courtesy of Trevor Jolley
A thin, black curtain stood between Gabe Nunziata and the pool deck. His mind raced with thoughts as speakers blared music over a raucous crowd of a few thousand fans supporting 11 different teams.
Did he want to show his palpable excitement, as he felt ready to dominate the competition? Or did he want to remain emotionless and focused as he locked in on the challenge ahead? Before he could decide, he and the rest of his teammates were walking out to their lane to compete at the SEC Championship.
Nunziata’s focus shifted in an instant as he watched his roommate Ulises Saravia complete the first leg of the men’s 200 medley relay. Then, after what felt like a lifetime of build-up, Nunziata had competed in what felt like the blink of an eye.
Gabe Nunziata (photo: Jack Spitser)
Nunziata was the second-leg participant of the relay, competing in the breaststroke portion of the event. He combined with Saravia, Gui Caribe and Nikoli Blackman to capture a sixth-place finish for Tennessee with a time of 1:22.48, which became the fifth-best time in program history.
Shortly after smashing the 200 medley relay, it was already time to compete in the 800 freestyle relay. With excitement mounting, the moments blended together as he locked in.
“All I remember is the first 100, trying to look at my competitor and stay with him and then that second 100, I just blacked out,” Nunziata said.
Once again, Nunziata dominated the 800 free relay record and claimed his first SEC medal, alongside Nikoli Blackman, Koby Bujak-Upton and Ben Bricca, earning silver with a time of 6:10.31.
Overall, Tennessee experienced a successful 2025-26 postseason campaign with the Vols claiming top-three finishes in the conference and a top-five spot on the national stage. Placements include second for the women’s team and a third for the men’s team at the SEC Championship, as well as a fifth-place finish for both teams at the NCAA Championship.
However, Nunziata contributed to Tennessee’s success long before postseason competition began.
In Tennessee’s season-opening meet with the No. 5 Texas Longhorns, Nunziata logged the fifth-best 200 breast time in program history with a mark of 1:53.62. Other regular season achievements include win in the 200 Breast against Michigan at the CSCAA Dual Meet Challenge, as well as multiple first place finishes against Kentucky, Georgia and Duke.
He also recorded multiple personal bests in the 100 breast, 200 breast, 200 medley relay and 400 medley relay.
“It’s amazing,” Nunziata said of his freshman year achievements. “I had some lofty goals for myself coming in and it’s just been an honor to be on those leaderboards.”
For the Suffolk, Va., native, the biggest moments were the biggest opportunities.
At the SEC Championship, Nunziata claimed six top-six finishes, including silver medals in the 200 breast and 800 free relay and bronze in the 400 medley relay. finishes in both individual and relay competitions. He also helped set program records in the 200 breast and 800 free relay, as well as helped record the top-five times in the 400 medley relay and the 100 breast.
Nunziata continued his success at the NCAA Championship, where he secured four top-10 finishes. These top-10 finishes included him breaking his own program record in the 200 breast with a time of 1:50.26 and setting the second-best time in the 100 breast with a time of 51.17.
“It’s just an honor,” Nunziata said. “To do so well at both the SEC and NCAA Championships, something we had been looking forward to doing all season, it was super exciting and fun to walk out with those guys and swim so fast.”
As a result of his first-year achievements, Nunziata received 2026 Second Team All-SEC and SEC All-Freshman Team honors.
“I didn’t expect those things, but I knew that they were a goal. And as I went throughout the season, they became more and more of a reality for me,” Nunziata said. “When Matt [Kredich] texted and told us all, I was like, ‘Oh, like, that’s awesome, that’s amazing.’”
For a freshman, Nunziata’s success makes him shine. But at Tennessee, shining is the standard. Nunziata is one of many standout underclassmen making their marks during their early times on Rocky Top.
Looking back on their previous year, sophomores Ella Jansen and Bennett Greene also saw major improvements leading into the past season.
Coming into her second season at Tennessee, Jansen rode the waves of success into a high-achieving 2025-26 campaign.
In the regular season, Jansen dominated the competition, as she secured 13 total dual wins in meets against Louisville, Auburn, Kentucky, George and Duke, as well as three more wins at the CSCAA Dual Meet Challenge
Ella Jansen by Jack Spitser
“This year was great. I pretty much achieved every goal that I had set out to achieve in the beginning of the year,” Jansen said of her regular season accomplishments. “ I was very pleased with how the season went and really pleased with how I performed for the team.”
With a postseason just as dominant as the regular season slate which preceded, Jansen captured six total medals at the SEC Championship, including two golds, two silvers and two bronzes. At the time, she helped set the program record in the 200 medley relay with a time of 1:32.80, as well as breaking her own previous program record in the 500 free with a time of 4:34.10.
