On Friday, sources confirmed to SwimSwam that 2022 NCAA All-American Anthony Grimm would return to his home state and transfer to swim at the University of Virginia. This aligns with what Grimm’s high school club team, MAKO Swimming, posted on their Instagram story on Thurdsay.
“Congrats to MAKO @anthony_grimm on his commitment to @uvaswimdive!” MAKO swimming wrote.
Around three weeks prior, Grimm had entered the NCAA transfer portal. This entrance came after he had initially announced his retirement from competitive swimming in October 2022 after swimming one season with the University of Texas. That means that Grimm will have three more years of eligibility remaining with Virginia.
As the #1-ranked recruit in the high school class of 2021, Grimm is an extremely versatile sprinter, being proficient in all four strokes. In his time at Texas, he helped the Longhorns to a second-place finish in the 200 medley relay at the 2022 NCAA Championships, swimming the backstroke leg. He also placed 30th in the 50 free (19.37) and 19th in the 100 back (45.44) at that meet, setting both times in both events.
2022 NCAAs was also the last time that Grimm competed in an official meet.
Grimm’s Best Times:
- 50 free: 19.37
- 100 free: 44.00
- 50 back: 20.55
- 100 back: 45.44
- 100 breast: 52.51
- 100 fly: 46.09
- 200 IM: 1:45.84
At Virginia, Grimm will be a key asset to the Cavaliers’ medley relays, as well as their 200 free relay. His 50 back best time is already faster than Matt Brownstead‘s team record (20.76), while his 100 back time would rank second on Virginia’s roster behind Brownstead (who has a PB of 45.33). Grimm would also be a great replacement from graduating senior and 19.21 50 freestyler August Lamb (if he doesn’t take a fifth year) on the 200 free relay.
The Texas-to-Virginia transfer trope isn’t just exclusive to Grimm. Last season, Tim Connery transferred to Virginia after swimming one year for Texas, citing a desire to be closer to home as his reason for the move. In fact, Connery and Grimm had roomed together at Texas during their freshman year.
There is a psychology (fun and fresh), and method of developing true sprinters, that deSorbo seems to understand and have the personality for.
Even in an area with a lot of great swimmers and meets, Grimm was something special in high school, electric atmosphere when he swam. Look forward to see what Todd and co. can do with this great talent. Hopefully proximity to family and friends will support his quest.
Ohhhhh snap
We will miss you greatly at Texas and we wish you enormous success at Virginia. Every time you race we’ll be rooting for you.
. . . . and if there’s a Longhorn in the pool swimming against him, then what?
It’s not that deep MIKE IN DALLAS.
You can only cheer for one swimmer at a time???
Congrats Anthony. You’re such a talent. Wishing you the best. Can’t wait to see you race again!
Does anyone find it sketchy that they removed him from the roster? Maybe they are trying to cover something up like the real story thats going on behind the scenes?
Which roster ?
Why would you keep a swimmer who is no longer on the team on the roster? I saw the Florida transfers upset about this too – and I just don’t get it.
Removing someone who competed the whole year for your team and is only in the portal after the season is over is very different than removing someone who said they were retired at the start of the season.
I do think there is something vindictive about removing Talia Bates from the Florida roster when she competed 4 years, was a multiple time all-American, and will graduate with a degree from Florida this spring.
Something I’m wondering is why is Heasley still listed on the roster? He retired too
Weren’t they mad because Florida took down rosters from last year and the year before?
Dude hasn’t swam there for a year….
Grimm announced his *retirement* back in October. How long would you suggest Texas keep retired swimmers listed on its active roster?
anyone know why he left texas specifically?
SO HYPE⚔️