In a span of three days, Scott Tolman broke his own school records and reaffirmed his status as an All-American while twice medaling in the CIF State Swimming & Diving Championships — all before qualifying for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials.
“Just overwhelmed,” Tolman said of his busy yet memorable weekend, one he got to share with Ripon Aquatics teammates Ty Wells and Daniel Esenwein of Ripon High. Both also qualified for the state meet, and Wells got to compete alongside Tolman on the final day. Esenwein competed in the 100 backstroke trials Friday and placed 31st in 53.13 seconds.
“It was pretty tiring but all worth it,” Tolman added.
At the Clovis Olympic Swim Complex on Saturday, he became Sierra’s first-ever swimmer to earn medals at the state meet after earning a runner-up finish in the 100-yard breastroke in 55.21 seconds and taking fourth in the 200 individual medley in 1 minute, 51.00 seconds. His 200 IM time (1:50.22) was actually better in Friday’s preliminary round and is good for an automatic bid for National Interscholastic Swimming Coaches Association/Speedo All-America honors. He was already a shoo-in for the 100 breast, an event he won in the Sac-Joaquin Section Finals on May 14.
Tolman qualified for the inaugural state meet last year and made it back for the second day as a consolation finalists. One of his goals for the season was to advance to the championship heats and return home with medals.
“It was a little bit different this year because I actually tapered for (the state) meet,” Tolman said. “Last year I tapered for sections, and this was just more of a kicks-and-giggles type of thing. This year it was more serious, and I wanted to go in trying to prove something.
“I was a little off my IM (in the finals), but after that I was more confident going into the breaststroke because I knew how to approach the race.”
Tolman joins former cross country standouts David Ulibarri and Corey Duquette as the only Sierra athletes to capture medals as individuals in a state event.
“Seeing him on the podium and hearing them say ‘Scott Tolman from Sierra High School,’ that was a special moment for him and the school,” Sierra coach Dave Breitenbucher said.
Wells, a sophomore, also made a second straight appearance at state. He finished 24th in the 100 butterfly (51.02) and did not qualify for Day 2 in the event, but for the 100 breast he swam against Tolman and after the race they got to stand next to each other on the medal stand as Wells ended up in fourth place in 55.77 seconds.
“We go back a long time, man,” Tolman said of Wells. The two grew up swimming for the Manteca Dolphins recreation swim club.
“I was really happy to end my high school career racing against him. We had a lot of fun before the race, there were a lot of smiles. We celebrated before and after the race.”
Tolman’s high school career ended, but a new chapter began Sunday in the Fresno State Bulldog Long Course Time Trials. His mission was to qualify for the national championships and Olympic Trials. To do so, he’d have to match or surpass the qualifying time standard of 2:18.39 in the 200-meter breaststroke.
He finished in 2:17.71
“My coach (Erik Zador of Ripon High and Ripon Aquatics) told me he doesn’t care what my time is, just go out and have fun,” Tolman said. “We put together a game plan, executed and it worked out in the end. And it was a big adrenaline rush at the end.”
The Olympic Trials take place June 26-July 3 at the CenturyLink Center in Omaha, Neb. With his Trials berth already guaranteed, Tolman will continue to compete at meets on metered pools to prepare. He’ll also graduate and look back on a storied four-year career at Sierra, which also includes the program’s first-ever Valley Oak League boys championship. Winning a league title with fellow seniors John Buonauro and Trevor Fast was just as important to Tolman as the individual success.
“I couldn’t have asked for a better ending,” Tolman said.