‘BOTR’ Backstroker Mia Buff Verbals To Tennessee For 2026, Becomes 3rd In Her Family To Go D1

Fitter and Faster Swim Camps is the proud sponsor of SwimSwam’s College Recruiting Channel and all commitment news. For many, swimming in college is a lifelong dream that is pursued with dedication and determination. Fitter and Faster is proud to honor these athletes and those who supported them on their journey.

Mia Buff of Bowling Green, Ohio, will head to Knoxville, Tennessee next fall. Buff is the 3rd of her family to go south, as her older brothers Max and Scotty swim at NC State and Florida, respectively.

Max, a best of the rest (BOTR) recruit, is a freshman this fall and Scotty, who was the #3 recruit his year, is a junior. Mia, a summer juniors qualifier, has been ranked a ‘BOTR’ recruit for backstroke. 

She broke out at the NCSA Spring Championships in March, setting PBs across all three backstroke events en route to top 10 finishes. She swam a 25.28 in the 50 for 9th, broke 53 for the first time with a 52.81 in the 100 to finish 4th, and took 8th in the 200 with a time of 1:56.72. She had been slightly faster in prelims however, where she swam a 1:56.04. Buff also set a new best in the 100 fly, where her 53.48 earned her a 5th place finish. 

Just a month prior, Buff was the state runner up at the Ohio High School Division 1 State Championships in the 100 back (53.61) and 3rd in the 100 fly (53.85). She was Bowling Green’s sole scorer and one of two swimmers they sent, yet she single handedly brought them to a 17th place finish in a field of 103 teams.

Buff made huge strides her junior season to go from an unranked recruit to a ‘BOTR’: she took her 100 back from 54.7 to 52.8 and 200 back from 1:59.9 to 1:56.0. Meanwhile, she improved her butterfly too; she headed into the season with a best of 55.3 and has shaved nearly 2 seconds off that time.

Best times (SCY):

• 50 back: 25.28
• 100 back: 52.81
• 200 back: 1:56.04
• 50 fly: 25.00
• 100 fly: 53.48
• 50 free: 23.83
• 100 free: 52.62

Tennessee was 3rd at SECs and 5th at NCAAs last season, with Josephine Fuller and Camille Spink leading the way. Several of the Vols’ top backstrokers have or will be graduated by the time Buff arrives in Knoxville, but she would have ranked 6th and 5th on their roster in the 100 and 200 back, respectively this past season. Buff will help replenish their backstroke group, as her 100 back is already under what it took to score at 2025 SECs (53.11). Further, Buff is not far off what it took to score in the 100 fly (52.92) and 200 back (1:55.25), making her a potential 3-event scorer.

Buff will be a member of arguably one of the best overall recruiting classes in recent history. She joins Americans #1 Charlotte Crush, #4 Molly Sweeney, #16 Eliza Wallace and Canadians Madison Kryger, Leah Tigert, and Matea Gigovic in the Vols’ class of 2030. Crush, Sweeney, Kryger, Tigert, and Gigovic all represented their respective nations at World Juniors earlier this month, with Crush and Kryger landing on the podium. Buff thus joins an elite backstroke training group, as both Crush and Kryger are both backstroke specialists. 

With the addition of World Junior Record Holder Mizuki Hirai this fall and another year of Camille Spink once this class arrives, Tennessee looks more than capable of breaking into the top 3 at NCAAs: this class fills virtually all the holes in the Vol’s lineup (which is currently backstroke), and adds further depth to their already elite sprint free, breast, and fly groups.

If you have a commitment to report, please send an email with a photo (landscape, or horizontal, looks best) and a quote to [email protected].      

About the Fitter and Faster Swim Tour 

Fitter & Faster Swim Camps feature the most innovative teaching platforms for competitive swimmers of all levels. Camps are produced year-round throughout the USA and Canada. All camps are led by elite swimmers and coaches. Visit fitterandfaster.com to find or request a swim camp near you.

FFT SOCIAL

Instagram – @fitterandfasterswimtour
Facebook – @fitterandfastertour
Twitter – @fitterandfaster

^{FFT is a SwimSwam partner.}