University of Tennessee Athletics
Tennessee Swimming & Diving Announces 2026 Signing Class
February 05, 2026 | Swimming & Diving, Women's Swimming & Diving, Men's Swimming & Diving
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- A class littered with some of the best swimmers from around the world, Tennessee swimming and diving announced its 2026 signing class.
With one of the top ranked classes in the country, the Lady Vols bring in three of the top ten ranked swimmers, including the top swimmer and diver in the class of 2026. The Vols' 2026 class also features the nation's top ranked diver and three top ranked swimmers, with two swimmers holding multiple records for their home nations.
The number one ranked swimmer in the Swimcloud Rankings, Crush anchors a strong class for the Lady Vols. A three-time Junior National Team member, Crush won the gold in the 100 Back at the World Aquatics Junior Championships. Crush recently won bronze in the 200 Back at the World Aquatics Swimming World Cup. Crush represented the USA at the 2024 Junior Pan Pacific Championships, placing second in both the 100 Back and 100 Fly. Crush's top times in the 100 Back (49.46) and 200 Back (1:48.69) would be school records for Tennessee, while her top times in the 50 Free (21.88), 100 Free (47.7), 200 Free (1:44.3), 100 Fly (50.00), and 200 IM (1:44.3) would rank in the top 10.
Top Times: 50 Free (21.88), 100 Free (47.72), 200 Free (1:44.34), 100 Fly (50.00), 200 IM (1:44.3)
Molly Sweeney - Breast/Fly/IM - Carmel, Ind. - Carmel Swim Club
Another top ranked recruit in the Lady Vol class, Sweeney comes in ranked No. 3 by SwimSwam. Sweeney has been a Junior National Team member and was named to the World Junior Team. A winter Junior national champion, Sweeney has won titles in both the 200 Breast and 200 IM. A multi-time Indiana High School champion, Sweeney has won state titles in the 200 IM and 100 Breast. Sweeney's top times in the 100 Breast (59.4), 200 Breast (2:06.7), and 200 IM (1:54.5) would rank her in the top ten in program history.
Top Times: 100 Breast (59.47), 200 Breast (2:06.72), 100 Fly (52.10), 200 Fly (1:58.93), 200 IM (1:54.58)
Madison Kryger - Free/Back - Niagara Falls, Ontario - Brock Niagara Aquatics
Coming in No. 10 overall in the 2026 recruiting class according to Swimcloud, Kryger brings international success to Tennessee. Last June the Niagara Falls native won the Open 200 Back, qualifying her for the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore. Kryger represented Team Canada at the 2025 World Aquatics Junior Championships in Otopeni where she took bronze in the 100 Back. Kryger also won bronze in the 100 back last summer at the 2024 Junior Pan Pacific Championships in Australia.
Top Times (Converted from LCM & SCM): 100 Free (48.57), 200 Free (1:44.09), 100 Back (51.33), 200 Back (1:51.02)
Leah Tigert - Free/Back - Toronto, Ontario - Toronto Swim Club
Another top ranked swimmer in the swimcloud rankings, Tigert checks in at No. 19 overall. Tigert represented her home nation Canada on multiple occasions, including at the 2025 World Aquatics Junior Championships. Tigert took home three individual gold medals at the Ontario International Junior Championship in the 50, 100, and 200 Free events.
Top Times (Converted from LCM & SCM): 50 Free (22.23), 100 Free (47.90), 200 Free (1:42.34), 100 Back (53.44), 200 Back (1:45.57)
Eliza Wallace - Breast/Free - Charlotte, N.C. - Mecklenburg Swim Association
Wallace is a state champion from North Carolina in both the 100 Breast and 100 Free, who comes to Tennessee as the No. 17 recruit in the United States and the top ranked recruit in the state of North Carolina. In December, Wallace earned a second place finish in the 100 Breast at the Speedo Winter Junior Championships with a time of 59.99. Wallace has competed at the U.S. Olympic Trials in the 100 Breast, and was a finalist in the 100 and 200 Breast at the 2024 Pan Pacific Junior Championships.
Top Times: 100 Free (50.30, 200 Free (1:50.41), 100 Breast59.36), 200 Breast (2:12.34)
Isabel Baley - Diving - Midland, Texas - COM Aquatics
The No. 1 ranked diver in the Class of 2026, Baley comes to Tennessee from the Lone Star State. Baley is a three-time junior national champion in the 1-meter and is also a national champion in the 3-meter. Baley has also notched Pan American championships in both the one and three meter events.
