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Essias Smith from Mesa, Arizona has elected to remain in-state for his collegiate swimming and diving career and has verbally committed to Arizona State University for 2021-22.
“I’m extremely happy and thankful to have the opportunity to swim at Arizona State University. All I’ve been my whole life is an ASU Sun Devil fan. I was attending football games and tailgates since birth. To this day my family and I have had continued support for ASU. My Grandfather has been an annual season ticket holder since 1982. And has been a fan since 1966, when he was a freshman in high school. Because of my Grandfather the love for ASU has became deep rooted in the family and attending games and tailgating has become a family tradition. And to think I’m actually a part of the Sun Devil family and ASU athletics, is a blessing. What makes this more significant is that I would be the first in the family to attend Arizona State University. I look forward to being a part of such a great program with incredible coaches and amazing swimmers! Go Devils!”
Smith is a senior at Desert Ridge High School and the 2019 Arizona High School State Champion in the 100 fly. He won the event at AIA Meet of Champions last November with 49.35. He also finished 7th in the 200 free (1:45.54). Two days earlier he won the 100 fly (48.67) and been 4th in the 200 free (1:41.23) at the AIA Division 1 State Meet. As a sophomore in 2018, he finished 2nd in the 100 fly (49.92) and 4th in the 200 free (1:45.85) at the Meet of Champions.
Smith does his year-round swimming with Mesa Aquatics Club. A 100/200 fly specialist, he has a Winter U.S. Open cut in the 100m fly (55.44) and a Summer Juniors cut in the 200m fly (2:04.75). He competed in both distances at 2019 Winter Juniors West but his best SCY times come from 2019 high school season (100 fly) and the 2020 Arizona Swimming Senior Short Course Championships (200 fly). At the LSC meet, he was runner-up in both the 100 fly and 200 fly and he came in 11th in the 100 free and 18th in the 200 free. He also competed at Plantation Sectionals in March. There, he finaled in the 200 free (20th), 100 fly (5th), and 200 fly (9th) and improved his PBs in the LCM 200 free (1:58.38).
Top SCY times:
- 100 fly – 48.67
- 200 fly – 1:49.51
- 100 free – 46.72
- 200 free – 1:41.23
The Sun Devils’ men’s class of 2025 is shaping up to be a strong one. Smith will join Chris Harig, Christian Osterndorf, Emilio Perez, Ethan Hansen, Jeremy Graunke, and French national record-holder Léon Marchand in Tempe next fall.
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Jarod Arroyo? Is he still there and starting with this same class?
He hasn’t told us any differently if he doesn’t plan to begin his varsity career fall of 2021.
Whether he’s “with this same class” is kind of a philosophical question, since he graduated high school in 2021.
Named after a tropical storm?
Or tropical storm named after him? With football going ahead, how does that make ASU redshirting entire team look?
Great job
ASU gets a great swimmer
Essias gets a great program
Wins !