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Luke Zardavets from Ponte Vedra, Florida, has announced his intention to remain in-state to swim and study at the University of Florida beginning in 2027-28. He wrote on social media:
“I am extremely excited to announce my verbal commitment to continue my academic and athletic career with the University of Florida! I would like to give all glory and honor to the Lord Jesus Christ for blessing me with the ability to do what I love. I’d like to thank my family & my church for their love & prayers, my coaches Alexis, Peter and Jake, for guiding & believing in me throughout this journey. I am also incredibly grateful to all the UF Coaches, Coach Nesty, Coach Alex, Coach Jack, Coach Whitney and Coach Kristen, for starting this process with me and giving me this amazing opportunity. I can’t wait to see what the future holds! GO GATORS!! 🐊”
Zardavets has been homeschooled since 1st grade, but he competes for Allen D. Nease Senior High School. He does his club swimming with Bolles School Sharks. The best two-distance breaststroker in his cohort, he came in at #12 on our Way Too Early list of the top boys swimming recruits in the high school class of 2027.
As a sophomore last high school season, he won the 100 breast (55.42) and the 100 fly (PB of 48.10) and contributed to Allen Nease’s state-champion 200 free (PB of 20.96 leadoff) and 400 free (45.80 split) relays at the FHSAA Class 3A State Championships. A week later, he clocked a lifetime best in the 200 free (1:40.33) at the PSA Turkey Meet.
A month later, he competed at Winter Juniors East with Planet Swim Aquatics. There, he swam the 100/200 breast and 100 fly and earned PBs in the 100 breast (53.84, 11th place), 200 breast (1:57.73 in prelims, 7th), and 200 IM (1:48.92 in prelims, 27th). He dropped his 200 breast time to 1:56.96 at the Florida Senior Championships in March, becoming the fastest 200 breaststroker in the class of 2027.
Zardavets moved to Bolles in early 2025. In June, competed at U.S. Nationals, where he opened the 2025 long course season with a pair of PBs in the 100/200 breast: 1:05.00 and 2:24.35. He wrapped up the season at Summer Junior Nationals, earning new LCM times in the 50 free (24.56), 50 breast (29.39), 100 breast (1:03.33), 50 fly (25.59), and 200 IM (2:09.22).
Best SCY times:
- 100 breast – 53.84
- 200 breast – 1:56.96
- 100 fly – 48.10
- 200 IM – 1:48.92
- 50 free – 20.96
- 100 free – 46.52
- 200 free – 1:40.33
The Gators’ Julian Smith won the NCAA title in the 100 breast last season with 49.51 but has since graduated and Aleksas Savickas, who went 51.01 to place 12th at NCAAs, is a senior this season. Zardavets has an opportunity to have a major impact when he arrives in Gainesville in the fall of 2027.
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“Whats the occasion? Thursday.”
53/1:56 breast as a sophomore is pretty crazy