Bocci to hit water at college nationals
CLARION — Clarion University swimming coach Bree Kelley mapped the path out. David Bocci traversed it just the way she drew it up.
The latter’s trip to Indianapolis for the NCAA Division II Swimming and Diving Championships can be attributed partly to a sit-down conversation between the two shortly after last season.
“We talked about what’s next,” she said. “He was so happy and thrilled with his season and to be (freshman) swimmer of the year and to have a great season, but he wanted more. And I wanted more for him. I knew he should be at the NCAA meet.
“It’s great to break records. It’s great to win championships at the conference level. But to get to the biggest stage is the ultimate goal.”
Kelley explained that achieving such would boil down to commitment — to both a strict diet and training plan. Bocci, a sophomore and Butler grad, will compete in both the 100 and 200 fly events.
“He was like, ‘I’m in. I’m all in,’” Kelley said. “And he did it. And I’m so proud of him, because there’s a lot of kids who say they want to do things, but don’t always back it up with the actions.”
A Clarion alum, Kelley also swam the 200 fly and, coincidentally, her best time came at the NCAA championships in Indianapolis in 2004.
“We’re just really excited for him to be at this stage and compete against the next level,” she said. “If he can improve his times even a half a second, that would be awesome. Or be around where he was at the conference championship at this stage ... To make the top eight in that meet and be an All-American would be amazing.”
The event runs Tuesday through Friday.
“It’s just going to be an awesome learning experience,” Bocci said. “I’m excited to see if I can drop from what I did at the PSAC championships, but also I’m going to be swimming around the best in Division II.”
Bocci has shown dedication with his nutrition and in the weight room. He’s always early to arrive to practices to stretch and stays late.
“I was definitely a lot lighter in the water this year and I think that really helped, along with a lot more different kind of training,” Bocci said. “You just have to kind of look at the end goal where you want to be.”
“That’s what it takes to be a champion and then to make this level of a meet,” Kelley added. “You have to do all those little things and more, consistently.”
Bocci thinks that representing his school at the meet could provide exposure that leads to more building blocks.
“It’s just so cool that we both get to go and experience this for the school,” Bocci said. “It’s also a good showing for the school to get the program name out there and things like that to try to get even better kids to come and build the program up.”
Connor Cary, a PSAC champion in the 200 IM and 100 fly, is also headed to nationals. With Bocci tagging along, the Golden Eagles have their first swimmers on the stage in a decade.
“He’s been instrumental in the growth of the men’s program,” Kelley said of Bocci. “We’re moving our way up, which has been my ultimate goal for the past several years, is to get back to the top. I knew that he would be one of those key players that contribute to that.
“He’s just easy to coach. He just wants to be successful. He wants to improve. He wants to be at the top as a team.”
He’s aware that it might be more of an incremental process. With the manner in which he’s chased down objectives, that timeline could be sped up.
“I could definitely see a conference championship coming in the near future,” Bocci said. “I think next year we’re going to have a really awesome chance to beat Gannon and get second there. We’re working towards West Chester, but I think for next year, our goal is going to be to move up another spot from third to second.”
