The NEC’s 2023 Most Outstanding Swimmer, Miles Simon, will use his fifth year of eligibility at the University of Georgia, the Bulldogs announced in a press release on Friday.
Simon, who swam four years at Howard University, also posted the news on his Instagram. Like all Division I swimmers who competed during the 2020-2021 season, Simon was afforded a fifth-year of eligibility because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Simon is a native of Atlanta, Georgia. This year, his senior year at Howard, he was a big part of the team’s historic season which saw the men’s team win their first conference title in 34 years. At the meet, Simon went 3-for-3 in his individual events, winning the 200 IM, 100 back, and 200 back. He was also a part of Howard’s winning 400 freestyle relay.
Simon is a 2021 Olympic Trials qualifier. He is Howard’s second-ever qualifier for the US Olympic Swimming Trials after current program head coach Nic Askew. Next year’s Olympic Trials are clearly on Simon’s mind, as he told SwimSwam when he entered the transfer portal that his goal was to join a program that could prepare him for the 2024 Olympic Trials and also help him qualify for the 2024 NCAA Championships.
His best long course time in the 50 free is a 23.11 from the 2021 ISCA International Senior Cup. The 2024 US Olympic Trials standard is 22.79. He finished 61st at the 2021 US Olympic Trials – Wave I meet.
Best SCY Times:
- 50 free – 19.42
- 100 free – 43.47
- 200 free – 1:36.29
- 100 back – 47.80
- 200 back – 1:46.35
- 100 fly – 47.06
- 200 IM – 1:46.80
Simon is a valuable pickup for the Georgia men, who fell to 12th place at 2023 NCAAs after finishing eighth in 2022. Simon’s lifetime best in the 50 free would have been second on the roster this year and his 100 free would have been fourth, making him instantly valuable for the relays.
At 2023 NCAAs, the Dawgs missed scoring in the 200 free relay, finishing 18th in a season-best 1:16.80. Reese Branzell was their only swimmer to go sub-19, hitting 18.79 off a flying start. They finished 14th in the 400 free relay in 2:49.65. Their season best was 2:49.06.
In terms of qualifying individually for NCAAs, Simon ranked 52nd in the NCAA in the 2022-2023 season with a 19.42 in the 50 free. That was about 22 spots away from an NCAA invite; the slowest time to earn an invite in the event was 19.21.
At the conference level, 19.42 would have landed Simon in the ‘B’ final at the SEC championship and earned 11th in finals.
When he entered the portal, Simon also said that he’ll work on a master’s degree in Psychology, with a focus in either sports psychology or education in human development.
Georgia will get the most out of this stud. Hard it argue with his choice, especially with Urlando coming back.
And hey, it’s not Cal, so a victory in my book
Hopefully Luca is healthy “when” he comes back! Does anyone know if he is back in the water yet?
A quick lookup of his times shows he was 21/47/1:46 freestyler and 51/53 in fly and back (granted he was a better long course swimmer). His progression down to 19/43/1:36 and 47/47 over four years is what ever swimmer dreams of!
Edit: Also 1:55 to 1:46 in backstroke and 1:59 to 1:46 in IM!
His time progressions from high school should’ve been included in the article! An amazing story and great testament to how HBC swim teams can develop elite success just like any other program if the fit is right. He has the type of swimming arc that’s good for the sport.
He progressed so well at Howard, it’ll be very interesting to see if he can have the same success at Georgia