last one, Fast one! The final individual event of the weekend was the 100 IM, where Lismar Lyon again returned to the top of the podium, touching first in 57.17. Nicole Frank secured second place in 57.48, while Oumy Diop took third in 58.59.

Andreas Da Silva capped off his golden weekend with another win in the men’s 100 IM, in a championship time of 50.20. Alex Ivanof touched second in 51.96, while Noah Mejias finished third in 52.07.

Individual High Point Winners – Women

1. Lismar Lyon, 25, and Carley Kaplan, 17, South Florida Aquatic Club, (tie)
2. –
3. Laila Harran, 16, South Florida Aquatic Club

Individual High Point Winners – Men

1. Noah Mejias, 15, South Florida Aquatic Club
2. Julian Lozano, 17, Gulliver Swim Club
3. Alec De Angulo, 16, Miami Swimming

Team High Point Awards – Women

1. South Florida Aquatic Club
2. Jupiter Dragons Swim Team
3. Swim Fort Lauderdale

Team High Point Awards – Men

1. South Florida Aquatic Club
2. Azura Florida Aquatics
3. Gulliver Swim Club