The Florida men’s swimming and diving team’s senior class, with 51 All-American honors among it, has one more chance at NCAA glory.
The No. 4 Gators are in Minneapolis this week for the NCAA Championships, which begins today at 11 a.m. and concludes on Saturday night.
UF, fresh off its sixth straight SEC title, has finished third in the NCAAs in three of the last four years. Coach Gregg Troy has also led the program to a top-10 finish in the meet every year since he was hired in 1999.
However, the Gators have never won a national championship over that span.
Senior Caeleb Dressel has a chance to become the most decorated men’s swimmer in Florida history. Dressel has amassed six individual NCAA titles during his career, second only to Ryan Lochte’s program record of seven. The 21-time All American will look to defend his titles in the 50 free, 100 free and 100 fly in Minnesota.
Dressel can also make NCAA history this week. If he wins the 50 free, he will become the first male in NCAA Championships history to win the event four times.
Fellow senior Mark Szaranek is the only other defending NCAA champion competing in the meet for Florida. The 14-time All American will look to defend his title in the 200 IM.
In all, 17 Gators will compete this week, including six seniors.
Follow Sam Campisano on Twitter @samcampisano and contact him at scampisano@alligator.org.
Senior Caeleb Dressel has a shot to set school and NCAA records this week.
