Many talented boys' swimmers are returning to the pool in 2026.
Defending champions Sarasota returns a strong lineup, including Jackson Irwin, Andrew Malaj, Daniil Siutsou and Adam Malaj. Lakewood Ranch's Jaxon Griffin enters his junior season after a top-15 finish at the 4A state championship last season. Riverview's Maddax Harlan, who had a top-10 finish at state, is entering his senior season.
Here are the top boys' swimmers to watch in the Sarasota and Manatee area.
Chase Caldwell
School: Venice
Year: Senior
Highlights: In 2025, Caldwell was named to the Herald-Tribune's All-Area second team. He finished 15th in the 100-yard freestyle (47.64) at the 4A state championship. At the 4A-Region 3 championship, Caldwell placed fifth in the 100-yard freestyle (47.99)
and eighth in the 50-yard freestyle (22.24).
Porter DeBruin
School: Riverview
Year: Sophomore
Highlights: In 2025, DeBruin was named to the Herald-Tribune's All-Area second team. He placed 16th in the 500-yard freestyle (4:42.66) at the 4A state championship. At the 4A-Region 3 championship, DeBruin finished eighth in the 500-yard freestyle (4:42.86) and 12th in the 200-yard free (1:47.84).
Jack Gilliam
School: Cardinal Mooney
Year: Junior
Highlights: In 2025, Gilliam was named to the Herald-Tribune's All-Area second team. He finished 22nd in the 100-yard backstroke (54.87) at the 1A state championship. At the 1A-Region 3 championship, Gilliam placed sixth in the 50-yard freestyle (22.41) and fourth in the 100-yard backstroke (54.97).
Gavin George
School: Sarasota Christian
Year: Eighth
Highlights: Despite only being in the eighth grade, George has shown out. In 2025, as a seventh grader, George finished 16th in the 200-yard freestyle (2:42.66) and 12th in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:35.27) at the 1A-District 8 championship. In August, George placed seventh in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:32.28) and 12th in the 100-yard freestyle (1:11.41) at the King's Sentinels Showdown Invitational.
Jaxon Griffin
School: Lakewood Ranch
Year: Junior
Highlights: Griffin was named to the Herald-Tribune's All-Area team in 2025. In the 500-yard freestyle, he placed sixth at districts, fifth at regionals and 12th at the 4A state championships. In the 200-yard IM, he placed seventh at districts and 11th at regionals.
Maddax Harlan
School: Riverview
Year: Senior
Highlights: In 2025, Harlan was named to the Herald-Tribune's All-Area team. He won individual district titles in the 100-yard backstroke and the 50-yard freestyle. In the 100-yard backstroke, he placed second at regionals and seventh at the 4A state championships. In the 50-yard freestyle, he placed first at regionals and fifth at the 4A state championships.
Jackson Irwin
School: Sarasota
Year: Senior
Highlights: Irwin was named to the Herald-Tribune's All-Area team. He placed well in both the 500-yard freestyle and the 200-yard individual medley. In the 500-yard freestyle, he placed third at districts, first at regionals and second at the 4A state championships. In the 200-yard IM, he placed fourth at districts and third at both regionals and the 4A state championships.
Adam Malaj
School: Sarasota
Year: Junior
Highlights: In 2025, Malaj was named to the Herald-Tribune's All-Area second team. He placed 21st in the 4A state championship (4:53.08). At the 4A-Region 3 championship, Malaj finished 10th in the 500-yard freestyle (4:48.30) and the 200-yard freestyle (1:47.60).
Andrew Malaj
School: Sarasota
Year: Senior
Highlights: In 2025, Malaj was named to the Herald-Tribune's All-Area team. In the 200-yard freestyle, he placed first at districts and regionals and third at the 4A state championship. In the 100-yard freestyle, he placed third in districts and fifth at the 4A state championship.
Jonathan Nikitin
School: Sarasota Christian
Year: Junior
Highlights: In August, Nikitin placed third in the 50-yard breaststroke (41.97)and ninth in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:37.37) at the King's Sentinels Showdown Invitational. Last season, at the 1A-District 8 championship, Nikitin placed 14th in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:38.14) and 32nd in the 50-yard freestyle (38.21).
Daniil Siutsou
School: Sarasota
Year: Senior
Highlights: Siutsou was named to the Herald-Tribune's All-Area team in 2025. In the 500-yard freestyle, he placed fifth at districts, sixth at regionals and seventh at the 4A state championship. In the 200-yard IM, he placed fifth at districts, sixth at regionals, and 13th at the 4A state championships.
Lupo Sgroi
School: Riverview
Year: Junior
Highlights: Sgroi earned a spot on the Herald-Tribune's All-Area second team in 2025. In the Class 4A state championship, Sgroi placed fourth in the 500-yard freestyle (4:31.10) and ninth in the 200-yard freestyle (1:41.82). At the 4A-Region 3 championship, Sgroi finished second in the 500-yard freestyle (4:31.90) and fourth in the 200-yard freestyle (1:41.87).
Max Stockdale
School: Riverview
Year: Senior
Highlights: In 2025, Stockdale was named to the Herald-Tribune's All-Area second team. He finished 13th in the 100-yard fly at the 4A state championship (51.35). At the 4A-Region 3 championship, Stockdale placed fifth in the 100-yard fly (52.06) and 10th in the 200-yard IM (1:58.80).
Vincent Stultz
School: Southeast
Year: Senior
Highlights: In 2025, at the 2A-District 9 championship, Stultz finished 16th in the 50-yard freestyle (26.95) and 17th in the 100-yard backstroke (1:26.43). He also placed 19th in the 100-yard freestyle (1:03.90).
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Sarasota, Manatee's top boys swimmers entering 2026
