Grant Freeze, a 16-year-old swimmer for Ozaukee Aquatics and sophomore at Nicolet High School, has died.
On Wednesday afternoon, Freeze was involved in a two-vehicle collision on Pioneer Road near North Klug Lane in Mequon, on his way to swim practice. The high school sophomore was traveling westbound when his vehicle crossed the center line and struck an eastbound dump truck driven by a 57-year-old man. Freeze was the only occupant in his vehicle and was transported to Froedtert Hospital following the crash. The dump truck driver sustained serious injuries and is currently recovering.
Freeze received his driver’s license just seven weeks before the accident, and at that time he decided to become an organ donor. “Grant got his driver’s license, and he decided to designate himself as an organ and tissue donor,” his mother, Kellie, shared on Facebook.
“On Sunday, doctors from hospitals around the region will join us at Froedtert Hospital to harvest Grant’s organs and change the lives of countless people,” she continued. “I am so happy for the people who will be receiving Grant’s organs, they are receiving from the very best.”
Ozaukee Aquatics publicized the following tribute:
It is with heavy hearts and devastating sadness that we share that one of our brightest lights, Grant Freeze, passed away Wednesday, October 1st. Our Ozaukee Aquatics community is hurting, but thankful that we had the privilege to share so many incredible memories and moments with this extraordinary, young man.
No one loves swimming like Grant. From his first day at practice, where we couldn’t get him to stop, to rising the ranks as one of the strongest 15-16 swimmers in the country, Grant exemplified what it means to be passionate. Eager for hard work, committed to making every stroke as strong as the last; you could not deter him.
Yet, for as passionate as he was for his chance to dive into the pool, being a part of Oz and sharing the joy of his teammates’ success makes him so special. The “old soul” that Grant carried showed maturity so far beyond his years; always putting others’ success before his own. No one cheered louder, no one else would be the first to congratulate a teammate, and no one else was there first when you needed to be picked back up. Grant made us proud every day; far more so than words could ever express.
In these tumultuous times, we ask that you join us in supporting Scott, Kellie, and Connor Freeze. A GoFundMe has been created in Grant’s honor to support the family. A link can be found below.
Grant’s kindest, sweetest, caring soul was taken from our world far too soon. We know he would want us to swim even further, harder, and faster. We will rally as the Oz Nation does to show Grant how truly special he was to each and every one of us.
Thank you for being the incredible man that you are, Big G. We miss you so much.
Ozaukee Aquatics head coach Steve Keller spoke to CBS Milwaukee about the profound impact Freeze had on everyone around him. “You could not find a person that didn’t like Grant. You could not,” Keller said.
“He put a lot of pressure on himself,” Keller continued. “But I think if you ask any of the kids that swam against Grant, he was happy for them when they succeeded. We’d have a good time on the pool deck, but when it was time to race, he’d take his glasses off, he’d hand them to me, and it was time to swim. It’s going to be the hardest thing for me to break.”
“What he did from the moment he joined our club through present day is going to stay with us for a lifetime,” Keller added. “Grant made me a better person.”
Freeze was a distance freestyle specialist with short course yard personal bests of 1:42.85 in the 200 freestyle, 4:30.61 in the 500 free, and 15:35.26 in the 1650 free.
He had a breakthrough meet at the USA Swimming Futures Championship in Madison last summer, where he finished fourth in both the 800-meter free, touching the wall in 8:17.48, and the 1500m free with a time of 15:58.35. He also recorded lifetime bests with an 11th-place finish in the 400m free (4:02.90) and 23rd in the 200m free (1:55.33).
A GoFundMe page has been established to support Grant’s parents and brother. As of publication, the fundraiser has raised $37,161 toward its $65,000 goal.
Grant was not just a teammate, but he was a friend. I swim for homestead and he always was nice during my time at Oz. He never judged, he never got mad at any of the sets we did, he always pushed everyone to be better. He was one of my practice motivators. Such a sad story to see someone with so much talent leave this world. Rest in peace Grant, I am going to miss our conversations at those dual meets.
So sad to see such heartbreaking news, Grant seems like such an awesome person and certainly was lost too soon. Sending sincere condolences to Grant’s family, teammates, and all who knew him well.
Grant was one of my closest friends. Whenever he was around, the room seemed to light up, and I’ve only seen him frown twice. The day of the car accident, we were goofing around like normal, yet that would be the last time I saw him. When my friend first told me of his death, I thought it was some sort of joke, but when his brother confirmed it to me, I was heartbroken. My heart goes out to Grant’s family.
Heartbreaking. Deepest condolences to his family and friends.
My most sincere condolences to the family. Grant, thank you for being an organ donor.
RIP young man. Condolences to the family.
All hearts genuinely broken when we hear stories like this, the world can be so cruel sometimes.
How sad. No one should pass that way.
Wow, what a talent – and a life cut short too soon. So sorry for this family’s deep loss.