Mia Buff - Back/Fly - Bowling Green, Ohio - Greater Toledo Aquatic Club
Buff joins the Lady Vols from the State of Ohio, where she was the state runner-up in the 100 Back and took third place in the 100 Fly. Buff notched multiple top ten finishes in Backstroke at the NCSA Spring Championships last March, taking fourth in the 100, eighth in the 200, and ninth in the 50.
Top Times: 100 Back (52.81), 200 Back (1:56.04), 100 Breast (1:14.05)
Luisa Fragoeiro Arco - Diving - Lisbon, Portugal - SFEC
The Team Portugal diver comes to Rocky Top after being a three-time silver and two-time bronze medalist at the Canadian Junior Nationals. Fragoeiro Arco represented Portugal at the European Junior Diving Championships in 2023 and placed second in the platform event to win the country's first ever European Juniors diving medal.
Matea Gigovic - Fly/Free - Calgary, Alberta - Killarney Swim Club
A two-time World Junior Semifinalist, Gigovic most recently represented Canada at the 2025 World Aquatics Junior Championships in Otopeni, Romania. Gigovic took home the gold in the 50 Free at the Ontario Junior International with a time of 26.54. Gigovic also holds multiple provincial time records in Alberta.
Top Times (Converted from LCM & SCM): 50 Free (22.64), 100 Free (49.09), 200 Free (1:48.29), 100 Fly (52.19), 200 Fly (2:03.48)
Hannah Smith - Diving - Sydney, Australia - NSWIS
A member of the Australia Senior National Team, Smith placed second in the 10-meter Synchronized Platform and sixth in the Individual 10-meter Platform events at the 2025 Australia Open Diving Championships. Smith finished first in the Platform while competing at the 2024 Australian Elite Junior Championships.
Ranked No. 10 nationally by Swimcloud, Blackson-Dunbar is a multiple time Junior National Team member. Last summer the Los Angeles native earned a pair of top three finishes at the Speedo Junior National Championships, and followed that up with another podium finish at the Speedo Winter Junior Championships in December. Blackson-Dunbar's personal best 50 Free time of 19.37 would rank in the top ten in program history.
Top Times: 50 Free (19.37), 100 Free (43.35), 200 Free (1:39.67), 100 Back (46.78), 200 Back (1:50.11)
Whitaker Steward - Free/IM - Kearney, Mo. - Tsunami Swim Team of Kansas City
A five-time All-American swimmer, Steward joins Tennessee for the 2026 season. One of the top male swimmers in the country, Steward ranks in the top ten nationally according to Swimswam. Steward comes to Knoxville with championship pedigree, as he is a seven-time Missouri State Champion. He is the Missouri State record holder in both the 200 and 500 Free, and was named the Missouri Swimmer of the Year in 2024. The Junior National Team member took third in the 1500 Free at the 2025 U.S. Summer Junior Nationals and second place in the mile at the 2023 Winter Junior Nationals. Steward took third place in the 2025 Winter Junior Championships in the 1650 Free.
Top Times: 200 Free (1:38.22), 500 Free (4:20.09), 1650 Free (14:51.63), 400 IM (3:50.20)
Drew Eubanks - Breast/IM - Happy Valley, Ore. - The Dolphins Portland Swimming
Another top ranked swimmer nationally, Eubanks checks in as the No. 11 according to Swimswam. One of the top breaststrokers in the 2026 class, Eubanks has top times in both the 100 and 200 Breast. Eubanks represented the United States at the 2025 World Aquatics Junior Championships, with top ten finishes in the 100 and 200 Breast. Eubanks recently won both the 100 and 200 Breast at the Speedo Winter Junior Championships, and is an Oregon State Champion.
Top Times: 100 Breast (52.69), 200 Breast (1:54.77)
Mantas Kaušpėdas - Back/Fly - Klaipėda, Lithuania - MK Swimming
Another top ranked swimmer in the class, Kaušpėdas ranks 16th overall according to Swimcloud. Kaušpėdas holds the Lithuanian record in the 50 SCM Back (22.91), 50 LCM Back (24.68), the 100 SCM Back (50.81), and the Mixed 4x100 medley relay. Kaušpėdas had a trio of top three finishes at the Lithuanian Open Championships, including taking first place in the 50 and 100 Back. At the 2024 European Aquatics Junior Championships, Kaušpėdas won the 50 Back and helped the mixed relay team to a bronze medal.
