MONMOUTH, IL – Thanks to the pandemic, Midwest Conference Swimmer of the Year Preston Bocchi finally got to hold the trophy, a full seven months after earning the honor.
“I had planned to present this to Preston at our team banquet in the spring,” explained Monmouth College swim coach Tom Burek of the award Bocchi earned at the league’s championship meet in February. “COVID hit shortly after the conference meet and the entire student body was sent home. No banquet, so no award presentation.”
Burek kept the award safely tucked away in his office before taking time in late September to deliver the long-overdue award to Bocchi. Doing his best to social distance while accepting the award from Burek on the Scots’ pool deck, Bocchi said the unexpected surprise was worth the wait.
“I really didn’t expect a trophy, I just thought it was a name on a plaque that the conference held,” he said. “But it was well worth the wait. It was great to get to celebrate with Coach Burek and the team after all the hard work we have put into each and every season.”
Bocchi scored in seven races and won two league titles at the 2019-20 conference championships, clocking a time of 20.98 seconds – a half second off the MWC record – in the 50-yard freestyle and a time of 51.13 to win his signature event, the 100 backstroke.
But he wasn’t done yet.
Bocchi scored in one more individual race and four relays, taking the runner-up spot in the 200 backstroke. His relay legs on the 800 freestyle relay (third), 400 medley relay (fourth), 200 medley relay (fifth) and 400 freestyle relay (fifth) netted him seven total scoring events.
The senior from Lakewood, Wash., enters his final season with five conference titles, just the third Fighting Scot in program history to win at least five crowns. He’s also the first Fighting Scot – man or woman – to earn the MWC Swimmer of the Year honor.
“It’s pretty exciting to hear that I was the first in school history to win the conference award,” said Bocchi. “We’ve had some impressive swimmers come through over the years. It’s nice to know that I made a mark and, I hope, can motivate others to do the same.”
***Story courtesy of Monmouth College***
