Distance Freestyler Sawyer Grimes of Sandpipers of Nevada Pledges Verbal to Minnesota

Photo Courtesy: Sawyer Grimes

NEW COMMIT: The University of Minnesota has received a new verbal commitment for the fall of 2020 from Las Vegas, Nevada distance freestyler Sawyer Grimes. His older brother, Carter Grimes, is currently a junior at Missouri.

Grimes does his club swimming with Sandpipers of Nevada and owns three Olympic Trials cuts. He most recently competed at NCSAs to conclude a breakout summer season where he won the 400m free and was the 1500m free runner-up. Last winter, The USA Swimming Scholastic All-American finished eighth in the mile, 11th in the 800m free, 16th in the 400m IM, and 22nd in the 400m free at Winter Nationals. Also competing for Centennial High School, Grimes placed second in the 100 back and third in the 500 free as a junior at the Nevada 3A/4A State Championships.

He told Swimming World:

“I am beyond thrilled to announce my verbal commitment to continue swim and study at the University of Minnesota!! I knew from the moment I met the team that I was born to be a GOLDEN GOPHER!!”

His best times include:

500 free – 4:28.39
1000 free – 9:10.65
1650 free – 15:22.77
400 IM – 3:58.73

Although Grimes is just shy of scoring range at the 2019 Big Ten Championships, he has made major improvements each season with just under a year of club swimming still to go before arriving in Minneapolis. Over the past two seasons, he has dropped 10 seconds in the 500 free, 37 in the 1000 free, and 50 in the mile.

His coach, Ron Aitken, said:

“Sawyer is an extremely hard worker. His hard work has brought him some really good results. He wasn’t at the top of the team or training group and had to work his way through the program. Sometimes he would be held back longer than other swimmers on the team as he was late bloomer, but eventually didn’t let that stop him as he has been soaring to the top lately. Early signing is stressful but Sawyer took it in stride as he was patient with the process and made the best of it. He found himself feeling behind and pressured to make a choice because of the early signing, But he found a good fit and he is excited about Minnesota.”

If you have a commitment to share, please send a photo and quote via email to hs@swimmingworld.com.

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