Top Times (Converted from LCM & SCM): 50 Back (20.63), 100 Back (45.77), 200 Back (1:49.91), 100 Fly (48.95)
Abduljabar Adama - Free/Fly - Lagos, Nigeria - MK Swimming
The No. 18 ranked swimmer in the Swimcloud rankings, Adama brings international success to the Vols roster. Adama earned the silver medal in the 50 Fly at the 2025 World Aquatics Junior Championships, and also set a Nigerian record in the event with a time of 23.48. The finish earned Nigeria its first-ever World Aquatics medal. Adama earned gold recently at the Swim England National Winter Championships in the 100 Free. Adama is one of the most prolific swimmers in Nigerian history, owning 13 records for his home nation.
Top Times (Converted from LCM & SCM): 50 Free (19.28), 100 Free (43.95), 200 Free (1:44.08), 100 Fly (46.52),
Ivor Brown - Diving - Chantilly, Va. - Dominion Dive Club
The No. 1 ranked diver in the country, Brown is one of the top divers both in the United States and internationally. At the 2022 World Junior Diving Championships, Brown won gold in the Mixed 3-meter and 10-meter events. Brown earned a podium finish at the 2025 USA Diving National Championships, finishing in third place in the Synchronized 3-meter competition. Brown recently took home first place in the synchronized 3-meter and second in the 1-meter at the 2025 USA Junior National Championships.
Kauã Marinho - Free/Fly - São Paulo, Brazil - Sport Club Corinthians Paulista
Marinho joins the Vols ahead of the 2026 season. Marinho represented Brazil at the 2025 World Aquatics Junior Championships, finishing in fourth in the 50 Fly. At the Brazilian Junior Summer Interclub Championships, Marinho won both the 50 and 100 Free events. Marinho has been both a South American Open and Junior Champion, recently winning the 50 and 100 Free at the South American Junior Championships.
Top Times (Converted from LCM & SCM): 50 Free (19.49), 100 Free (42.72), 200 Free (1:38.99), 100 Fly (48.78)
With one of the top ranked classes in the country, the Lady Vols bring in three of the top ten ranked swimmers, including the top swimmer and diver in the class of 2026. The Vols' 2026 class also features the nation's top ranked diver and three top ranked swimmers, with two swimmers holding multiple records for their home nations.
Lady Vol Signing Class
Charlotte Crush - Back/Fly/Free - Louisville, Ky. - Lakeside Swim TeamThe number one ranked swimmer in the Swimcloud Rankings, Crush anchors a strong class for the Lady Vols. A three-time Junior National Team member, Crush won the gold in the 100 Back at the World Aquatics Junior Championships. Crush recently won bronze in the 200 Back at the World Aquatics Swimming World Cup. Crush represented the USA at the 2024 Junior Pan Pacific Championships, placing second in both the 100 Back and 100 Fly. Crush's top times in the 100 Back (49.46) and 200 Back (1:48.69) would be school records for Tennessee, while her top times in the 50 Free (21.88), 100 Free (47.7), 200 Free (1:44.3), 100 Fly (50.00), and 200 IM (1:44.3) would rank in the top 10.
Top Times: 50 Free (21.88), 100 Free (47.72), 200 Free (1:44.34), 100 Fly (50.00), 200 IM (1:44.3)
Molly Sweeney - Breast/Fly/IM - Carmel, Ind. - Carmel Swim Club
Another top ranked recruit in the Lady Vol class, Sweeney comes in ranked No. 3 by SwimSwam. Sweeney has been a Junior National Team member and was named to the World Junior Team. A winter Junior national champion, Sweeney has won titles in both the 200 Breast and 200 IM. A multi-time Indiana High School champion, Sweeney has won state titles in the 200 IM and 100 Breast. Sweeney's top times in the 100 Breast (59.4), 200 Breast (2:06.7), and 200 IM (1:54.5) would rank her in the top ten in program history.