Jansen, who hails from Ontario, carried the momentum into the final stretch at the NCAA Championship, where she captured five podium finishes, including two top-five finishes in the 400 IM and 500 free. She also set program record times in the 400 free relay, 400 IM and 500 free, the latest of which was previously her own record set weeks before at the SEC Championship.
Though she holds multiple program records already, Jansen had previously fallen just short of breaking the program record in the 400 IM. When she finally broke the record at the NCAA Championship, it was that much more special.
“I wanted that school record last year and I just missed it. I was so close. At the SEC Championship, I was gunning for it and I just missed it again,” Jansen said. “I just wanted to make that and when I finally did I was so excited I celebrated in the water. That’s the only one I did all weekend.”
Greene, a Knoxville native, mirrored both his underclassmen counterparts in both regular and postseason success. In the regular season, Greene captured wins against Georgia, Kentucky and Duke, while also setting multiple top-10 program records, including the No. 6 1-meter (410.25), No. 6 platform (378.80), No. 7 1-meter springboard (388.95) and No. 9 3-meter (427.65).
At the SEC Championship, Greene secured three medals, including gold in the 1-meter springboard (400.80) and silver in the 3-meter springboard (421.20). He got his final medal of the weekend with a platform score of 410.00.
At the NCAA Championship, he took home third place in the 1-meter springboard competition, earning bronze and First Team All-America honors with a score of 400.90. He was the only diver at the NCAAs to place in the top eight in all three events, by finishing eighth in the platform diving competition and posting a personal-best score of 419.20 in the prelims.
“It’s one thing to win one medal, and it’s awesome,” Greene said. “But to medal in three competitions, it’s very hard.”
LEADER ON DECK
Success is not just built from winning scores. Success comes from within the program, and all athletes must play their part in building up themselves and those around them to improve the team.
Traditionally, this responsibility falls most on seniors and juniors, upperclassmen who have had time to experience the program and learn the lessons that define them. These lessons then trickle down by experience to underclassmen and the cycle continues as time progresses.
“One of the challenges of freshman year is to just figure out the system. Then by the end of freshman year, the hope is you realize, not only am I part of this, but I get to create it,” Tennessee Director of Swim and Dive Matt Kredich said. “The freshmen come in, and generally don’t know the difference between a sophomore and a senior at first, they just know who’s got some gravitational pull to them and follow it.”
Matt Kredich by John Golliher/Tennessee Athletics
Kredich knows that these lessons are important to teach, especially as a coach. But he also knows that it is important for the athletes to shepherd each other on their own journeys. This growth is something that stands out to him when it exceeds his athletes.
“Both Bennett and Ella did a phenomenal job of helping create the culture of the way that we do things this year, and as sophomores, that is really impressive. They both are really diligent and consistent in their work ethic and attitude,” Kredich shared. “Those two are just great leaders by example that have grown this year into more intentional leaders.”
There are certain traits of leadership that stand out. Intentionality is one that cannot be taught and Kredich thinks it truly stands out from Jansen.
“Ella has just an exceptional work ethic and exceptional attitude”, Kredich said. “She wants to be challenged every day. Everyone wants to be challenged, but they wait for it to happen and let it come to them. She goes looking for it.”
Working hard and doing the right thing are both important to Jansen. She agrees with the comments shared by Kredich and buys into the fact that it is a unique part of her skillset as a leader.
“I’m ready to work hard. I never really back down from a set or a challenge,” Jansen said. “Like, I will pretty much do whatever the coaches need me to do. And I think that reflects in my competition.”
The challenges Jansen seeks out are not just beating times; she challenges herself to be challenged. Outside of the pool, she carries herself as a leader and is intentional in everything she does to ensure she leads by example. These actions build habits which spread into the success of herself and the team.
“I’m very consistent in my habits,” Jansen said. “I’m always one of the first people at the pool and I’m here late. I eat well and I sleep well. I make recovery a priority.”
On top of intentionality, Jansen ensures that she takes care of herself to remain the best version of herself. Prioritizing her mental health regulates her wellbeing and allows her to remain consistent, a crucial factor in building trust and sparking relationships with eager teammates.
“I also make sure that I’m balancing things inside and outside of the pool. I’m making sure that when I’m outside the pool I’m enjoying that and I’m not stuck in what’s going on within swimming,” Jansen remarked. “And I think that that helps me remain very consistent”
FUTURE FOCUS
With the 2025-26 season now in the rear view, the focus shifts to the 2026-27 season and beyond. Although there is no competition going on right now, the group must stay focused to ensure they accomplish their goals for the upcoming year.
