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Winter Juniors qualifier Spencer Kinsey has announced his verbal commitment to swim for Southern Methodist University beginning in the fall of 2026. He publicized the news on SwimCloud, writing:
I am beyond excited to announce my commitment to continue my academic and athletic career at Southern Methodist University! It’s been a long journey and I couldn’t have done it without my coaches, friends, and family. Thank you Coach Roric and Coach Rody for the opportunity to represent SMU. See you on The Hilltop!! GO MUSTANGS!!!
A Missouri native, Kinsey spent the first three years of his high school career at Chaminade College Prep while training year-round with Parkway-Rockwood Gateway Swim Club. He moved to Florida this past season to attend The Bolles School and compete with the Bolles School Sharks club team.
Kinsey has been a consistent improver throughout his career and continued to make gains over the past year, dropping from 55.66 to 55.12 in the 100 breast and 2:03.75 to 2:02.42 in the 200 breast. His 200 IM best of 1:49.91 dates back to November 2024, with his performances since hovering in the 1:51 range, while his 200 breast best time was set at sectional meet last March.
A two-time Winter Juniors qualifier, Kinsey most recently placed 27th in the 100 breast with his personal best in December. He also swam a season-best 2:05.72 for 79th in the 200 breast and 1:51.45 for 99th in the 200 IM. It was his first time cracking the top 60 at the meet after touching 63rd in both breast events and 102nd in the 200 IM in 2024.
A month prior, at the FHSAA 1A State Championships, Kinsey clocked his second-fastest ever 200 IM, 1:51.40, to take seventh in the championship final, helping Bolles win their 38th consecutive state title.
Before his move to Florida, Kinsey was twice a bronze medalist at the Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) Class 2 State meet. As a junior in 2024, he clocked his current 200 IM best as well as a then-PB of 55.66 in the 100 breast. Prior to that, he placed fifth in the 100 breast and seventh in the 200 breast as a sophomore, and ninth in the 200 IM and 11th in the 100 breast as a freshman.
- 100 Breaststroke: 55.12
- 200 Breaststroke: 2:02.42
- 200 IM: 1:49.91
The SMU men, led by head coach Greg Rhodenbaugh, finished 10th out of 15 teams at the 2026 ACC Swimming and Diving Championships. To earn a second swim at the 2026 ACCs, it took times of 52.95/1:56.17 in the 100/200 breast and 1:44.99 in the 200 IM, putting Kinsey outside the cutoff in each of his top events.
On the team’s 2026-27 depth chart, with no one graduating this May, Kinsey projects fifth in the 200 breast and seventh in both the 100 breast and 200 IM. He enters as the team’s top recruit in both breast events as well as third quickest in the 200 IM.
Joining Kinsey in the pool this fall will be Ethan Hammontree (back/IM), Mark Heffern (fly/IM), Able Temiz (sprint free), Carter Hadley (sprint free/back), and Danny Park (middle-distance free), who should all make for strong training partners over the next four years.
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