Standout Swimmers Flock to Florida for FGC Winter Champs

Courtesy: Elizabeth Spencer Rosenthal

35th Annual Winter Championships

• December 11 – 14, 2025
• Plantation, Florida
• SCY (25 yards)
• Hosted by The City of Plantation and The Plantation Swim Team
• Results on Meet Mobile: 35th Annual Winter Championships
• Full Results (PDF)
• Team Standings (PDF)
• High Point Leaders (PDF)

Florida Gold Coast Swimming’s 35th Annual Winter Championships featured swimmers from age eight to 48, and temperatures from breezy 50s to balmy 80s. Top teams from across Florida, as well as New York, Connecticut, North Carolina, Indiana, and even Aruba, Jamaica, and the Bahamas, traveled to the Sunshine State to compete in the four-day prelims and finals format beneath the palm trees and bright lights of the Plantation Aquatic Complex.

The competition kicked off with a Thursday night session of relays and 1,000-yard freestyles. In the distance race, University of Virginia commit Juan Vallmitjana, 16, of South Florida Aquatic Club, took first place on the men’s side in an impressive best time of 9.02.13. Ellison Charette, 16, of YMCA of Greenwich Marlins, won the women’s race in a best time of 10.14.70.

The three days that followed featured a full and exciting program of racing, with superior swims across every age group.

University of Michigan commit Gioia Balzano, 17, of Eagle Aquatics, took the high point award for 17 & Over Women, with best times in 5 of her 6 events. The recently-crowned Florida 3A state champion in the 200 freestyle and 100 butterfly, continued to display her dominant form:

• 500 Free: 4:53.14
• 100 Fly: 53.83
• 200 Back: 1:58.74
• 200 Fly: 1:58.38
• 50 Fly: 24.52
• 200 Free 1:47.53 (slightly off her best of 1:46.11 at States)

The only competitor in the field to best Balzano’s times was pro swimmer Lismar Lyon, 25, who represents Venezuela internationally and trains with South Florida Aquatic Club. Lyon’s event-winning times were:

• 50 free: 22.54
• 50 breast: 28.80
• 50 fly: 23.39
• 100 fly: 52.76

Alex Horney, 15, of Westchester Aquatic Club in New Rochelle, NY,  led all scorers among 15-16 Girls:

• 200 IM: 2:07.94
• 200 breast: 2:23.62 (2:22.53 in prelims)
• 50 free: 24.91
• 100 free: 53.13
• 400 IM: 4:38.79 (4:34.79 in prelims)
• 100 breast: 1:05.17
• 100 IM: 59.26

Cielo Moya, 14, of Saint Andrews Aquatics, came up big as the high point winner in the 13-14 Girls competition, taking the top time in each of her 7 individual races:

• 50 free: 24.04
• 100 free: 52.04
• 50 back: 26.62
• 100 back: 57.70
• 50 fly: 25.09
• 100 fly: 56.72
• 100 IM: 59.33

Ashley Lotano, 12, of Jupiter Dragons Swim Team, topped the 11-12 Girls in impressive fashion, winning all seven of her individual events:

• 50 back: 28.23
• 100 fly: 1:00.13
• 50 free: 24.84
• 100 free: 53.86
• 50 fly: 26.32
• 100 back: 1:00.47
• 100 IM: 1:01.61

Adeline Farrier, 9, of Clearwater Aquatic Team, took the high point prize for 10 & under Girls. She was the sole entry from her team and placed first in all six of her events:

• 100 back: 1:05.38
• 100 free: 58.22
• 50 fly: 29. 14 (29.06 in prelims)
• 100 Fly: 1:02.69
• 50 free: 26.77
• 100 IM: 1:07.27

Steven Aimable, 26, of Azura Florida Aquatics, topped the Men’s 17 & Over competition:

• 50 back: 22.54
• 100 fly: 48.53
• 50 free: 20.96
• 100 free: 46.01
• 50 fly: 22.24
• 200 fly: 1:47.05
• 100 IM: 50.83

