Former Arnold High School swimmer Ben Parsons was a dominant force in high school, capturing three state championships and ultimately signing to swim at the University of Tampa.
Parsons said the transition from high school dominance to collegiate athletics required a significant adjustment as he moved into a more demanding athletic and academic environment.
“Swimming is definitely no joke because it’s a huge step up from high school and club just in terms of the mental toll,” Parsons said. “Balancing more practices and harder practices, but also adding in a more intense school schedule.”
Despite the challenges, Parsons said he was able to compete immediately at the collegiate level rather than redshirting his first year.
“My very first meet was actually against the University of Florida, which coming from a Division II school, that’s a pretty big deal,” he said.
During his collegiate career at the University of Tampa, Parsons said he competed against touted programs including Notre Dame, South Carolina, Florida State, North Carolina and Minnesota.
He said maintaining progress after arriving on campus was a point of pride.
“It can be easy to get thrown into the next level up and really fall back and kind of stay there,” Parsons said. “But being able to continue to push forward and find ways to get better was definitely something that I was really proud of.”
During Parsons’ time at Tampa, the team captured back-to-back Sunshine State Conference championships and went on to win the 2026 Division II national title.
Beyond athletics, Parsons said the transition to college life required increased independence and discipline, particularly while balancing academics and swimming.
“It just takes definitely more independency and you definitely grow through that,” he said. “Once you dive into the water, it’s you versus you.”
Parsons has since transferred to the University of Florida, where he is studying business management with a specialization in communication. He said the move aligns with his long-term academic and career goals.
“I honestly felt really happy with all of the great things I’ve been blessed to do as a swimmer,” he said. “I wanted to see if I could finish my degree out there and ultimately set myself up for a strong career in the future.”
He is also completing an internship in Tallahassee in the district office of U.S. Rep. Neal Dunn, where he assists with constituent casework.
“I’m doing congressional work, like casework, and helping constituents figure out problems they may have,” Parsons said. “I’m definitely learning a lot… and I do think it’s pretty interesting.”
Parsons said he values both the competitive and personal growth from his time at Tampa.
“The friends that I made, they’ll always be my friends for life,” he said. “And the way that I was able to just personally grow through my experience there was definitely a lot to be proud of.”
Adebanji Bamidele is a sports reporter for the Panama City News Herald. He can be reached at abamidele@gannett.com or through X, formerly known as Twitter, @AdebanjiBamide1.
This article originally appeared on The News Herald: Former Arnold swimmer Ben Parsons finds new path outside the pool
Reporting by Adebanji Bamidele, Panama City News Herald / The News Herald
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Adebanji Bamidele, Panama City News Herald | USA TODAY Network
