Ben Sytsma

Top Times

50 Free: 19.22 – Texas Invitational (25-26)
100 Free: 42.30 – Texas Invitational (25-26)
200 Free: 1:35.05 – SEC Championships (25-26)

All-America: 200 Free Relay (2025, 2026)

2025-26 (Sophomore)

Swam the second leg of the 200 freestyle relay at NCAAs which earned All-America honors and second-fastest time in school history with a time of 1:15.70.
Also swam in the 400 freestyle relay at NCAAs
Lowered his career-best times in the 50 free (19.22) and the 100 free (42.30).
At the SEC Championships, Sytsma won the bonus final in the 100 free (42.49), placed 18^th in the 50 free (19.27) and competed in the 200 free. Also swam legs on the Aggies’ 200 and 400 free relays and the 200 medley relay
His 18.63 50 free split on the end of the 200 medley relay at SECs ranked No. 4 on the Aggies’ all-time split history
Received the Iron Man Award by vote of his teammates

2024-25 (Freshman):

Helped the 200 free relay take eighth at NCAA Championships with a school record time of 1:15.25.
Clocked personal bests of 19.51 in the 50 free and 43.19 in the 100 free at the Last Chance Meet.
Went a then-season-best 20.22 in the 50 free and 43.94 in the 100 free at the Art Adamson Invite.

High School / Club:

Was a four-year letterwinner at Grand Rapids Christian High School swimming for coach Jeremy Pyper
Seven-time Michigan state champion and five-time All-American
12-time conference champion
Helped his team to top-six finishes at the state from his sophomore to senior seasons
Set school records in the 50 free (19.96), 100 free (43.87), 100 back (50.66) and 200 free (1:40.67)
Spent five years swimming for Rapids Area YMCA Swimmers and coach Brian Vigna where he became a YMCA national medalist and holds the east central YMCA record
Was a two-time state champion in 50 free LCM and was a national finalist in the 100 free SCY.
An excellent student, Sytsma graduated in the top five of his senior class and was a National Merit Scholar

Personal:

Parents are Jerry and Lynn Sytsma.
National Merit Scholar with a top 5 class GPA.
Was a member of Michigan high school athletic association student advisory council in high school.
Was a dual-sport athlete in high school, lettering in lacrosse and swimming
Says he chose A&M because “It has the best facilities in the nation, great resources, amazing people.”