SEC Awards: Florida Sweeps Behind Bella Sims, Josh Liendo, Anthony Nesty

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

The Southeastern Conference announced the 2023-24 annual men’s and women’s swimming & diving postseason awards on Wednesday. The Gators swept the SEC Swimmers of the Year, SEC Freshman Swimmers of the Year and SEC Divers of the Year honors as well as Florida’s coach Anthony Nesty was named both the Men’s and Women’s SEC Coach of the Year for the second-consecutive season.

Male Swimmer of the Year	Josh Liendo
Female Swimmer of the Year	Bella Sims
Male Freshman Swimmer of the Year	Jonny Marshall
Female Freshman Swimmer of the Year	Bella Sims
Men’s Swimming Coach of the Year	Anthony Nesty
Women’s Swimming Coach of the Year	Anthony Nesty
Male Freshman Diver of the Year	Conor Gesing
Female Freshman Diver of the Year	Camyla Monroy

Head Coach Anthony Nesty was named the SEC Men’s and Women’s Coach of the year, becoming the first Gators coach to win both honors back-to-back. It also marks the first coach in the SEC to win both Swimming Coach of the Year award two years in a row.

Nesty took home SEC Men’s Coach of the Year for the sixth-straight season, tying former Gators coach Gregg Troy with the most consecutive Men’s Coach of the Year honors. The Gators won their 12th-straight SEC Championship back in February, marking the 45th SEC Championship in program history. The Gators sit behind their own 13-year consecutive record from 1955-1968 and is one of two programs in the history of the SEC to garner 12 straight titles (Florida – 13 from 1955-1968; Auburn – 16 from 1996-2012).

For the second-straight season, Nesty earned SEC Women’s Swimming Coach of the Year. He is the second Gator coach to achieve the honor back-to-bac; Mitch Ivey was named Coach of the Year from 1991-93. The women’s team had a historic SC championship run en route to its 19th conference title in school history and first back-to-back championship titles since 1996-97.

Bella Sims and Josh Liendo received the top swimming conference honor following their impressive 2023-24 campaign. Both were awarded the Commissioner’s Trophy Award for most points at this year’s SEC Championships. Sims tallied 96 points, while Liendo racked up 91 points.

Josh Liendo – SEC Men’s Swimmer of the Year

Liendo becomes the ninth Gator and first since Kieran Smith (2020) to earn Male Swimmer of the Year. He won seven medals at the 2024 SEC Championships, including six gold and one bronze. The sophomore captured his first 100 free SEC Championship title after going 40.82 to win the men’s 100 freestyle and also claimed his second-straight 100 fly title. The three-time SEC Male Swimmer of the Week was also a member of the 200 free relay, 400 free relay, 800 free relay and 400 medley relay teams who finished first.

At NCAA Championships, the Canadian Olympian defended his title in the 100 free to cap off his post-season success. The sophomore swept his three individual events as well as was a member of the winning 200 free relay, 400 free relay and 200 medley relay teams. He contributed to 154 of Florida’s points (60 individual and 94 relay) and holds the program’s second-best 50 free, 100 free and 100 fly times.

Bella Sims – SEC Women’s Swimmer & Freshman Swimmer of the Year

Bella Sims becomes the first Gator women since Elizabeth Beisel in 2012 and fifth in program history to be named SEC Female Swimmer of the Year. Sims was also named Female Freshman Swimmer of the Year, becoming the first Gator to capture both titles in the same year as well as the first women in the conference to outright claim both honors in the same season.

A native of Henderson, Nevada, Sims won seven total medals at the SEC Championships, including six gold and one silver. She went undefeated in her three individual events as well as a member of three relay teams who earned gold. The six-time SEC Women’s Freshman of the Week also secured a spot on the All-SEC First Team and All-Freshman Team. At her first NCAA Championships, the U.S Olympian won two individual National Titles. The freshman swam a 4:32.47 in the 500 free to break Florida’s 16-year title drought in the event and lowered her school record time. She captured her second National Title after going 1:40.90 time in the 200 free, while also opening the 800 free relay with a 1:41.03 split en route to Florida’s first National Title in the event since 1989.

Florida swept the Freshmen Swimmers of the Year and Freshman Diver of the Year honors, marking the first time in program history Florida earned freshman diving honors. It is a conference first that a women’s program claims both the Freshman Diver of the Year and Swimmer of the Year accolades. It is also the first time since 2020 that a men’s program takes home both honors as well in the same season.

Jonny Marshall – SEC Men’s Freshman Swimmer of the Year

Jonny Marshall becomes the 14^th Gator to earn Male Freshman of the Year. The three-time SEC Men’s Freshman of the Week won both the 100 and 200 back at this year’s SEC Championships. He finished over a second better than his nearest competitor with 1:36.68 in the 200 backs en route to a new program record, SEC Meet record and Auburn Pool record. Marshall’s 100 back time of 44.12 marks the fastest time from a freshman ever in the event, while his opening 45.13 split in the 400 medley helped the Gators claim first. Jonny earned All-American honors in the 100 and 200 back following his top-eight finishes at this year’s NCAA Championships.

Conor Gesing – Men’s Freshman Diver of the Year

Throughout his first season with the Gators, Conor Gesing won SEC Freshman Diver of the Week three times. He was named Men’s Diver of the Meet at this year’s SEC Championships following his gold medal performance in the 3-Meter. Gesing claimed Florida’s first title in the event since 1985 and also made a podium appearance for 1-Meter after placing third. A week later, Gesing qualified for 1-Meter at Diving Zones and advanced to his first NCAA Championships. He placed 38^th in the Nation to conclude his successful first season as a Gator and earn Florida’s first ever SEC Male Freshman Diver of the Year honor as well as a spot on the All-SEC First Team and All-Freshman Team.

Camyla Monroy – SEC Women’s Freshman Diver of the Year

Camyla Monroy made her own noise this season, earning five SEC Freshman Diver of the Week honors. At SEC Championships, she scored 88 individual points to make a podium appearance in all three events. She was crowned the platform champion and added two silver medals following her 1-Meter and 3-Meter results. Monroy advanced to her first NCAA Championships in all three events after she placing in the top-three at Diving Zones. Her platform score of 327.60 is a new program best as well as a personal best. At NCAA Championships, she earned her first All-American honor after finishing seventh in the 1-Meter. Monroy becomes the first in program history to earn SEC Female Freshman Diver of the Year as well as found a spot on the All-SEC First Team and All-Freshman Team.

All-SEC Teams

11 Gator men earned spots on the All-SEC First Team, while nine Gator women were listed on the All-SEC First Team, which both numbers are program-highs. The First Team consists of the top finisher in each event. Scotty Buff, Adam Chaney, Ed Fullum-Hout, Conor Gesing, Josh Liendo, Jonny Marshall, Macguire McDuff, Jake Mitchell, Aleksas Savickas, Julian Smith and Andrew Taylor represent Florida on the men’s side, while Florida’s top finishers on the women’s side were Micayla Cronk, Isabel Ivey, Lainy Kruger, Molly Mayne, Camyla Monroy, Olivia Peoples, Aris Runnels, Bella Sims and Emma Weyant.

— The above press release was posted by Swimming World in conjunction with the Florida Athletics. For press releases and advertising inquiries please contact Advertising@SwimmingWorld.com.

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