2026 NCAA 7th place finisher in the 200 back Nick Simons of Tennessee has entered the NCAA transfer portal as a graduate transfer. He was a redshirt junior this past season.
Simons arrived to Knoxville from Oregon in fall 2022. He qualified for the 2023 NCAA Championships and was 15th in both the 100 and 200 backstroke events. His four individual points and 400 medley relay lead off helped Tennessee to a 7th place finish as a team.
He did not compete at all from June 2023-May 2024, in what would have been his sophomore season. Returning for the 2024-2025 season, he concluded his redshirt sophomore season at the 2025 SEC Championships a 23rd place finish in the 200 back as well as a 24th place finish in the 100 back.
Back in February, he had a meet at the 2026 SEC Championships. He swam to a lifetime best 1:39.04 for 4th in the 200 back as well as a 45.66 100 back for 14th but swam a 45.42 best time in prelims.
He went on to swim at the 2026 NCAA Championships and swam a personal best 1:38.21 in the 200 back prelims for 8th before going on to finish 7th in a 1:40.07 in the final. He also swam a lifetime best 44.93 in the 100 back for 18th. His 11 points in the 200 back helped Tennessee to a 5th place team finish.
Simons’ Best SCY Times Are:
- 100 back: 44.93
- 200 back: 1:38.21
Simons joins a growing list of NCAA ‘A’ finalists on the men’s side that have entered the NCAA transfer portal. Other 2026 NCAA ‘A’ finalists in the portal are Julian Koch (Pitt), Luka Mladenovic (Michigan), and Jacob Johnson (Minnesota).
Wind blows southwest to Ft. Worth. It’s TCU Time
I thought all the uncs were done w these extra yrs. we gonna have 45 y/os still competing
Wind blows north to grand valley state! Nick Simons, meet Nick “lakers” sinons!
Best wishes Nick – You ended your amazing career at UT on a high note – WELL DONE!
VFE
You can argue about a lot of things when it comes to bob bowman, but success is not one of them
He cannn’ttt just have them alllllll broooo.
Bob Bowman gotta be so exited to see all these A finalists in the portal. God forbid he have to do some real coaching
“Give me liberty give me fire give me transfers or I retire”
Texas fans out in force for the downvotes. They spent years complaining Durden just brought in transfers and then Bob does the same thing and they cheer! Classic
Ah yes, Andrew. Notorious Texas fan.
Just making up narratives at this point.
Are we sure it’s not because he dislikes the cuisine in Tennessee?!
Cuisine in Tennessee is darn tasty – Fried Chitlins, fried Okra, fried Catfish and all the sweet tea ya can drink!
Probably not chasing NLI the same way he’s chasing a good graduate degree…