Caribe's 50 Free Silver Medal Leads Vols on Night Three of NCAAs

Friday, March 27

Atlanta, Ga.

Prelims 10 a.m. ET | Finals 6 p.m. ET

University of Tennessee

NCAA Men's Swimming & Diving Championships

Gui Caribe Stands on Podium After Silver Medal Performance in 50 Free

Caribe's 50 Free Silver Medal Leads Vols on Night Three of NCAAs

March 27, 2026 | Swimming & Diving, Men's Swimming & Diving

Friday Finals Results Men's 3-meter Results Saturday Heat Sheets

ATLANTA -- Gui Caribe led the way for Tennessee, with the senior delivering a national runner-up performance in the 50 Free. Multiple Vols got in on the action, including three podium finishes and multiple top-16 placements in what was a high-scoring third night of the 2026 NCAA Championships.

Caribe took center stage for the Vols on Friday, putting together a great race that allowed him to take national runner-up honors. Caribe notched a time of 18.17, a personal best that improves his second-fastest time in program history. This is the second consecutive top three finish in the 50 Free for Caribe, who took third at the 2025 NCAA Championships. This is also the fifth consecutive year that a Vol has placed in the top three in the event at the championship meet.

The 400 Medley Relay team put forth a strong effort with the second top eight relay finish for the Vols, coming sixth place with a time of 3:00.34. The team of Caribe, Ulises Saravia, Gabe Nunziata, and Lucio Paula earned first team status, while also setting the second-best time in UT history. Saravia swam an impressive opening leg for the Vols, setting a new school record in the 100 Back with a time of 44.39.

Nunziata put forth another strong performance for the week, placing seventh in the 200 Breast. The freshman improved his school record time in the event, touching the wall in 1:50.26. The seventh place finish for Nunziata in the 200 Breast marks the best finish for a Vol since Andrew Bree finished sixth in 2002.

Bennett Greene reached his second championship final of the week, representing the Vols in the 3-meter. Greene took home an eighth place finish thanks to a score of 402.55. Greene has now secured a pair of All-America certificates at this year's meet, giving him four total in his two-year career.

Koby Bujak-Upton continued his impressive form at NCAAs, scoring points yet again for the Big Orange and breaking his own school record mark in the 500 Free. Bujak-Upton put together a phenomenal race, hitting the wall with a time of 4:11.86 to improve his program record. The redshirt freshman adds to what has been an outstanding week at the national meet, where he has picked up four All-American certificates,

For the second straight day, Thomas Ciprick collected second team All-America honors. The freshman diver battled back after falling behind early on in prelims to finish with a score of 382.60. Ciprick closes out his week at the NCAA Championships with two top 12 finishes after placing 11th in the 1-meter on Thursday.

Saravia added to his day by putting together a top-16 swim in the 100 Back, placing 12th with a time of 44.60. This finish marks the first individual All-America honor of Saravia's collegiate career. Nick Simons just missed out on earning top-16 status in the 100 Back but moved up to third all-time on the UT top ten list in the event with a 44.93.

Nikoli Blackman earned his second All-America status, finishing tenth in the 50 Free. Blackman touched the wall with a time of 18.77, improving his third-best time in school history. For Blackman, this gives the junior five All-America honors this week and eight in his career.

Standings
1. Texas: 340.5
2. Florida: 331
3. Indiana: 254
4. Arizona State: 245
5. Tennessee: 199
6. California: 186
7. NC State: 175.5
8. Michigan: 163
9. Virginia: 110
10. Stanford: 95

All-America Tracker (29)
Nikoli Blackman (50 Free*, 200 Free*, 200 FR, 800 FR*, 200 MR*)
Ben Bricca (800 FR*)
Koby Bujak-Upton (200 Free, 500 Free*, 200 FR, 800 FR*)
Gui Caribe (50 Free,100 Fly*, 200 FR, 200 MR*, 400 MR)
Thomas Ciprick (1-meter*, 3-meter*)
Bennett Greene (1-meter, 3-meter)
Gabe Nunziata (100 Breast*, 200 Breast, 800 FR*, 200 MR*, 400 MR)
Lucio Paula (400 MR)
Pedro Sansone (200 FR)
Ulises Saravia (100 Back*, 200 MR*, 400 MR)
* - Denotes Second Team

Podium Finishes (7)
2nd – 50 Free: Gui Caribe (18.17)
2nd – 200 Free: Koby Bujak-Upton (1:30.11)
3rd – 1-meter diving: Bennett Greene (400.90)
4th – 200 Free Relay: Nikoli Blackman, Gui Caribe, Pedro Sansone, Koby Bujak-Upton (1:14.40)
6th – 400 Medley Relay: Ulises Saravia, Gabe Nunziata, Lucio Paula, Gui Caribe (3:00.34)
7th – 200 Breast: Gabe Nunziata (1:50.26)
8th – 3-meter: Bennett Greene (402.55)

Top Ten Times & Scores (11)
1st – 200 Free: Koby Bujak-Upton (1:29.79)
1st – 500 Free: Koby Bujak-Upton (4:11.86)
1st – 100 Back: Ulises Saravia (44.39)
1st – 200 Breast: Gabe Nunziata (1:50.26)
2nd – 50 Free: Gui Caribe (18.17)
2nd – 100 Breast: Gabe Nunziata (51.17)
2nd – 400 Medley Relay: Ulises Saravia, Gabe Nunziata, Lucio Paula, Gui Caribe (3:00.34)
3rd – 50 Free: Nikoli Blackman (18.77)
3rd – 100 Back: Nick Simons (44.93)
3rd – 200 Free Relay: Nikoli Blackman, Gui Caribe, Pedro Sansone, Koby Bujak-Upton (1:14.40)
5th – 200 Medley Relay: Ulises Saravia, Gabe Nunziata, Gui Caribe, Nikoli Blackman (1:22.05)