Top Times: 100 Breast (59.47), 200 Breast (2:06.72), 100 Fly (52.10), 200 Fly (1:58.93), 200 IM (1:54.58)
Madison Kryger - Free/Back - Niagara Falls, Ontario - Brock Niagara Aquatics
Coming in No. 10 overall in the 2026 recruiting class according to Swimcloud, Kryger brings international success to Tennessee. Last June the Niagara Falls native won the Open 200 Back, qualifying her for the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore. Kryger represented Team Canada at the 2025 World Aquatics Junior Championships in Otopeni where she took bronze in the 100 Back. Kryger also won bronze in the 100 back last summer at the 2024 Junior Pan Pacific Championships in Australia.
Top Times (Converted from LCM & SCM): 100 Free (48.57), 200 Free (1:44.09), 100 Back (51.33), 200 Back (1:51.02)
Leah Tigert - Free/Back - Toronto, Ontario - Toronto Swim Club
Another top ranked swimmer in the swimcloud rankings, Tigert checks in at No. 19 overall. Tigert represented her home nation Canada on multiple occasions, including at the 2025 World Aquatics Junior Championships. Tigert took home three individual gold medals at the Ontario International Junior Championship in the 50, 100, and 200 Free events.
Top Times (Converted from LCM & SCM): 50 Free (22.23), 100 Free (47.90), 200 Free (1:42.34), 100 Back (53.44), 200 Back (1:45.57)
Eliza Wallace - Breast/Free - Charlotte, N.C. - Mecklenburg Swim Association
Wallace is a state champion from North Carolina in both the 100 Breast and 100 Free, who comes to Tennessee as the No. 17 recruit in the United States and the top ranked recruit in the state of North Carolina. In December, Wallace earned a second place finish in the 100 Breast at the Speedo Winter Junior Championships with a time of 59.99. Wallace has competed at the U.S. Olympic Trials in the 100 Breast, and was a finalist in the 100 and 200 Breast at the 2024 Pan Pacific Junior Championships.
Top Times: 100 Free (50.30, 200 Free (1:50.41), 100 Breast59.36), 200 Breast (2:12.34)
Isabel Baley - Diving - Midland, Texas - COM Aquatics
The No. 1 ranked diver in the Class of 2026, Baley comes to Tennessee from the Lone Star State. Baley is a three-time junior national champion in the 1-meter and is also a national champion in the 3-meter. Baley has also notched Pan American championships in both the one and three meter events.
Mia Buff - Back/Fly - Bowling Green, Ohio - Greater Toledo Aquatic Club
Buff joins the Lady Vols from the State of Ohio, where she was the state runner-up in the 100 Back and took third place in the 100 Fly. Buff notched multiple top ten finishes in Backstroke at the NCSA Spring Championships last March, taking fourth in the 100, eighth in the 200, and ninth in the 50.
Top Times: 100 Back (52.81), 200 Back (1:56.04), 100 Breast (1:14.05)
Luisa Fragoeiro Arco - Diving - Lisbon, Portugal - SFEC
The Team Portugal diver comes to Rocky Top after being a three-time silver and two-time bronze medalist at the Canadian Junior Nationals. Fragoeiro Arco represented Portugal at the European Junior Diving Championships in 2023 and placed second in the platform event to win the country's first ever European Juniors diving medal.
Matea Gigovic - Fly/Free - Calgary, Alberta - Killarney Swim Club
A two-time World Junior Semifinalist, Gigovic most recently represented Canada at the 2025 World Aquatics Junior Championships in Otopeni, Romania. Gigovic took home the gold in the 50 Free at the Ontario Junior International with a time of 26.54. Gigovic also holds multiple provincial time records in Alberta.
Top Times (Converted from LCM & SCM): 50 Free (22.64), 100 Free (49.09), 200 Free (1:48.29), 100 Fly (52.19), 200 Fly (2:03.48)
Hannah Smith - Diving - Sydney, Australia - NSWIS
A member of the Australia Senior National Team, Smith placed second in the 10-meter Synchronized Platform and sixth in the Individual 10-meter Platform events at the 2025 Australia Open Diving Championships. Smith finished first in the Platform while competing at the 2024 Australian Elite Junior Championships.
Vol Signing Class
Miles Blackson-Dunbar - Back/Free - Los Angeles, Ca. - Beach Cities AlphaRanked No. 10 nationally by Swimcloud, Blackson-Dunbar is a multiple time Junior National Team member. Last summer the Los Angeles native earned a pair of top three finishes at the Speedo Junior National Championships, and followed that up with another podium finish at the Speedo Winter Junior Championships in December. Blackson-Dunbar's personal best 50 Free time of 19.37 would rank in the top ten in program history.
