WHITEFISH BAY, Wis. (WFRV) – A week after the tragic death of a star high school swimmer in Wisconsin, loved ones continue to remember him as a hero, and tributes continue to pour in — with unity at the forefront.
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Grant Freeze, one of the nation’s and the state’s top-ranked high school swimmers, has been remembered as many things, but most of all, a beloved, kind-hearted teammate and hero.
Rival high schools Whitefish Bay and Nicolet met for a girls’ swim meet on Tuesday night, and it’s usually an event that you’ll hear jeers, but, instead, the rivalry was set aside and the teams united to pay tribute to Grant and show love to his family.
Image of Grant Freeze, courtesy of Stephen Keller, Ozaukee Aquatics
From a moment of silence to shirts that said Team Grant, there was no shortage of tributes to Grant. One swimmer wrote on their back SWIM IT FOR GRANT, with hearts surrounding the letters.
The teams lined up at the side of the pool following the moment of silence for a photo, and Grant’s mother, Kellie, said it was impossible to tell who was with what team. But it didn’t matter to the swimmers, who put care and compassion for the Freeze family over their competition.
Both teams even united at the end, working as one team for a relay race event, continuing an emotional and powerful tribute to Grant.
All six lanes of the pool featured two swimmers from Nicolet and two from Whitefish Bay, who swam the 400-meter freestyle relay together. Kellie said the crowd cheered the whole way, thanking the community for their support in these dark times.
But, it wasn’t just Tuesday night’s swim meet that honored Grant’s memory, either. On Sunday, doctors, friends and family members gathered for a Hero’s Walk in memory of the late 16-year-old.
This Hero’s Walk was created because of an incredible decision that Grant made this summer, right after a moment that practically every young person dreams of — getting their driver’s license.
Grant had gotten his driver’s license in the summer and marked himself as an organ donor. Following his passing, his decision to do so helped five other families. Kellie called the Hero’s Walk one of the most profound moments of her life on Sunday night.
Image of Grant Freeze, courtesy of Stephen Keller, Ozaukee Aquatics
“Sure, there were tears, but there were also lots of cheers and clapping as we joined together and rooted for Grant in his final and most important race,” Kellie said. “He lost his life, but he won at life and his donor recipients get the gift of life.”
In addition, it was announced on Wednesday that Grant had been one of 51 high school swimmers selected to visit Colorado Springs to train at the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Training Center as a qualifier for the USA Swimming 2025 National Select Camp.
Grant qualified as the fastest 800-meter freestyle swimmer in the nation. Sheboygan North junior Aadin Terrazas was also selected to go, and he’ll go on Thursday to Colorado, representing both his team, Ozaukee Aquatics, and his friend Grant.
USA Swimming said in the release that this 2025 camp is dedicated to Grant, and it will celebrate his memory and his impact on the swimming community.
A GoFundMe for Grant’s family was set up after his death, and initially, the goal was to raise about $9,000 — it has raised nearly $70,000.
