Summer Smith, a 2022 NCAA qualifier and 2022 U.S. National Team Member in open water, has transferred to the University of Florida per a press release set out by the school on Friday. Smith spent her first two seasons with the University of Tennessee.
Even though Smith competed for two years, she will still have three remaining years of eligibility remaining with Florida. She only competed at one meet during the 2022-23 NCAA season: the Tennessee-NC State dual meet in October 2022. That competition was also her last time swimming at an official meet, as during the middle of the season, she returned to her home in Massachusetts to recover from persistent concussion syndrome with vestibular and ocular components.
In March 2023, Smith told SwimSwam that her recovery was “going great” and that she had recently been cleared from her concussion. She also said that she was “grateful for her time at Tennessee”. She was not present at the U.S. Open Water Nationals that took place between April 21 to 23, 2023, meaning that she will not be on the 2023 U.S. National Team for Open Water.
Florida, the 2023 SEC Champions, have seen a lot of transfer movement this offseason. While many of their NCAA qualifiers like Talia Bates, Katie Mack, and Hayden Miller entered the transfer portal (though Bates and Mack were both graduate transfers) in addition to four other Gator swimmers, Smith joins rising fifth-year and 2022 NCAA runner-up Isabel Ivey as another high-profile addition to Florida for the upcoming 2023-24 NCAA season.
Smith’s Best Times:
- 200 free: 1:48.98
- 500 free: 4:43.34
- 1650 free: 16:09.81
- 100 back: 53.83
- 200 back: 1:54.07
- 200 fly: 1:56.20
- 200 IM: 1:58.87
- 400 IM: 4:09.97
At the 2022 NCAA Championships, Smith finished 27th in the 500 free, 22nd in 1650 free, and 26th in the 400 IM to get just outside of scoring range. She also scored 57 individual points for the Volunteers at the 2022 SEC Championships, finishing 16th in the 200 back, 8th in the 200 fly, and 6th in the 400 IM.
With the addition of top recruits and transfers like Bella Sims, Michaela Mattes, Ivey, and Smith as well as 2022 transfer Caroline Pennington being eligible for competition after having to sit out the 2022-23 season due to the two-time transfer rule, Florida continues to have one of the deepest freestyle groups in the country.
No loyalty from Smith–disappointing.
I’m not sure how much loyalty she owes Tennessee beyond the gratitude she has expressed for her time there. It’s not like Tennessee took a chance on her — she was heavily recruited by a bunch of SEC schools, including Florida, while she was in high school. The only thing disappointing is your unnecessary clown comment about a very kind person.
Not surprising at all. I looked at my wife when she transferred and was like, “Florida incoming”. Great choice for a great athlete like her.
Weird flex bro
I mean… If you know, you know. Given her club background, this was pretty obvious for some.
Best of luck to Summer!