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Nikoli Blackman from Trinidad and Tobago has announced his intention to swim and study at the University of Tennessee beginning in the 2023-24 school year. He wrote on social media:
“I am SUPER Excited to announce verbal commitment to The University of Tennessee!!! a huge thanks to my family, friends, teammates, and coaches for all of their support ! i can’t wait to be a part of this family. GO Vols🍊”
Blackman is a sprint free specialist who has represented his country multiple times at CCCAN, Carifta, and Junior PanAms, as well as the 2021 FINA World Short Course Championships and the 2022 FINA World Junior Swimming Championships.
At World Juniors last September, Blackman was a finalist in the 50 free and a semi-finalist in the 100 free. He finished sixth in prelims of the 50 with 22.97, then went 22.83 in both the semis and the final. A year earlier, he had notched a 23.47 winning the B final at Junior PanAms. In the 100 in Lima, he was 14th in prelims with 50.87 and 12th in semis with 50.63.
Blackman will meet up with close family friend Jordan Crooks, who hails from the Cayman Islands, when he arrives in Knoxville. Crooks is finishing his sophomore year at Tennessee, where he has exploded into an international sprint sensation (he won the 50 free at the 2022 Short Course World Championships and at the 2023 NCAA Division I Men’s Championships).
Blackman is half a second faster than Crooks was when he committed to Tennessee in July 2020. His best times include:
Best times:
- LCM 50 free – 22.71 (19.73)
- LCM 100 free – 50.61 (44.15)
- LCM 200 free – 1:53.18 (1:39.08)
- SCM 50 free – 22.17 (19.97)
- SCM 100 free – 48.98 (44.12)
- SCM 200 free – 1:49.35 (1:38.51)
Blackman will join the Volunteers’ class of 2027 with Harper Thornett, Jed Garner, and Wyatt Carlton.
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