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Arizona “Zona” Smith from Charlotte, North Carolina, has announced her intention to swim and study at the University of Florida beginning in 2028. She wrote on social media:
“I’m beyond excited to announce my verbal commitment to continue my academic and athletic career at the University of Florida!!!
A big thank you to my family and friends who have always been there, loved, and supported through my swimming career. I want to thank Coach Kevin for believing in me wholeheartedly and pushing me beyond what I thought I could do. And lastly I could not be more grateful to Coach Nesty, Coach Chelsea, Coach Kristen, Coach Whitney and Coach Jack for giving me this fantastic opportunity to be a Gator! I could not be more humbled and excited to be a part of such a fantastic team!
GO GATORS 🐊 🧡”
Smith attends Providence Day School, where she is a junior, and swims year-round with SwimMAC Carolina. We considered her a “Best of the Rest” sprint free/back specialist on our Way Too Early list of top girls’ swimmers from the high school class of 2028. She was invited to USA Swimming’s 2026 National Select Camp in Colorado Springs, which will take place at the end of this month.
As a sophomore at the 2026 NCISAA Division 1 State Championships, Smith was runner-up in both the 100 free (50.79) and 200 free (1:49.67). She also contributed to PDS’s winning 200 medley (23.07 anchor) and 400 free (50.77 split) relays. A month later, she swam at North Carolina Swimming’s Senior Short Course Championships, where she was a top 8 finisher in the 50 free (23.19, PB), 100 free (50.24), 200 free (1:48.94), and 100 back (55.49 PB in prelims), and 9th in the 200 back (2:00.69, PB).
In March, Smith unleashed a torrent of lifetime-best performances at Cary Sectionals, including the 50 free (22.95), 100 free (49.70), 200 free (1:47.79), 100 back (54.41), and 200 back (1:59.92). She placed 4th in the 50/100/200 free and 100 back and 12th in the 200 back.
Smith kicked off long course season with a PB in the 200 free (2:05.86) at the Charlotte Open; she also clocked strong early-season times of 27.0/ 57.8 in freestyle and 31.4/ 1:07.3/ 2:28.7 in backstroke. By the end of the summer, she had gone PBs of 26.40 in the 50 free, 57.43 in the 100 free, 2:03.64 in the 200 free, 1:05.44 in the 100 back, and 2:24.11 in the 200 back.
Best SCY times:
- 50 free – 22.95
- 100 free – 49.70
- 200 free – 1:47.79
- 50 back – 54.41
- 200 back – 1:59.92
Florida has put together an impressive recruiting class so far. Smith will be joined by “Best of the Rest” verbal commits Leah Inman (sprint free, back, IM), McKenzie Cory (back, free), Isabella Green (breast, fly, IM), and Siggy Nymo (fly, free, back, IM), creating one heck of a training group for fall 2028.
2028 BOTR commits to Florida (so far):
- Leah Inman (sprint free 22.5/49.2/1:47.8, 54.9 BK, 2:03.8 IM)
- Zona Smith (sprint free 22.9/49.7/1:47.7, 54.4/1:59.9 BK)
- McKenzie Cory (back 24.8/53.1/1:54.1, 23.6/51.3 FR)
- Isabella Green (breast 1:01.1/2:12.8, 55.7 BK, 55.5 FLY, 2:01.8 IM)
- Siggy Nymo (fly 53.2/1:58.9, 23.3/51.3 FR, 54.5/1:57.7 BK, 2:02.2 IM)
If you have a commitment to report, please send an email with a photo (landscape, or horizontal, looks best) and a quote to [email protected].
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