Tommy Wonka of Buffalo Inks NLI for Swimming at USD

Buffalo senior Tommy Wonka will further his career in the pool. He recently signed up to swim at the University of South Dakota in Vermillion, SD. Wonka is a two-time state champion and a three-time all-state performer. Wonka has won the last two Class 3A state titles in the 100-breaststroke race. His senior season starts in a couple of weeks.

Wonka has helped Buffalo take second place in the last three Class 3A state championships. In 2024, he won the 100-breaststroke race at 56.79 seconds. Wonka also swam on the Bison’s state champion 200 freestyle relay. He added runner-up finishes in the 50-freestyle and on Buffalo’s 200-medley relay. Wonka was one of three swimmers who shared the 3A Athlete of the Meet award in February 2024.

As a junior in 2023, Wonka won his first individual state championship after a first-place finish in the 100-breaststroke race at 56.51 seconds. He also swam on the title-winning 200-freestyle relay for the Bison. In 2022, Wonka was part of Buffalo’s victorious 200-freestyle relay. He took second in the 100-breaststroke and was on the runner-up 200-medley relay.

The University of South Dakota competes at the NCAA D-I level and is a member of the Summit League for men’s swimming and diving.