This report is a joint effort from Anya Pelshaw and Anne Lepesant.
It is almost the New Year which means we expect some NCAA teams to see new faces this upcoming spring. As with every season, spring arrivals can shake up the NCAA rankings. See the biggest names that we know will be arriving for spring 2026.
If we are missing any names, please kindly let us know in the comments with links to data.
Update: 12/17 Alabama has Sean Niewold (Netherlands) and Gabriel Moura (Brazil) on the men’s side. Isabella Osborn (Australia) joins the program on the women’s side alongside Giele.
Alabama
Giele has represented the Netherlands at the international level on numerous occasions, including at the 2024 SCM World Championships when she won silver in the 100 fly behind Gretchen Walsh. Giele’s best converted time in the 100 fly would have been 3rd behind Walsh and Torri Huske at the 2025 NCAA Championships.
Isabella Osborn
Gabriel Moura
Auburn
Trotsenko, a Russian native, arrives at Auburn with a best converted time in the 100 breast that was just off scoring at 2025 NCAAs. He would already make the SEC ‘A’ final in the event.
Florida
Like Trotsenko, de Groot brings sprint breaststroke talent to the NCAA. Based on his best converted times, he also would have been just off scoring at 2025 NCAAs but would have made the ‘A’ final at SECs.
Georgia
Mihaylov will arrive from South Africa and brings range to Georgia’s freestyle group. He will look to impact relays.
Indiana
Shackell did not swim for the Hoosiers this fall unlike her brother Andrew but most recently swam at the US Open. Alex already has NCAA ‘A’ final potential in numerous events such as the 100 fly and 200 fly.
Kentucky
Shuster represents Israel at the international level and primarily specializes in backstroke. His best converted time in the 100 back would be 4th for the Wildcats this season.
Louisville
Like Giele for Alabama, Gorbenko will look to shake up women’s NCAAs as she arrives for Louisville. She brings plenty of versatility to the Cardinals so it seems that it is not a matter of if she will score, it is a matter of what will she score in, assuming the adjustment to SCY goes smoothly.
Tennessee
Hirai holds the World Junior Record in the LCM 100 fly and already brings NCAA ‘A’ final potential in the 100 butterfly. No one has been sub-52 for Tennesssee in the 100 fly yet this season, so she is a huge medley relay boost as well.
Lucio Flavio
The 2025 World Junior silver medalist from Brazil brings sprint fly strength to Tennessee. His 100 fly time converts to a 45.38, a time that would lead the team this season.
Texas
The Longhorn men are set to have three arrivals this spring. After originally being set to arrive last spring, Poland’s Ksawery Masiuk will now arrive in two weeks. He is expected to bring depth to the team’s backstroke group which is already highlighted by Hubert Kos and Will Modglin. Ireland’s Evan Bailey will join the sprint/mid-distance free group and his best converted times have the potential to be on the team’s relays. The final addition expected for Texas is Alexey Glivinskiy who arrives from Israel. Glivinskiy also adds depth to the sprint/mid-distance free group.
Virginia
Jazy originally signed with Michigan but now joins the Cavaliers this spring. She boosts a sprint free group that is already highlighted by names such as Anna Moesch and Sara Curtis.
@branden Masiuk did make NCAA?
Nope. Not sure if Texas took him as a relay only swimmer (I thought I saw something on social media that listed him), but he didn’t compete.
I saw “commitments”, but these people aren’t listed on schools roster, unless noted.
Is this where we gripe? In addition to 4 all-star transfers (Kos, Maurer, Wimberley, Nelson), Texas grabbed 4 stars after they committed to other schools (Masiuk, Glivinsky, McKean, Hammer).
At some point you have to wonder if Bowman is honoring other kids’ commitments.
I think this is a bit of a stretch. Kos followed his coach and the other 3 transfers entered the portal after they weren’t improving at their current programs.
Masiuk no showed to NC State in 2023, hard to blame Bowman for that.
Glivinskiy was reportedly shopping for other programs, had Texas in his sights and initiated the recruitment.
McKean broke out big time and wanted to train with swimmers at a similar level.
No. Bowman is a bad man. That’s the simple answer.
Ethan Dumesnil Tennessee?
Gorbenko is better at SCM than LCM…….
No chris smith for UVA?
Nina Jazy looks like one for the future.
Am I the only one who needs to see Masiuk in the pool in a Texas cap before having confidence this is real?
Ye, its like the third time swimswam has announcing this and never happen.
I mean, he gave us a real date of arrival this time. December 28.
gotta get video of him coming off the plane like they had for Lane Kiffin going to Baton Rouge haha
Pray for Masiuk. Bob have mercy.