Jakota Grossman '23 Recruiting Profile

Profile: Jakota J Grossman

Height: 6’3”

Weight: 170 lbs.

Birthdate: January 7, 2002

Background

I wasn’t always a swimmer. Before finding my way to the pool, I tried just about every other sport: baseball, football, basketball, downhill skiing, tennis…even soccer. I was pretty much terrible at all of them. Then, I decided I wanted to SCUBA dive. But my parents told me that I had to learn how to swim first. Go figure.

I took my first swimming lesson in November of 2015. My teacher was a retired high school swim coach. She thought I had the potential to be a good swimmer so she recommended that I try USA club swimming. I did and I fell in love with swimming my first day at club. At 6’3” and 170 pounds, maybe swimming was the best sport for me all the time.

Progress

I have only been swimming for a little more than two years. But I have done well enough to have made the varsity squad as a high school freshman and again as a high school sophomore. As a sophomore, I qualified for the Arizona State High School Championships in the 100 Backstroke. Just before the tournament, I asked my high school athletic director, Jennifer Lynn, if she had any advice. She thought a minute and then said, “Yeah, I have advice… don’t suck!”

While I didn’t win my event or perform as well as I wanted, I didn’t suck either. In fact, I did well enough to qualify for the state finals. My athletic director was pleased. I made it to the state finals and I also earned a Varsity Letter.

I continue to train, improve, and swim year-round with my USA swim club, the Tucson JCC Stingrays. There I am coached and trained by Thomas Meeks. Between my freshman and sophomore years, I improved my times by about 7 seconds in the 100 freestyle and 9 seconds in the 100 backstroke.

Strokes

Although right now my strongest times continue to be in the backstroke and freestyle events, my coach continues to work with me on fly and IM. I am also starting to swim relay, an event that’s important to me because it offers the best opportunity to experience the thrill of true team success. The feeling of being a part of a team is important to me.

Academics

Academics are important to me, too. My primary academic interests involve biology (including marine biology), physics, robotics, and math. I am looking for a university or college that leads to ongoing learning after I complete my bachelor’s degree. Right now, I attend Green Fields School in Tucson, Arizona, a highly rated and academically rigorous college preparatory school.

Leadership and Service

In my “spare time” I have volunteered at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum as the youngest volunteer to ever serve as a hands-on aquatic interpreter at the Stingray Touch exhibit. I also was asked to be a KinderBuddy at my middle school and to mentor younger students who are at-risk.

Swimming Internship

I have also been awarded the opportunity to work as an Interning Junior Coach at the TJCC. I am the first to be awarded an internship by the club. I work with younger swimmers, helping them with their drills, technique, and serving as the club videographer. I am not only a dedicated swimmer, I am also a serious student of the sport.

Goals

After high school, I want to continue swimming and competing in college, and for as long as I can after college. I want to be a great teammate, someone that my teammates and coaches think of as a leader and role model. I want to add to the tradition and legacy of whatever school I attend.

Thank you

Please look over the rest of my profile on the NCSA website and then contact me with any questions or additional information you might want. I am thankful for the opportunity to visit with all university and college coaches as well as swimmers at every level.