Distance Specialist Gabriel Benitez Commits to Cal Lu for 2025-26

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Gabriel “Gabe” Benitez from Livermore, California, has committed to swim and study at California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks beginning in the fall of 2025. At the time of his announcement, he wrote:

“I am beyond thrilled to announce my commitment to continue my academic and athletic career at California Lutheran University! I’d like to thank all my LAC coaches, my parents and most of all, my teammates, who have all spurred me on and been by my side, every step of my swimming journey. I’d like to give an extra special thanks Coach Barry for giving me this exciting opportunity! Go Kingsmen!🛡️💛💜”

Benitez recently graduated from Granada High School, where he was ASB President and a member of the boys’ varsity swim team. He wrapped up his senior year in May, earning PBs in the 50 free (23.43) and 200 free (1:46.11) at league championships. He swam the 200/500 free distance double at the CIF North Coast Championships, before going on to the California State Meet to swim on Granada relays. He also took home a PB in the 100 breast (1:06.18) at the Senior Walk-on meet the day after NCS.

Benitez does his club swimming with Livermore Aquacowboys. He specializes mainly in distance free and during the course of the 2024-25 short course season, he improved his times in the 100/500/1000/1650 free, 200 fly, and 200/400 IM. He picked up two of those times at Far Westerns, coming in 23rd in the 1000 free (10:02.25) and 58th in the 200 IM (2:01.71). He swam the 3 freestyle times that did not come out of high school season at the Juanita Allington Memorial Senior Meet, placing 29th in finals of the 100 free (49.84), 17th in the 200 free (1:46.29), 9th in the 500 free (4:44.56), and 5th in the mile (16:40.52). He also finaled in the 400 IM.

Benitez traveled to Mission Viejo in April for the Fran Crippen Memorial Swim Meet of Champions, where he kicked off long course season with new times in the 200 free (2:01.85) and 800 free (9:10.75). In June, he added PBs in the 50/100 free, 50/200 breast, 200 fly, and 200 IM.

Best SCY times:

• 1650 free – 16:40.52
• 1000 free – 10:02.25
• 500 free – 4:44.56
• 200 free – 1:46.11
• 400 IM – 4:17.51

Cal Lu finished 5th out of 9 teams in the men’s meet at the 2025 SCIAC Championships. Benitez’s best mile time would have scored in the top 16 at the 2025 conference meet, and his 500 free time would have been just short of the ‘B’ final (it took 4:45.17 to score). He’ll overlap a year with Sebi Petho, the Kingsmen’s top distance swimmer last season.

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