How good is Florida’s class?  Let’s put it this way, when your lowest-ranked swimmer is a kid named Lochte, you’re doing OK.  While Devon won’t be mistaken for big brother Ryan anytime soon, he’s a part of a group that includes an Olympian, one Puerto Rican national team member, two Venezuelan national teamers, one Peruvian, and four high school or junior college national champions. 

“We’ve addressed all of our needs, everything that we are losing to graduation is covered,” explained head coach Gregg  Troy.  The only need it seems will be scholarship money next year when the Gators graduate six seniors.   Marco Loughran stands out even among a team of standouts.  The Brit backstroker’s converted times (1:42.8 in the backstroke) make him an immediate  title threat.  Pete Knox has to be lickin’ his chops with the additions of Indian River sprinters Roberto Gomez and Raul Martinez.  Emanuel Crescimbeni, “the fastest swimmer you’ve never heard of” will be a butterfly finalist.  Perhaps most impressively, at least a dozen of these kids, highlighted by distance studs Austin Detera and Jeff Raymond, are from in state. 

 

A rival coach’s perspective: “The deepest class in the country for the men.  They are the team to beat for the SEC title next year. Crescimbini, Raymond, Gomez, and Martinez are the headliners.”

 

14	Loughran, Marco
	London, Great Britain
22	Gomez, Roberto	Indian River CC
	Weston, FL, Venezuela
23	Crescimbeni, Emmanuel	St. Petersburg Aquatics
	Holiday, FL, Peru	Calvary Christian
31	Detra, Austin	Sarasota YMCA
	Sarasota, FL
36	Raymond, Jeffrey	Pinecrest Swimming
	Davie, FL	Western HS
55	Martinez, Raul	Indian River CC
	Maunabo, PR
124	Turner, James	Indian River Aquatics
	Ft. Pierce, FL	Lincoln Park Academy
156	Huen, Gabriel
	Caracas,Venezuela
159	Glover, Alex	Clearwater Aquatic Team
	Safety Harbor, FL	Palm Harbor University HS
165	Kennedy, Robby	Swim Florida
	Fort Myers, FL
173	Dubrasky, Tayler	Gulf Coast Swim Team
	Estero, FL	Estero HS
174	Howell, Brian	Cincinnati Marlins
	Cincinnati, OH	Archbishop Moeller HS
211	Crete, Drew	Sarasota YMCA
	Sarasota, FL	Riverview HS
216	Jordan, Jonathan	The Berkeley Barracudas
	Tampa, FL	Berkeley Preparatory School
239	Halfacre, Jeff	Gator Swim Club
	Gainesville, FL	Gainesville HS
240	Davelaar, Rodion
	Curacao, FL, Netherlands Antilles	The Bolles School
566	Czupryna, Pat	Sarasota YMCA
	Sarasota, FL
579	Lochte, Devon
	Daytona Beach, FL	Spruce Creek HS