Lilla Bognor, Lynsey Bowen, Zuri Ferguson, Grace Rabb and Sylvia Statkevicius will join the Gators for the 2025-26 academic school year.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The nationally ranked Florida women’s swimming & diving program welcomes its 2025 signing class, as five swimmers officially became Gators on Thursday.
Below are accolades of the five signees’ – Lilla Bognar, Lynsey Bowen, Zuri Ferguson, Grace Rabb and Sylvia Statkevicius.
Lilla Bognar | Back / IM / Free | Travelers Rest, S.C. | Eastside High School | Club: Greenville Swimming
* #1 recruit in SC, #6 overall recruit in 2025 class. #1 ranking in the 400 IM
* 2024-2025 USA Swimming National Team member
* 2024-2025 USA Swimming National Junior Team member
* Placed 3rd in the final at Olympic Trials in 400 IM, narrowly missing an Olympic berth. Also placed 7th in the 200 IM and 9th in the 200 backstroke
* 2023 Junior World Championship finalist in the 400 IM
* 2024 Junior Pan Pacific Championships gold medalist in 400 IM, silver medalist in 200 IM
* Placed 9th in the 400 IM and 10th in the 200 backstroke at the 2024 World Aquatics Championships
* Finalist in 400 IM at 2023 Phillips 66 USA National Championships
* 8x South Carolina High School State Champion
Why Bognar chose the University of Florida
* I chose the University of Florida because I was born a Gator.”
Lynsey Bowen| Free | Carmel, IN | Carmel High School | Club: Carmel Swim Club
* #2 recruit in IN, #12 overall recruit in 2025 class
* 2024-2025 USA Swimming National Junior Team member
* Competed at the 2024 USA Olympic Team Trials
* 2023 Junior World Champion as a member of 4×200 free relay. Also was a finalist in the 800 free, placing 6th
* 2023 Junior National Champion in 800 free, 4×50 free relay, and 4×100 medley relay
* 10x Indiana High School State Champion
Why Bowen chose the University of Florida
* “I chose the University of Florida because of the great athletics and academic they have as well as the great team culture and coaches.”
Zuri Ferguson | Back | Attleboro, MA | Attleboro High School | Club: Bluefish Swim Club
* #1 recruit in MA, #29 overall recruit in 2025 class
* Represented Trinidad and Tobago at the 2024 Paris Olympics, placed 27th in 100 back
* 2024 CARIFTA Champion in 50, 100, and 200 back
* 2024 CCCAN Champion in 50, 100, and 200 back
* Massachusetts High School state Champion in 50 free, 100 free, and 100 back
Why Ferguson chose the University of Florida
* “The University of Florida offers a strong academic program with a great reputation and quality that offers the flexibility that I am looking for in college. Swimming is my passion and I feel that UF will provide me the opportunity to maximize my potential with the assistance of a great coaching staff and team. Overall, I think that UF will offer me the best environment and balance for my academic, personal development and swimming career. Go Gators!”
Grace Rabb | Back / Breast / IM | Austin, TX | Dripping Springs High School | Club: Longhorn Aquatics / AquaJets Swim Team
* #1 recruit in Texas, #10 overall recruit in 2025 class (SwimSwam #6 overall recruit in 2025 class)
* Originally recruited while living in Minnesota, where she was also the #1 recruit
* Swam in the 2024 USA Olympic Team Trials in the 100 back and 100 breaststroke
* Posted three top-3 finishes at 2023 USA Winter Junior National Championships in 200 IM, 100 back and 200 back
* Posted a top 8 finish in the 100 back at the 2023 Junior National Championships
Sylvia Statkevicius | Free | Mississauga, ON, Canada | Club: Etobicoke Swimming
* #1 overall recruit in Ontario and #1 overall recruit in Canada (15th overall in SwimCloud)
* Lithuanian National Team member
* Represented Lithuania at the 2024 World Aquatics Championships, 2023
* 2024 European Junior Championships
* 2022 and 2023 Junior World Championships
* Placed 5th in the 200 free for Lithuania at the European Junior Championships
Why Statkevicius chose the University of Florida
* I chose the University of Florida because my goals aligned well with the values of the swim & dive team. Additionally, I chose UF due to the support from staff and current roster athletes.”
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