Alumni

Somers' Wilkinson sets records and wins titles at collegiate level

Jay Wilkinson at the MIT Invitational.

Photos courtesy of Tufts Athletics/Michael Last

Wilkinson won multiple titles at the NESCAC Swimming & Diving Championship.

Photos courtesy of Tufts Athletics/Michael Last

Posted Friday, March 20, 2026 1:01 pm

From Tusker to Jumbo

There’s an interesting historical connection between the two institutions Wilkinson has represented— Somers High School and now Tufts University—through their elephant mascots.

As we know, in the early 1800s, Hachaliah Bailey, a farmer from Somers purchased Old Bet. Bailey began touring throughout the Northeast, charging people to see Old Bet, which helped launch what would become the American traveling circus industry, earning Somers the nickname the “Cradle of the American Circus.”

Bailey’s success and showmanship also helped inspire a young P. T. Barnum, who later built the famous traveling shows. Barnum’s circus would eventually feature the legendary elephant Jumbo of the Barnum & Bailey Circus. Barnum was also a major benefactor of Tufts University. After Jumbo’s death in 1885, Barnum donated the elephant’s hide to the university and Jumbo became the beloved mascot of Tufts.

So, for a Somers Tusker turned Tufts Jumbo, Wilkinson’s journey carries a fun and fitting elephant connection through the two mascots rooted in the history of Somers and Tufts University.

By Halston Media Staff

For Somers High School alum Jay Wilkinson, the diving boards continue to be a place where records fall and championship titles follow.

Wilkinson, a member of the Class of 2023 and now a junior at Tufts University in Boston, recently captured multiple titles during the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) Swimming & Diving Championship. Representing the Tufts Jumbos at the NCAA conference meet hosted by Colby College in Maine, Wilkinson claimed the NESCAC Champion title in the 1-meter diving event with a score of 522.70 and broke his own pool record which he set in 2024. The three-time NESCAC diving champion performed six high-difficulty dives in his 11-dive list, including one of the most difficult dives attempted in the entire meet, an Inward 2 ½ Somersault. Wilkinson also earned a spot on the podium in the 3-meter event, finishing third behind a pair of Williams College divers.

Those results earned Wilkinson All-NESCAC honors and he continued to the NCAA Regional Championship, on Feb. 27 where he captured the 1-meter diving title. The victory marked a historic moment for Tufts University, as Wilkinson became the program’s first regional champion since 2016 - coincidentally the same year an 11-year-old Wilkinson first started diving with the Yorktown summer team and won his very first diving event.

His regional victory also earned him a coveted berth at the NCAA Division III Swimming and Diving Championships in Indianapolis where he will compete against the nation’s top collegiate divers.

Recruited to join Tufts’ Swimming & Diving program, Wilkinson has established himself as one of the team’s top athletes. During his freshman season, he made an immediate impact by winning both the 1-meter and 3-meter events at the NESCAC Championships, earning NESCAC Diver of the Year honors and a second place win at the 2024 Regionals.

His momentum was interrupted when a back injury forced him to miss his sophomore season. But this year marked a strong comeback. Earlier this winter, Wilkinson posted a career-best performance at a dual meet against MIT.

Beyond the pool, Wilkinson has also excelled academically. A Computer Science major in the Tufts School of Engineering, he balances the rigorous demands of engineering coursework with the intense training schedule of a collegiate athlete. His hard work in the classroom has earned him Dean’s List honors as well as Scholar All-American recognition.

The Somers Record recently caught up with the former Tusker.

How do you balance the demands of academics as an engineering student at Tufts and training as an NCAA athlete?

Wilkinson: It definitely takes a lot of time management. I won’t say it is easy. The coursework can be intense, but diving gives me a great balance. I try to stay organized and make the most of my time between classes, practice, and studying.

After earning Diver of the Year as a freshman, you had to miss your sophomore season due to a back injury. What was it like returning this year?

Missing last season was really tough, especially after a strong freshman year. There were definitely moments where I had to focus on recovery and be patient. My goal was to come back stronger and help my team at our conference championship. Being able to return this season and perform well at NESCACs and Regionals makes all the hard work during rehab worth it.

You were an accomplished multi-sport athlete at SHS, holding records in the Somers–Yorktown Swimming & Diving program for diving and the 100 Butterfly. What advice would you give to high school athletes who hope to compete at the collegiate level?

My biggest advice is to stay consistent and enjoy the process. Success doesn’t happen overnight—it comes from years of showing up to practice, working hard, and pushing yourself even when it’s difficult. Both academics and commitment to the sport are important, so developing strong study habits early really helps. And in college especially, your teammates become a crucial part of your journey. Supporting each other and knowing your team is behind you can make a huge difference.

Vim Wilkinson contributed to this report.