Florida HS State Champion Sawyer Davis—Who Began Swimming in 2023—Signs With Ohio State (2026)

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Sawyer Davis, a senior from Satellite Senior High School in Satellite Beach, Florida, has committed to swim for Ohio State next fall. The Sprint Melbourne athlete has only been competing for two years, as he began swimming in September 2023. Since then, he has gone from being a relay-only swimmer at the FHSAA 2A Championships to being Satellite’s team record holder and a state champion.

Though Florida is not a usual recruiting ground for the Buckeyes—with just 1 current member (TJ Frost) of the team an FL native—Davis explained his rationale behind choosing Ohio State in an interview with the local news outlet Brevard Sports Network. This included the fact that the coaches “believed in [him] a lot,” even though he “hasn’t been swimming for super long.” Further, although others recruited by Ohio State are “faster than [him],” the coaches “saw that [he] had potential.” 

He also attributes his quick success to his surfing experience, which helped in developing as a sprinter due to the paddling required. 

Davis was the Florida HS 2A State Champion in the 100 free this year, claiming the title in 45.24. He took 2nd in the 50 free in a time of 20.67 to repeat as the runner up. He was also a key piece of Satellite’s relays, anchoring the 200 medley relay with 19.75 and 19.94 splits in prelims and finals, respectively, and leading off the 200 free relay in 20.79. Both relays took third and Satellite High School, led by Davis’ 37 individual points, finished 4th overall in the team standings.

At Futures – Ocala over the summer, which appeared to be his first national-level meet, Davis recorded a 10th place finish in the 50 free (23.04) and a 15th place finish in the 100 free (51.78). He also swam the 50 fly (26.27) and 100 fly (58.66), going 4/4 in personal bests. 

Best times SCY:

• 50 free: 20.49
• 100 free: 45.24
• 50 fly: 23.57
• 100 fly: 51.57

Ohio State placed third at Big Tens last season with 1100 points. Davis’ current times are not yet projected to score at the meet, as it took 19.73 and 43.48 in the 50 and 100 freestyles to earn a second swim. Still, given his rate of progression and another year of development, becoming a conference scorer looks within reach.

He will join Mattaus Rammel and Teagan Renze in Columbus next fall, both of whom should make excellent training partners. Renze has PBs of 20.4/44.7 in the 50/100 frees while Rammel, though more of a butterfly specialist, has been as fast as 20.6/44.7. 

Ohio State has been solid in men’s sprint freestyle in recent years, and their NCAA relay results reflect that. Last season, the Buckeyes placed 9th in the 200 free relay and 13th in the 400 free relay at NCAAs, and at Big Tens, they finished 3rd and 2nd, respectively, in those same events. The program also features the reigning Big Ten champion in the 100 and 200 free, Tomas Navikonis. Overall, Davis joins one of Ohio State’s strongest training groups, and one that and will look to continue their success even after the graduation of Navikonis in the spring.

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