2026 NCAA scorer Sydney Gring has entered the transfer portal. Gring just finished her junior season at Pitt.
Gring told SwimSwam, “Ultimately, I would love to stay at Pitt because I love the university, but I don’t know what the future holds.”
The rising senior enters the portal just days after it was announced that head coach Chase Kreitler was resigning from his position, effective immediately. Athletes met with AD Allen Greene on Monday but athletes have said they “left with no real answers.”
Gring entered the portal after this meeting and told SwimSwam, “I went into the meeting feeling hopeful, and left with not enough clarify in the situation, which ultimately made me want to enter the portal.”
She was the 2nd highest individual scorer for the Pitt women at the 2026 NCAA Championships. The Pitt women finished tied for 16th at NCAAs, their highest finish in program history. Gring scored in all three of her individual events, finishing 10th in the 200 IM in a lifetime best 1:54.96, 11th in the 100 back in a lifetime best 51.08, and 16th in the 100 fly in a season best 51.33.
In addition to her individual impact at NCAAs, Gring also swam on four of the team’s relays. She led off their 200 free relay in a lifetime best 22.18, helping that relay finish 16th. She swam another personal best 47.91 leading off their 400 free relay that finished 16th. She split a 1:44.20 200 free on their 800 free relay that was 12th.
Gring is the top NCAA scorer that could still return for Pitt this upcoming season if she decides not to transfer. The top scorer on the women’s side Claire Jansen graduated this month while Julian Koch on the men’s side will transfer to Tennessee.
Other Portal Notes:
- NCAA relay swimmer Alan Vergine has also entered the portal. Vergine swam on the men’s 200 free, 400 free, and 800 free relays at NCAAs. Their 400 free relay was 10th with Vergine splitting a 42.17. He split a 1:32.65 on the 800 free relay that was 14th.
- NCAA Qualifier Kimberly Shannon is in the portal. She swam in prelims of the 200 back, 200 IM, and 400 IM at 2026 NCAAs. Her highest finish was 24th in the 400 IM (4:09.38).
- Cy Zhang on the men’s team for Pitt has announced on Instagram that he is entering the portal. Zhang saw his highest finish at ACCs coming in the 1650 free as he was 30th in a personal best 15:22.44
- Pitt athletes have 30 days to enter the portal due to the coaching change, despite the transfer portal window closing last Friday for men and April 24th for the women. Coaching changes are one exception to the transfer portal window.
YGBTNIL Alllannnnn
All of these athletes will land on thier feet because of the qualities they posses, in and out of the pool. I wish them all the best.
Absolutely devastating for these swimmers. I wish them all the best in finding new homes.
The fast swimmers will go on to swim at better swimming schools, like Koch going to the mighty Man Vols.
The slow swimmers can stick it out at Pitt and do the best they can. Where is the devastation?
Devastation is being bombed, starved or chased by wild dogs…It will all be OK!
Here’s the Pitt AD Greene’s email:
[email protected]
I wrote him a letter. Would be great for people to let him know how much the sport of swimming means to them.
https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/pitt/2026/05/06/ncaa-news-panthers-swimming-chase-kreitler-allen-greene/stories/202605050058
this might be the problem that most of us we will not admit “It is about whether excellence in Olympic sports will be protected in a collegiate athletic environment increasingly driven by financial return.” Olympic excellence is financed by other sports.
Anybody provide what is says?
Un paywalled
https://archive.ph/S84wQ
Best article I have seen in regards to this topic. Thank you for sharing.
Behind a paywall
Good luck Sydney! We wish you would stay but we wish you the best!
All of these transfers are so upsetting for Pitt but 100% understandable. These athletes deserve soooo much better.
Compliance: Mr. Greene, we’ve had another swimmer enter the portal.
Allen Greene: Sweet, one less scholarship.
Compliance: Don’t you at least want to know her name and/or accomplishments?
Allen Greene:
(crickets)
“Sweet, one less scholarship.” Yes, the situation is all about money. If the Pitt Swimming can’t get the Alums behind them, all is lost. Money talks and the AD only listens to major donors.
Except Pitt doesn’t currently have a compliance office so