Part of a series of stories featuring Rocket seniors who are graduating this spring.

By Chris Cullum, Assistant Director of Athletic Communications

By all accounts, senior Bec Welke had a successful collegiate swimming career at Toledo. And yet, that career almost didn't happen.

The Toowoomba, Australia native was one of the team's top breaststrokers during her tenure with the Rockets. Her 100 breaststroke time of 1:02.11 at the 2019 MAC Championships was the second-fastest time in that event by a Toledo swimmer over the last four years. She also ranked among the fastest Rockets in the 200 breaststroke (2:21.16) and 50 freestyle (23.91) during her career.

An accomplished swimmer in Australia, Welke nearly quit the sport in 2015. Despite her success as a youth swimmer, she did not receive much interest from Australian universities.

"Swimming in Australia places an emphasis on the highest elite athletes and there are no motivation mechanisms to keep athletes on board," Welke said. "There are very few scholarships for athletics at universities unless you're at a school in a capital city. College athletics in the U.S. stand out from how sports operate in Australia. Australian universities and colleges place more focus on purely academics rather than helping athletes follow their dreams."

It wasn't until an American talent scout spotted Welke that she decided to look into coming to the United States to study and swim. As a self-described "water baby" who fell in love with swimming at an early age, Welke can't believe now that she almost thought of quitting the sport that has become such a big part of her life.

"I talked to a few other schools," Welke said. "But I really liked Toledo's business program and the campus is incredibly beautiful. It was clearly the right decision and I'm so glad I didn't give up a sport I love dearly."

"Bec has a love for swimming that reminds me of why I wanted to become a coach," head coach Brie Globig said. "Even in the face of adversity, Bec always led with maturity and positivity.  Although her swimming career has ended, I know her impact on the team will be felt for many seasons to come."

Welke had been to the United States only once before committing to Toledo in January of 2016; she and her family visited several cities during a three-week vacation two years prior. The transition from high school to college is already a difficult one for so many incoming freshmen, let alone those attending school over 9,000 miles away from home.

"I think I handled the transition pretty well," Welke said. "I did get homesick a bit my freshman year, but my teammates became my biggest support rocks, and we were always there for each other whenever we felt homesick."

Four years later, Welke can look back on her collegiate swimming career with a sense of pride.

"It's a pretty incredible feeling being a student-athlete," she said. "Not many people can say that they're an international student who is also an athlete that swam for their four years in college. I'm happy to have been able to follow a dream that I didn't even know existed until I came over here. I believe I did have a successful career, I finished my senior season with some of the best times I've ever had. I couldn't have asked for anything better."

Welke's season ended on Feb. 29 at the MAC Championship meet in Buffalo, a few weeks before the sporting world, and the world at large, came to a halt.

"When everything started closing I was stressed and overwhelmed," Welke said. "Everything was happening so fast. I got back from my spring break trip on the morning of March 14 and I left Toledo for Australia on St. Patrick's Day. I took one suitcase with me as that's all I could bring with me at the time.

"This isn't how I pictured my senior year to end. I was looking forward to our swim and dive banquet and the SAAC senior banquet, but COVID-19 had other plans for the entire world."

Welke, who graduated last spring with a degree in finance, is currently pursuing her MBA in business administration and plans to go into financial advising after graduation. A three-time Academic All-MAC honoree, Welke is no stranger to academic success, even if being halfway across the world has created some unique challenges.

"For one of my classes I have group project, so trying to communicate with them while I'm 14 hours ahead has been a little difficult," she said. "However, we manage quite well. For the most part I am able to complete my work well before the due date and start next week's work a little earlier. I like being able to work ahead so the time difference pushes me to get my work done."

A hard worker in and out of the pool, Welke credits her time as a Rocket for helping her develop those skills that will surely lead her to a successful life after graduation.

"Being a student-athlete at Toledo has helped me become more organized and time-managed. All of the classes I have taken have in some way have directly related to what I'm going to do in my career. I think I'm pretty well prepared for life after college."

Previous Stories on Rocket Graduates
April 21 - Abby Demboski Excited for Next Chapter as Nurse
April 16 - Zoe Birnbrich Ready to Make an Impact Off the Court
April 13 - Despite Setbacks, Jordan Doore Never Stops Running
April 10 - Mariella Santucci Made the Most of Her Collegiate Experience
April 8 - Grant Godfrey is Ready to Pursue His Dreams
April 6 - Obi Anunike Made His Own Impact with the Rockets