Ripon Aquatic swimmers Tolman, Wells will soak up CIF State experience

Even as a sophomore, Scott Tolman’s drive and determination were the stuff of legend.

The record-setting swimmer from Sierra once taped a time to the ceiling above his bed as a reminder of the lofty expectations he had for himself.

When former Golden Valley star Connor Hoppe set the swimming world on fire with his pursuit of a high school national record in the 100-yard breaststroke at last year’s Sac-Joaquin Section Finals, Tolman found a new time to scribble, tape down and chase.

The endless pursuit of ghosts and their times propelled Tolman to the height of the California high school season – the CIF State Swimming and Diving Championships, which begin Friday at the Clovis Olympic Swim Complex.

Tolman is one of two Stanislaus District swimmers to qualify. The lanky junior is seeded ninth in the 100-yard breaststroke (56.28 seconds) and 12th in the 50 freestyle (21.30).

He’ll be joined in Clovis by Ty Wells, a talented freshman from Ripon. He and Tolman are club teammates with Ripon Aquatics and longtime friends.

They are the face of a new generation of swimmer in the Central Valley, and while state seems like a perfect place and time to announce their arrival, no one knows how their bodies will respond.

Tolman and Wells set their taper for sections – not state – and have already begun preparation for what many in their camp believe will be a summer to remember.

On the eve of high school’s pinnacle meet, Ripon Aquatics coach Erik Zador made a bold declaration: His charges aspire to be more than state champions.

“We’re not training for state like we were for sections. Our philosophy for this first year was that we wanted section to be the top meet for these guys,” he said. “Trying to hold another week of taper is next to impossible. We’re going down for the experience.”

For Tolman, the meet of true significance is the Futures Championship in Mount Hood, Ore., in late July.

There, Tolman will attempt to qualify for the Olympic Trials. At the Davis Post High School Meet at UC Davis on the Sunday after sections, Tolman set a blistering pace in the 200 breaststroke, turning in the 38th fastest time (2:00.31) by an American 15- to 16-year-old boy.

“The conversion rate, which is never 100 percent, puts him under a second from the Olympic Trials cuts,” Zador said.

As odd as it sounds, state is secondary to Tolman, who set four school records at the section meet. He has nothing to gain in Clovis, other than prestige and possibly another medal for his vast collection. He’s already fielding interest from colleges on the East Coast, and once his time at the Davis Post High School Meet goes global, that will garner interest.

“It’s the bigger picture. With those times, he’s already guaranteed to get picked up a by a college. He’s going somewhere,” Zador said. “You have to look at the big picture. You only get to go to the Olympic Trials every four years, so the opportunity is there. He has that opportunity to do well.”

Still, it won’t keep him or Wells from soaking in the experience.

While club swimmers with similar Olympic hopes have bowed out of state, Tolman and Wells will take their place in history, testing their tired bodies in those fast waters.

“We don’t know how they’ll respond,” Zador said. “I know I put them through a pretty tough workout on Tuesday and I don’t plan on taking it easy on them the rest of the week.”

Wells is the only freshman to qualify for the 100 butterfly. He is seeded 26th with a time of 51.68.

At the section meet, Wells found himself at a crossroads: Would he compete at the frosh-soph level and hunt down records in the butterfly and breaststroke, as Tolman once did? Or move up to varsity and make a run at state?

He chose the road trip to state.

“It was a risk, but he wanted to be a part of that,” Zador said. “He took that risk and it paid off.”

Wells is a three-sport athlete at Ripon and Zador believes that’s been to his detriment this season.

The big-bodied 15-year-old earned his varsity letter in water polo and swimming. He also played for the sophomore basketball team.

Zador said Wells will abandon his hoop dreams to focus solely on swimming. He has the potential to be a section heavyweight and multiple state qualifier.

“He’s done playing basketball. He’s committed. He’ll play a little water polo but concentrate mostly on swimming to make up for what he’s lost,” said Zador, who doubles as the Indians’ water polo coach. “Next year, he’ll go to state and be much more conditioned.”

Despite his slow start to the season, Wells peaked at the section meet, turning in a stunning performance in the 100 breaststroke. Wells pushed Tolman to the wall, finishing a touch behind at 57.75.

“For a freshman to do a 57, without 50 percent of the work the rest of these guys laid down, it blew my mind,” Zador said. “I never expected that. I thought he’d do a 59. The kid’s got talent.”

This story was originally published May 21, 2015 at 11:14 AM with the headline "Ripon Aquatic swimmers Tolman, Wells will soak up CIF State experience."