For Greene, these improvements are going to happen both inside and outside of the pool.
by Peyton Collimore/Tennessee Athletics
“A big focus already this summer is going to be to try just building my strength bubble, getting that up, so I can be able to compete some harder dives. Our main goal this offseason is to get in the weight room and be ready for the dives,” Greene said.
Just like Jansen, Greene believes in the power of being consistent. He knows capitalizing on that strength is crucial to achieving the goals he has set.
“I’m sure the goal for the beginning of next season is being consistent and maintaining that level of consistency,” Greene said. “That’s one of the main things in this sport. If you can be consistent and you can keep yourself in the mix, and then hit when you need a hit, that’s really important.”
Going into his second year, Nunziata is locking his habits in to stay in a consistent mode of improvement with his teammates. He has been able to see his season as a whole and, with help from his coaches and teammates, is keying in on the things he knows will make him a staple for Tennessee’s success next year.
“What I’m eating, how much I’m sleeping, what I’m doing in warmup and competition have changed in a good way, with what I’ve learned from my teammates and coaches,” Nunziata said. “That’s helped me grow significantly as a person and I can share that experience and information to other people as well.”
As he steps into the shoes of those he looked up to in this past year, Nunziata will remember the things he went through to guide those around him in the upcoming season.
“Going into next year, I’m really looking to be more of a leader. People have told me I can be in that position, so I am really trying to take that and earn the place I want to be,” Nunziata said. “We have a really hefty freshman class next year and that is something that has stuck out to me. I really want to take that in and be able to teach them traditions and be part of what it means to swim with all these people.”
NEXT UP
Even though they are only underclassmen themselves, Greene, Jansen and Nunziata have been working closely with new international athletes as they help shape the next leaders of the program.
Greene has been training with Desharne Bent-Ashmeil, who comes to Rocky Top from across the pond in London. Though this is her first year with the program, she has wasted no time in starting her success.
Desharne Bent-Ashmeil by Avery Bane/Tennessee Athletics
In her first year, she captured the sixth-best score in program history with the marks of 341.20 in the 3-meter springboard at the double dual meet against Auburn and Louisville in the regular season. In the postseason, she captured a fifth-place finish in the 1-meter and a sixth-place finish in the 3-meter at the SEC Championship.
Bent-Ashmeil’s biggest moment of the season came at the biggest time, as she posted a score of 382.25 in the 3-meter springboard to become the national runner-up in the event and claim the best score in program history at the NCAA Championship.
“Her coming into our women’s team gave us a big shot of enthusiasm, excellence and energy,” Kredich said of Bent-Ashmeil. “She is really dynamic in a lot of different ways and she has a way of making people around her better.”
Just like Bent-Ashmeil, Koby Bujak-Upton made a big impact on the team in his first year. The Sydney native played a part in setting the best-ever program record in the 200 free, 500 free and 800 free relay, as well earning multiple SEC and NCAA Championship medals.
However, Bujak-Upton’s biggest achievement was capturing the best 200 free time in the country at the NCAA Championship.
“He really hit another level this year and I attribute that to all the things he’s learned in the past year,” Kredich said. “I’m really proud of him for his patience and I’m proud of him for his first go-around in competition and how competitive he was.”
Even as Bujak-Upton held a national time record, Kredich was most impressed by his ability to develop over the course of the year.
“His transformation is really impressive, from someone who thought of himself as the 200 being his top event, to someone who really embraced the 500,” Kredich said. “I think he has expanded his view of what he can do.”
The ability to adapt to challenges is something that helped ensure the team’s success in all areas. Coming to Tennessee in the middle of the 2025-26 season from Kariya City, Japan, Mizuki Hirai dominated that challenge with ease.
In her first year with the program, Hirai captured top-10 program finishes in the 100 fly and 100 back. She also helped set four top-10 program finishes in the 200 medley relay and 200 free relay, as well as the 400 medley relay and the 400 free relay. Both of her medley finishes helped set new program records.
For Kredich, Hirai’s ability to compete in multiple different stroke styles provided the team with flexibility in competition.
“When she came in, we moved some people around to maximize speed in the medley relay and I think it really paid off at both the SEC and NCAA Championships,” Kredich said. “She really allowed us to have more speed and power in our relays and she gave us some great scoring performances, and we’re really excited about her going forward.”
All three freshmen have three years of eligibility left and Kredich is certain the role of each athlete will only increase as they grow in themselves and who they are at Tennessee.
For now, though, sights are set on improving ahead of the 2026-27 season and the focus remains on being better every day.
