Patrick Groters from Santa Cruz, Aruba has announced his transfer to the University of South Carolina after two years at Denver.
“I am beyond thrilled for the opportunity to continue my college swimming career at the University of South Carolina under Jeff Poppell and the incredibly talented staff he has ensembled. I cannot wait to get to South Carolina, to be part of a team again and to start training. I know this is my chance to improve, to get to the next level in my races. It has been a very trying year, with many moments that I did not know if I would ever swim again, I am grateful for the University of South Carolina and Coach Poppell for believing in me and providing me the opportunity to prove myself both in and out of the water.”
Groters graduated high school in 2018 and went to the University of Denver. In his second year with the Pioneers, he won the 200 back (1:42.20) and 200 IM (1:46.24) and was runner-up in the 100 back (48.26) at the 2020 Summit League Championships. His 200 IM time was a school and conference record.
Groters has spent the last nine months training with his club team, Giants Aquatics Aruba -which is coached by his brother, Jordy Groters– with the goal of qualifying for the Tokyo Olympics. Groters achieved his best time in the 200 IM (2:01.62) at the 2019 U.S. Open. While he missed the standard for selection to Aruba’s Olympic Team, Groters was the only Aruban to swim an Olympic B-standard during the pandemic, having gone 2:02.95 and 2:01.96 in the 200 IM at the 2021 Bahamas National Swimming Championships last month. Groters did, however, secure his qualifications for both the 2021 FINA Short Course World Swimming Championships in Abu Dhabi and the 2022 FINA World Aquatic Championships in Fukuoka, Japan. He will represent Aruba in December at the 1st Junior Pan-American Games in Cali, Colombia in the 100/200 back, 200/400 IM, and 400 free.
Best times SCY/LCM
- 100 back 48.26 (2020) / 55.82 (2019)
- 200 back 1:42.20 (2020) / 2:02.32 (2019)
- 200 IM 1:46.24 (2020) / 2:01.62 (2019)
- 400 IM 3:58.12 (2017) / 4:27.69 (2017)
- 500/400 free 4:31.82 (2014) / 4:02.62 (2017)
Groters will suit up for the Gamecocks in September with transfer Luke DeVore and incoming freshmen Liam Kerns and Mac Ratzlaff.
Bet they do better than Auburn this year. You can fire the garbage man, but the dumpster will still be there.
Quality pick up for the Gamecocks!
South Carolina to make the biggest jump in team placement at SECs? Poppel certainly recruited the right guys to work with and develop them into a squad that can compete and do just that!
They have a chance at passing LSU and then maybe Kentucky. I don’t seem them jumping UF, UGA, A&M, Tenn, Miz, Bama, or Auburn next season. Gotta give Poppell time to recruit more of his team.
I’d say they’ll pass LSU and Auburn for sure. They could also pass Kentucky plus Alabama if they keep losing swimmers like the have been.
Alabama has too much talent in their incoming freshman group to be passed by USC this year. They may have lost a good bit, but their remaining team is still significantly better than what USC will have on deck this upcoming season.
I wholeheartedly agree with your first comment that with more + years to recruit more he will jump more spots. But what I meant with my comment about making the biggest jump in team placements was compared to other teams.
Let’s say what you said about SCAR passing LSU, Kentucky and *maybe* a close battle with Auburn. Best case scenario that’s +3 spots. I don’t see any other teams moving up 3 spots from the 2021 placements. Worst case scenario and they just move up 1 spot which is already improvement.
I’m excited for Poppel’s South Carolina. There’s only one way to go from here (up).