Swim & Dive Pronounces 2026 Signing Class

MIAMI – FIU swimming & diving head coach Randy Horner introduced the addition of 14 newcomers for the 2026-27 season, welcoming a proficient signing class that features 10 freshmen and 4 transfers.

“I’m excited for this signing class because we’ve checked a lot of boxes,” Horner mentioned. “Each of these women will make an immediate impact in the American Conference next season.”

The class options Maria Alvestad, Amelia Brown, Anna Bunnell, Helene Gonzalez, Sabrina Ledwith, Carolyn Levy-Powell Dhavgely Mendoza, Livia Bella Morganti, Mercyann Najera, Sofia Nikitenko, Gaya Savran, Amiah Sparks, Timea Urogi and Rebecca Vega.

Maria Alvestad | Freshman | Backstroke

A local of Ranheim, Norway, Alvestad specializes within the backstroke. At the latest Norwegian Short Course Championships, she captured junior titles within the 50-meter backstroke, 100-meter backstroke, 200-meter backstroke and 100-meter particular person medley.

Amelia Brown | Junior | Freestyle/Backstroke

Brown transfers from Indian River State College, one of many nation’s premier junior faculty swimming packages. A 3-time NJCAA nationwide champion, she gained titles within the 100 freestyle, 200 freestyle and 500 freestyle in 2025 whereas additionally incomes nationwide runner-up honors within the 50 freestyle.

Anna Bunnell | Junior | Diver

The Evansville, Indiana, native transfers from Southern Indiana after two seasons with the Screaming Eagles. Bunnell earned All-Summit League honors after putting third within the 1-meter dive on the 2026 Summit League Championships. As a freshman, she grew to become the primary diver in program historical past to surpass the NCAA Zone qualifying normal within the 1-meter, setting a school-record rating of 266.30 whereas incomes Southern Indiana Female Athlete of the Year honors.

Helene Gonzalez | Freshman | Freestyle

A local of Kløfta, Norway, Gonzalez represented Norway on the 2021 Nordic Junior Championships. She gained the 2023 Norwegian Junior National Championship within the 400-meter freestyle and ranked amongst Norway’s prime 35 swimmers.

Sabrina Ledwith | Freshman | Freestyle

Ledwith, a distance freestyle specialist from Noblesville, Indiana, competed for Carmel Swim Club and Carmel High School. She helped lead Carmel to Indiana High School State Championships in each 2025 and 2026.

Carolyn Levy-Powell | Freshman | Butterfly / Backstroke

The Pompano Beach, Florida, native competed for St. Thomas Aquinas Swimming and represents Jamaica in worldwide competitors. Levy-Powell competed on the 2025 World Junior Championships and completed because the Florida state runner-up within the 100 backstroke whereas putting third within the 100 butterfly.

Dhavgely Mendonza | Junior | Diver

Mendoza transfers from St. Bonaventure following two excellent seasons. The Barquisimeto, Venezuela, native swept the 1-meter and 3-meter titles on the 2026 Atlantic 10 Championships, incomes Most Outstanding Diver honors after turning into simply the third diver in program historical past to obtain the award. She additionally certified for NCAA Zone Championships in each diving occasions.

Livia Bella Morganti | Freshman | Butterfly / Freestyle

The São Paulo, Brazil, native competed for Esporte Clube Pinheiros. Morganti claimed São Paulo State Championships within the 800-meter and 1,500-meter freestyle whereas additionally qualifying as a finalist on the Brazilian National Championships.

Mercyann Najera | Freshman | Backstroke / Breaststroke

Najera, a local of Tel Aviv, Israel, competed for Bnei Herzliya. She represented Israel at each the World Junior Championships and the European Youth Olympic Festival whereas specializing within the backstroke and breaststroke.

Sofia Nikitentko | Freshman | Breastroke

Nikitentko, from Moscow, Russia, competed for Nkey Swim Club. She recorded a top-10 end within the breaststroke on the 2026 Dubai Open Championships and posted prime performances in each freestyle and breaststroke on the AD-SFL International Championships.

Gaya Savran | Junior | Butterfly

Savran transfers from Wagner after two profitable seasons. The Como, Italy, native earned 5 medals on the 2026 NEC Championships, highlighted by a convention title within the 200 butterfly. As a freshman, she was named NEC Rookie of the Meet and earned NEC Rookie of the Week honors twice after capturing 4 medals on the convention championships.

Amiah Sparks | Freshman | Freestyle

A local of Valparaiso, Indiana, Sparks competed for Valparaiso Swim Club and Valparaiso High School, specializing in dash freestyle occasions. She helped lead her highschool to a runner-up end on the 2026 Indiana Girls Swimming & Diving State Championships and was a member of the state runner-up 200 medley relay workforce.

Timea Urogi | Freshman | Butterfly / IM

The Budapest, Hungary, native brings worldwide expertise to FIU. Urogi positioned seventh within the 200 particular person medley on the 2023 World Championships in Budapest and gained the Hungarian Short Course National Championship within the 200 butterfly.

Rebecca Vega | Freshman | Diver

Vega joins the Panthers from Sheffield, England, the place she competed for the City of Sheffield Diving Club. She captured gold in platform and silver within the 3-meter on the 2026 GStar Championships after incomes silver within the 1-meter and bronze within the 3-meter in 2025. Vega additionally gained bronze in synchronized platform on the 2025 GB Junior Elite Championships.

 

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