The Rise of The Guys

The FE Boys: From Thin Roster to State Contenders

Ever since taking over the swim team in 2021 and ushering in the RAO era, Florida Elite’s girls program surged to success. But on the boys' side, the story was very different.

“It wasn’t like we didn’t have any boys on the club,” said head coach Guerby Ruuska. “It was just that in every group, there were maybe two really fast guys. All the fast boys were spread out, and we knew that over time we would lose some just due to differences.”

Ruuska saw the long-term problem early.

“I was looking at everything on a four-year cycle, and I just didn’t see enough boys coming up that we could really develop together.”

The concern wasn’t exaggerated. There were age groups with no boys at all.

“Around here, soccer is big, baseball is big, everything is big except boys' swimming,” Ruuska said. “We had talent, but it was hard to build a sustainable foundation.”

Building a Boys Culture

Rather than accept the trend, FE’s staff created a plan.

“We launched a summer program focused on bringing athletic boys into the sport,” Ruuska said. “It worked somewhat. But more importantly, as a staff, we became intentional about keeping boys in swimming and helping them find their place. We wanted them to see that here, swimming can be their sport.”

That cultural shift is now paying off.

Fast-forward a few seasons, and FE has produced multiple male state champions, including Jeremy Morgan and Kevin Johnson.

“It’s not just the results,” Ruuska said. “I look around the deck now and see boys in every group—and they’re happy to be there and competing.”

Climbing the State Rankings

The team’s progress is measurable.

Last season, the FE boys ranked in the high-30s statewide. This year, they sit at No. 21 on SwimCloud.

“It’s huge,” Ruuska said. “When we go to meets now, our boys can compete with anyone Gator, Bolles, FAST, Ocala, the Lakers. That’s pretty neat. Huge credit to our staff.”

Headlines Across Age Groups

The resurgence is visible among the youngest Warriors and senior leaders alike.

Jeremy Morgan currently holds the second-fastest 13–14 50 breaststroke time in Florida and ranks 50th nationally.

At the 10&U level, Laszlo Jakab recently earned his first FLAGS cut in the 100 breaststroke, joining Jhett Iwanow, who qualified in December, to form a qualified boys relay.

While the youngest Warriors are making waves, senior Corban Tripp is helping define the pathway forward.

“He was the first boy we coached here to go on and swim in college,” Ruuska said. “We’ve had several girls commit, but the first guy that opens doors. It shows younger boys you can start here at FE and go on to bigger things.”

Tripp has committed to continue his athletic and academic career at Ouachita Baptist University on a recruited athletic scholarship.

A Futures Breakthrough

Kevin Johnson added another milestone to the program’s rise.

“We went to Sectionals in Plantation, and Kevin got his Futures cut,” Ruuska said. “That’s a national-level standard. When I first got here, I coached two boys to Futures cut, but we never attended. We’d been dry for four years until Kevin.”

The performance came under difficult circumstances.

“He was out of the water about a week and a half before the meet because of a scooter injury,” Ruuska said. “He was pretty banged up, but I knew he’d be okay. When he won FLAGS, he was actually really sick, but he still pulled it together. He’s very used to pushing through adversity. That’s something people may not realize about him.”

With a FLAGS title, national ranking, Division II college commitment, and Futures qualification, Johnson’s season symbolizes the program’s momentum.

What Comes Next

For Ruuska, each milestone carries deeper meaning.

“Every one of these achievements matters in its own way,” he said. “Their teammates are fired up now. They want to stand tall with their brothers and accomplish their own goals.”

For years, FE’s girls provided the program’s depth and dominance. Now the balance is shifting.

“Our girls are deep,” Ruuska said. “So it’s really cool to see the boys rising with them. Great things are coming.”