Something felt different this year. Despite the routine practice schedule for the Scotch Plains-Fanwood boys swimming team, there was a new feeling making its way throughout the Fanwood-Scotch Plains YMCA. For senior captain Benjamin Sohmer, he sensed a new dawn, a chance to write a new chapter in the athletics history books.
“This team was something special from the beginning and a lot of us knew early on that we could win [sectionals],” Sohmer told The Fanscotian.
A member of the Scotch Plains-Fanwood boys swimming team all four years of high school, Sohmer sensed something new at the start of his concluding season, a feeling full of hope and anticipation for the season ahead.
“We knew we had a special team and we had a cohesive group this year that always had each other’s backs,” Sohmer said.
Cohesiveness was key for the Raiders, and allowed them to glide past competition throughout their 2025-2026 campaign where they brought home the program’s first sectional title win since 2017. Coached by Jess Hulnik, the Raiders were led by senior captain Aaron Frank and juniors Matthew Iannotta and Harrison McClure.
“This year I took more of a leadership role on the team and pushed my teammates in practice to be the best we could,” Frank said.
SPF entered the tournament as the two seed, and after knocking off Princeton in the semifinals, the Raiders met the one seed Ridge Red Devils in the finals. Facing off against the team that beat them one year earlier in the sectional semifinals, SPF emerged victorious, winning 86-84.
“It feels amazing to win a sectional title and to do something that has not happened in six years,” Frank said. “Going into the finals, we were unsure of what was going to happen but once we got into the water our attitude shifted and we all became focused.”
The Raiders compiled a record of 10-2, with one of those wins being a historic triumph over rival Westfield. For the first time since 2011, SPF topped Westfield by squeaking out an 86.5 – 83.5 win in Westfield’s home pool, ending the Blue Devils’ 47 meet win streak.
“It was great to beat Westfield and to do it with the group of guys we have was phenomenal,” McClure said.
Westfield’s swimming dominance has been unmatched in recent years, however this special group of Raider swimmers were able to beat the powerhouse in a thrilling meet.
“This was our real first chance at beating [Westfield] in a while and it really just all came together for us to win,” Frank said.
McClure additionally won an individual championship on March 1, coming in first place in the boys 500 freestyle race by swimming a 4:31.88. For McClure, this individual championship is a testament to all of the hard work and dedication he has put into the sport throughout the offseason.
“It was amazing to win the 500 free as it felt like my hard work had paid off,” McClure said. “I swim club so we train about 11 months out of the year, so I’ve spent many hours in the pool improving for both my club and high school seasons.”
McClure’s individual championship capped off the Raider’s great season, and added another championship to the team’s name. For seniors like Sohmer and Frank, the history-making sectional title was the perfect way to cap off their high school swimming careers.
“It is surreal to envision myself as a freshman and think of the seniors that stood in-front of me to now be a senior who helped lead the team,” Sohmer said.
