NEW COMMIT: The University of Tennessee has kicked off their Class of 2026 recruiting with a verbal commitment from backstroker Nick Simons of Lake Oswego, Ore. who will arrive in Knoxville at the start of the 2022-23 season.
He told Swimming World:
“I am unbelievably excited to announce my commitment to further my athletic and academic career at the University of Tennessee! The coaching staff and team values are a perfect fit for me. Thank you to friends, family, coaches and especially Coach Emily who have believed in me and helped get me to this point. Rocky Top!#VFL”
At the Region XII Senior Championships in March, Simons had a major breakthrough in both his 100 and 200 back. He dropped four seconds in the 100 back and five seconds in the 200 back, and both of his times broke Olympian Jacob Pebley’s state records for the 15-16 age group.
In total, Simons owns 10 Oregon state records.
Simons does his club swimming with Lake Oswego Swim Club and owns the U.S. Open cuts in both the 100m and 200m back. He earned three best times at Juniors West in December and finaled in the 100m back at the TYR Pro Swim Series in Knoxville. Last summer, he swept both backstroke events at the Oregon 11&O Championships before going on to race those events at Junior Nationals.
His best times include:
- 50 back – 23.21
- 100 back – 48.66
- 200 back – 1:44.92
A current junior at Jesuit High School, Simons is a four-time Oregon 6A State Championship finalist. The USA Swimming Scholastic All-American collected gold in the 100 back and 100 fly as a sophomore while taking first and 15th, respectively, in those events during his freshman season.
He also swam the backstroke leg on Jesuit’s winning 4×50 medley relay in both 2019 and 2020. Simons was a member of Jesuit’s 4×100 free relay this past season that swam to victory en route to achieving their eighth team title in the last 12 seasons.
Simons will be reunited with his longtime age group coach Patrick Beasley, who swam for Tennessee and returned to Knoxville in 2018 to coach for Tennessee Aquatics. Beasley is also a volunteer assistant coach for the Lady Vols.
If you have a commitment to share, please send a photo and quote via email to hs@swimmingworld.com.