Nicolas Kokidko, 16, of Metro Aquatic Club of Miami, was the high point winner in the 15-16 Boys category. The recent Florida 4A state champion in the 500 freestyle and state runner-up in the 200 free, continued to put up some strong performances:

• 1000 free: 9:20.76
• 100 free: 46.63 (46.59 in prelims)
• 400 IM: 3:59.92
• 200 fly: 1:47.95
• 200 free: 1:38.51 (just off his best time of 1:37.32 at states)

Noah Mejias, 14, of South Florida Aquatic Club, topped the 13-14 Boys, placing first in all 7 of his individual events, and in five relays for his age group:

• 200 IM: 1:53.96
• 100 fly: 50.25
• 200 breast: 2:05.08
• 400 IM:4:03.89
• 50 fly: 22.73
• 200 fly: 1:53.41
• 100 breast: 58.47

Brandon Infante, 12, of Blue Marlins of Hialeah Gardens, claimed top honors in the 12 & Under Boys, finishing first in each of his seven individual races:

• 1,000 free: 10:56.96
• 200 IM: 2:13.04
• 500 Free: 5:16.05
• 200 Back: 2:11.75
• 400 IM: 4:38.88
• 100 Back: 1:01.19
• 200 Free: 1:57.61

Harrison Hull, 10, of Flashes Aquatics in Indianapolis, took the top honors for 10 & Under Boys in three events and landed on the podium in two more

• 200 IM: 2:29.18
• 50 fly: 29.64
• 200 free: 2:14.26
• 100 fly: 1:04.78
• 100 breast: 1:22.89
• 100 IM: 1:09.66

Top Team Scores:

Women:

1. South Florida Aquatic Club
2. Westchester Aquatic Club
3. Saint Andrews Aquatics

Men:

1. Saint Andrews Aquatics
2. South Florida Aquatic Club
3. Jupiter Dragons Swim Team

Combined Team Scores:

1. South Florida Aquatic Club
2. Saint Andrews Aquatics
3. Jupiter Dragons Swim Team

More Fun Facts from Winter Champs:

• Setting the tone: 12-year-old Zachary Rowe, of Plantation Swim Team, wowed the crowd with his rendition of the Star Spangled Banner on saxophone, to kick of the Sunday finals session. He also swam 7 individual events and scored six points for his team.
• From 8 – 48: Derek Bradchulis, 48, of Jupiter Dragons Swim Team, was the oldest swimmer in the meet and competed in five individual events. The youngest qualifiers were eight-year-olds Dean Tario, FMC Aquatic Club of Westmont, IL, Timur Kochmar, SwimRight Team, Iris Liu, Florida Atlantic Aquatics and Violet Mormile, Jupiter Dragons.
• Family ties: Daniel Lotano, a 45-year-old Master’s champion, and his two daughters, Ashley, 12, and Avery, 14, all competed in the meet. Together, they scored a combined 113 points for the Jupiter Dragons Swim Team.
• Oh Brother! Brothers Steven Aimable, 26, and Karl Wilson Aimable, 21, of Azura Florida Aquatics, who have also represented Senegal internationally, combined for 83 points. Brothers Jordy Groters, 29, and Patrick Groters, 26, of Giant Aquatics Aruba, who also have South Florida roots, returned to town triumphantly, scoring a combined 82 points for their team.
• Leading by example: Three coaches also competed as swimmers! Josiah Morales, 31, Performance Aquatic Club, Boleck DePawlikowsk, 29, Metro Aquatic Club of Miami, and Jordy Groters, 29, Giant Aquatics Aruba.
• Relay with a twist: A favorite Winter Champs tradition is its fun and fantastic 4 x 100 IM Relay. It’s pure pandemonium when each swimmer swims a 100 IM!

ABOUT ELIZABETH SPENCER ROSENTHAL

Elizabeth Spencer Rosenthal is a wife and mother of 3 from Miami. She is a passionate swim mom, volunteer and meet official, with a professional background in marketing and public relations. She holds a degree in Public Communication from American University, and loves finding a story to tell.