2026 NCAA ‘A’ Finalist Nick Simons has announced he will transfer to Arizona State for his final season. Simons entered the portal last month as a graduate transfer and was a redshirt junior at Tennessee this past season.
“I am so proud to announce my commitment to Arizona State University for my last year of eligibility.
First I want to thank the University of Tennessee. Most importantly coaches Matt and Rob, for believing in me through it all. I also want to thank Caleb, Rich, Ashley and Sarah and all of my teammates and friends at UT for their continued support as well.
Next I want to thank Coach Emily, and my parents for their guidance throughout the portal process.
Lastly, thank you to Herbie, Jack and the coaches at ASU for giving me the opportunity to spend my last year of eligibility as a Sun Devil. I can’t wait to be a part of the team and get to work!
With all that being said, FORKS UP”
Simons made NCAAs as a freshman and was 15th in both the 100 and 200 backstrokes to score four individual points. He also swam Tennessee’s relay lead off in the 400 medley, helping that team to a 7th place finish.
He did not compete at all from June 2023-May 2024, in what would have been his sophomore season. He then returned for the 2024-2025 season as a redshirt sophomore and finished his season at the 2025 SEC Championships with a 23rd place finish in the 200 back as well as a 24th place finish in the 100 back.
He had a huge redshirt junior season, swimming to a lifetime best 1:39.04 at 2026 SECs for 4th and also swam a 45.66 in the 100 back for 14th. Back in March, he posted another lifetime best in the 200 back with a 1:38.21 in prelims to earn a spot in the ‘A’ final where he went on to swim a 1:40.07 for 7th. He also was 18th in the 100 back with a lifetime best 44.93.
Simons’ Best SCY Times Are:
- 100 back: 44.93
- 200 back: 1:38.21
The Arizona State men finished 4th as a team with 328 points, just ahead of the Tennessee men who finished 5th as a team with 272 points.
Simons is a huge pick up for Arizona State as the team had no scorers in the 200 backstroke at NCAAs. JT Ewing was the team’s highest finisher as he was 18th in a 1:39.50. The team’s top 100 backstroker was Adam Chaney who arrived as a graduate transfer from Florida.
The daily news:
Portal transfer
Transfered
Flips commitment
You forgot your daily comments…
I cant believe that my Glorious king Dihtesh would transfer
Interesting decision. Seems fairly lateral from a swimming perspective. Once all these moves shake out I’d be interested to see a preview for next season’s NCAA with an expected top 10. There’s been so much movement and graduation that I’d guess next years ncaas will look fairly different from this years. TX probably still #1. Not sure what happens after that.