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Sofia Plaza, a 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials qualifier who specializes in the medley and breaststroke events, has committed to the University of Florida for the fall of 2024.
A native of Charlotte, N.C., Plaza trains and competes for SwimMAC Carolina in club swimming, and also represents Myers Park High School in the NCHSAA.
I am so excited to announce my commitment to continue my academic and athletic career at the University of Florida!! So thankful for the continued support of my friends, family, and coaches. Go gators!!
Plaza was featured in the “Best of the Rest” section of SwimSwam’s Way Too Early recruit rankings for the girls’ class of 2024 last year, and she’s only improved in the time since that article was released.
Plaza’s first real breakout performance during the 2022-23 season came in December at the Winter Junior Championships – East in Greensboro, where she produced lifetime bests of 2:12.54 in the 200 breaststroke and 4:13.40 in the 400 IM, placing sixth and ninth overall, respectively.
In her other primary event, the 200 IM, Plaza picked up a new PB at the NCHSAA 4A State Championships in February, clocking 2:00.47 to place fourth. She also placed fourth in the 100 breast (1:02.96), nearing her best time of 1:02.76 set in March 2022.
Plaza’s Best Times (SCY):
- 400 IM – 4:13.40
- 200 breast – 2:12.54
- 200 IM – 2:00.47
- 100 breast – 1:02.76
- 200 back – 2:02.30
Plaza’s lifetime best in the 400 IM is already fast enough to crack the top 16 at the SEC Championships, while she’s also in scoring position with her PB in the 200 breast, which is well under what was required to make the ‘C’ final last season and is within striking distance of a spot in the consols.
The SwimMAC product has also had a strong start to the long course season, qualifying for the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials in the 400 IM at the Speedo Sectionals in Indianapolis in late March, clocking 4:48.33. Plaza also went a best of 2:17.77 in the 200 IM, earning a Junior Nationals cut.
Florida has certainly been a factory for developing medley talents, making it a good fit for Plaza. The Gator women had four swimmers in the top 10 of the 400 IM at the 2023 SEC Championships, including conference champion (and third-place finisher at NCAAs), Emma Weyant.
The Florida women are riding high after claiming their first conference championship title since 2009 this past season.
The IM group in Gainesville will only get stronger moving forward, as in addition to Plaza and fellow medley specialist Gracie Weyant joining in the fall of 2024, Florida will also be gaining some of the best IMers in the class of 2023, Bella Sims, Julia Podkoscielny and Grace Rainey, next season.
In addition to Gracie Weyant, Plaza joins #13 Elise Clift and Canadian all-around talent Julie Brousseau in Florida’s 2024 class.
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Congrats!