In winning the 200 Yard IM with a time of 1:55.73, Sophomore Spencer Boling-Hamer became the first Trenton boys swimmer to place first at the State Meet since 1967. In addition, Spencer broke the school record in the IM this year that was previously held by 1996 THS alum Tom Goniea (left), who was on hand at the meet to cheer Spencer on.
BY SAMANTHA ELLIOTT
The last time the Trenton boy’s swim team had a state champion, the current swimmers were not even born.
In fact, the last time the Trenton boy’s swim team had a state champion, most of the current swimmers’ parents were not even born yet.
Now, for the first time since 1969, the Trenton boy’s swim team has a state champion.
At the Division 3 finals at Oakland University, Trenton’s Spencer Boling-Hamer swam to a first-place finish in the 200 IM with a finish of 1-minute, 55.73-seconds.
It was the icing on a very good cake for Trenton at the state finals.
The Trojans took seven swimmers to the state meet, came home with five All State finishes and broke records throughout the day.
The extra sweetness? They will return all but two of those swimmers next year.
Coach Andrea Thorn was confident in her boys heading into the state finals.
“We knew with two kids being able to score in the top-eight each in two events and solid relays, we were hoping to see more records fall and finish in the top 10,” she said. “The boys didn’t disappoint.
“We finished ninth, saw a top-five finish for the medley relay, four new individual varsity records, a state champion and a new 400-free relay record. It was one of the best state meets in a long time for the Trojans.”
To go along with his state championship, Boling-Hamer finished fifth in the 100 breast with a swim of 59.27.
Michael Wolsek joined Boling-Hamer at the state meet and finished with his own stellar day.
The junior finished second in the 100 fly with a swim of 49.89 and was fourth in the 200 free with a finish of 1:42.72.
Together, the two joined with Dylan Lyons and Caden Westrate to finish fifth in the 200 medley relay in 1:39.14 and then finished 12th in the 400 free when they joined Luke VanAuken and Westrate for a finish of 3:17.52.
Rounding out the state swims, Westrate finished 23rd in the 50 free in 22.56 and swam with Lyons, Van Auken and Donny Grocki to finish 27th in the 200 free relay in 1:34.30.
It was a meet Thorn won’t soon forget.
“The meet as a whole was incredibly fast,” Thorn said. “We saw multiple Division 3 records and all class records fall.
“So many solid, close races.”
Thorn is thrilled with the possibilities for the future of Trenton swimming and returning so many strong swimmers, including a state champion.
“(Spencer’s) a great kid,” she said. “I can’t say enough wonderful things about him and all of the boys.
“They are great swimmers, but even better people. I can honestly say that for all of them.”
Those great swimmers spent the season breaking records.
Boling-Hamer broke and re-broke his 200 IM record.
The sophomore originally broke the record at the Downriver Classic, a record previously held by Tom Goniea.
He then broke his own record in the prelims (1:55.80) and then again in the finals (1:55.73).
In the 100 breast, he broke a record this season, previously held by Nate Skinner with a swim of 59.04.
For Wolsek, he now owns the varsity record in the 200 free, 50 free, 100 fly, 100 free and 400 free relay with one more year left in his Trenton career.
“Every time he’s swimming, you know that he’s giving his all,” Thorn said. “He’s got a crazy swimming IQ and his moves are all calculated and it pays off.
“He’s so fun to watch. Not many records are safe in the area as long as he’s in the pool.”
Along with the individual records, the 400-free relay team broke the varsity record, previously held by Coach Jimmy DeRupa, Mac O’Donnell, Dillon Dossey and Trevor Earl.
Coach DeRupa and his teammates broke the record — which had been up since 1978 — in 2010.
“In 2010 when that record was broken, it was extra special because when that record was broken, it secured Jim Lawrence ‘owning’ the board,” Thorn said. “At the time, it meant that he had coached all of the records.
“Seeing Coach DeRupa coach his own record off of the board was extra special.”