Top Times: 50 Free (19.37), 100 Free (43.35), 200 Free (1:39.67), 100 Back (46.78), 200 Back (1:50.11)
Whitaker Steward - Free/IM - Kearney, Mo. - Tsunami Swim Team of Kansas City
A five-time All-American swimmer, Steward joins Tennessee for the 2026 season. One of the top male swimmers in the country, Steward ranks in the top ten nationally according to Swimswam. Steward comes to Knoxville with championship pedigree, as he is a seven-time Missouri State Champion. He is the Missouri State record holder in both the 200 and 500 Free, and was named the Missouri Swimmer of the Year in 2024. The Junior National Team member took third in the 1500 Free at the 2025 U.S. Summer Junior Nationals and second place in the mile at the 2023 Winter Junior Nationals. Steward took third place in the 2025 Winter Junior Championships in the 1650 Free.
Top Times: 200 Free (1:38.22), 500 Free (4:20.09), 1650 Free (14:51.63), 400 IM (3:50.20)
Drew Eubanks - Breast/IM - Happy Valley, Ore. - The Dolphins Portland Swimming
Another top ranked swimmer nationally, Eubanks checks in as the No. 11 according to Swimswam. One of the top breaststrokers in the 2026 class, Eubanks has top times in both the 100 and 200 Breast. Eubanks represented the United States at the 2025 World Aquatics Junior Championships, with top ten finishes in the 100 and 200 Breast. Eubanks recently won both the 100 and 200 Breast at the Speedo Winter Junior Championships, and is an Oregon State Champion.
Top Times: 100 Breast (52.69), 200 Breast (1:54.77)
Mantas Kaušpėdas - Back/Fly - Klaipėda, Lithuania - MK Swimming
Another top ranked swimmer in the class, Kaušpėdas ranks 16th overall according to Swimcloud. Kaušpėdas holds the Lithuanian record in the 50 SCM Back (22.91), 50 LCM Back (24.68), the 100 SCM Back (50.81), and the Mixed 4x100 medley relay. Kaušpėdas had a trio of top three finishes at the Lithuanian Open Championships, including taking first place in the 50 and 100 Back. At the 2024 European Aquatics Junior Championships, Kaušpėdas won the 50 Back and helped the mixed relay team to a bronze medal.
Top Times (Converted from LCM & SCM): 50 Back (20.63), 100 Back (45.77), 200 Back (1:49.91), 100 Fly (48.95)
Abduljabar Adama - Free/Fly - Lagos, Nigeria - MK Swimming
The No. 18 ranked swimmer in the Swimcloud rankings, Adama brings international success to the Vols roster. Adama earned the silver medal in the 50 Fly at the 2025 World Aquatics Junior Championships, and also set a Nigerian record in the event with a time of 23.48. The finish earned Nigeria its first-ever World Aquatics medal. Adama earned gold recently at the Swim England National Winter Championships in the 100 Free. Adama is one of the most prolific swimmers in Nigerian history, owning 13 records for his home nation.
Top Times (Converted from LCM & SCM): 50 Free (19.28), 100 Free (43.95), 200 Free (1:44.08), 100 Fly (46.52),
Ivor Brown - Diving - Chantilly, Va. - Dominion Dive Club
The No. 1 ranked diver in the country, Brown is one of the top divers both in the United States and internationally. At the 2022 World Junior Diving Championships, Brown won gold in the Mixed 3-meter and 10-meter events. Brown earned a podium finish at the 2025 USA Diving National Championships, finishing in third place in the Synchronized 3-meter competition. Brown recently took home first place in the synchronized 3-meter and second in the 1-meter at the 2025 USA Junior National Championships.
Kauã Marinho - Free/Fly - São Paulo, Brazil - Sport Club Corinthians Paulista
Marinho joins the Vols ahead of the 2026 season. Marinho represented Brazil at the 2025 World Aquatics Junior Championships, finishing in fourth in the 50 Fly. At the Brazilian Junior Summer Interclub Championships, Marinho won both the 50 and 100 Free events. Marinho has been both a South American Open and Junior Champion, recently winning the 50 and 100 Free at the South American Junior Championships.
Top Times (Converted from LCM & SCM): 50 Free (19.49), 100 Free (42.72), 200 Free (1:38.99), 100 Fly (48.78)
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