The Warriors are throwing a party.

Florida Elite Swimming will celebrate its breakout 2025-26 season at the Golden Kickboards Awards Banquet on Monday, Aug. 17, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Land O' Lakes Recreation Complex, 3032 Collier Pkwy. The evening includes dinner, awards and recognition for the competitive swimmers, coaches and families who powered a year of state titles and college commitments.

The banquet caps a season in which the club's boys' team vaulted from the high-30s in statewide SwimCloud rankings to No. 21, according to the team's website. Swimmer Jeremy Morgan, 14, captured both the 50-yard and 100-yard breaststroke state titles at the Spring 2026 FLAGS championships, clocking a 26.96 in the 50 against a state record of 26.44. Kevin Johnson won the 13-14 50-yard freestyle state title in 2025 and earned a USA Swimming Futures qualifying cut at Sectionals in Plantation.

Corban Tripp became the first Florida Elite male swimmer to go on to swim in college, signing with Ouachita Baptist University on a recruited athletic scholarship.

"We used to talk about going to FLAGS just to be happy we made it and enjoy the moment. Now we talk about what it takes to win," head coach Guerby Ruuska wrote in a March 26 recap on the team's website.

On the girls' side, Mila Adriani and Ashlyn Burton earned top finishes at the Spring 2026 FLAGS meet, and a 400 freestyle relay team of Ashlyn, Lily, Mila and Vienna placed third, according to the team's recap.

Ruuska, who is originally from Haiti and swam for Manchester University in Indiana, launched the program in 2021 under the motto "Rising As One." The club operates out of the Pasco County pool complex at the Land O' Lakes Recreation Complex and feeds swimmers to Sunlake, Land O' Lakes, Wiregrass Ranch and Cypress Creek high schools.

Swimmers and coaches attend the banquet free. Guest tickets are $30 per person. Families can RSVP through the Florida Elite Swimming events page and should include the swimmer in their total headcount. The dress code: dress to impress.

Upcoming community events

  • Monday, Aug. 17, 11:30 a.m. — Land O' Lakes Business Exchange, SpringHill Suites by Marriott Tampa Suncoast Parkway
  • Thursday, Aug. 20, 2 p.m. — Free Bonsai workshop, Land O' Lakes Heritage Park
  • Wednesday, Sept. 2, 6 p.m. — Basic Vegetable Gardening class, Land O' Lakes Library