Somoza returned to his alma mater in November of of 2022 to lead the Tornado to five all-conference swims in his first season.

Athlete Honors - Men

• 4 Conference Carolinas champions
• 11 All-Conference Carolinas swims
• 1 Conference Carolinas Scholar-Athlete of the Year
• 6 Academic All-Conference Carolinas honorees
• 4 Conference Carolinas Swimmer of the Week
• 4 College Sports Communicators Academic All-District selections

King Highlights

• 1 CSCAA Scholar All-America Team award
• Earned first career win on January 20, defeating Emory & Henry

Conference Carolinas Finishes

2023-24 - 5th
2022-23 - 6th

Year-by-Year Season Recaps

2023-24: The Tornado finished the season 6-6 overall, their best record of the Juan Somoza era. The Tornado crowned a pair of Conference Carolinas champions in Efe Ertuzun (400 yard IM) and Jean Ducastel (100 back, 200 back). After the season, Sam Osowiecki and Carson Eliasen were named College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District, the second straight year that Osowiecki eanred academic all-district honors.

2022-23: The Tornado finished sixth at the Conference Carolinas Championships as the Tornado were led by all-conference finishes from the 400 yard freestyle relay, the 800 free style relay and Sam Osowiecki in the 1000 yard freestyle. Dale Bruce was selected Conference Carolinas Scholar Athlete of the Year for men's swimming, the first Tornado in program his to earn this distinction. Osowiecki and Gideon Bezuidenhout both earned College Sports Communicators Academic All-District.

Athlete Honors - Women

• 4 All-Conference Carolinas swims
• 9 Academic All-Conference Carolinas honorees
• 1 Conference Carolinas Swimmer of the Week
• 6 College Sports Communicators Academic All-District selections

King Highlights

• 1 CSCAA Scholar All-America Team award
• Earned first career win on January 28, defeating Mars Hill

Conference Carolinas Finishes

2023-24 - 6th
2022-23 - 5th

Year-by-Year Season Recaps

2023-24: King had three dual wins on the season, including a 53-42 win over Lees-McRae to close the regular season. At the conference championships, the Tornado had one all-conference finish, courtesy of Katie Koenst, who earned the honors in the 400 yard IM. Following the season, Abbie Erme, Gwen Haag and Fanny Legros were named College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District. 

2022-23: King finished fifth at the Conference Carolinas Championships behind three All-Conference Carolinas swims from Cassie Lowe. She finished third in the 500 yard freestyle, 100 yard backstroke and 200 yard backstroke. Abbie Erme, Gwen Haag and Michelle Morlock all earned College Sports Communicators Academic All-District honors.

Prior to King

After graduating from King, Somoza spent two seasons at Delta State University as a graduate assistant coach, while earning his master's degree. During his tenure at Delta State, the program produced five individual national champions, and both the men's and women's programs finished in the top 10 at the NCAA Division II Swimming & Diving Championships in 2021.

Personal

Somoza graduated from King in three years, earning a Bachelor of Art in Business and Sport Management in 2019, and earned his master's degree in Business Administration from Delta State University in 2021.

In the pool, Somoza remains one of the most successful swimmers in program history, having broken 15 different school records during his career, both individually and as a member of various relay teams. Five of those records remained when he graduated, and his times in the 200 yard backstroke, 100 yard individual medley, and 200 yard individual medley still stand today. He's also one of the most versatile swimmers in program history, breaking school records in freestyle, breaststroke, backstroke, and individual medley during his career.

On the conference level, Somoza was a five-time All-Conference Carolinas performer, and a conference champion in 2019 in the 200 yard individual medley.

Prior to coming to King, Somoza experienced tremendous success in his home country of Mexico. He competed in the Mexican National Championships on five occasions, as well as the Mexican Olympic Trials and World Championship Trials qualifiers in 2015 and 2016.