William & Mary graduate student Ben Skopic '19 was named the winner of the 2019-20 Leadership and Sports Excellence Award for Men's Swimming & Diving on Thursday, the Colonial Athletic Association announced.  Skopic is the first men's swimmer for the Tribe to win the award, and the second in as many years for the W&M swimming program, after Claire Williams '19 was the women's winner in 2018-19.

Skopic wrapped up his outstanding four years in 2020 with a career-best four gold medals at the CAA Championships.  In addition to swimming on the 800 free relay for the third year in a row, Skopic also won the 400 IM (3:50.12) for the third consecutive season.  He added his first win in the 200 IM, breaking the school and and conference records at 1:45.33, as well as in the 200 breast, in a personal-best 1:58.79.  Skopic's anchor leg on the 800 free relay helped W&M shatter its own school and conference records in that event, as well, going 6:26.86 to break the mark that had stood since 2016.

Altogether, Skopic finished his career 14th in school history with 42 wins and 943 points.  In addition to his CAA records in the 200 IM and the 800 free relay, he also holds the school record in the 100 IM, and program records in the 50m LCM course for the 200m IM (2:04.01) and the 400m IM (4:29.57).  Skopic's records also include a total of eight CAA titles won (five individual, three relay), and the freshman, dual-meet, and W&M pool records in the 200 IM.  Skopic finished his undergraduate degree in physics in just three years, and is enrolled in W&M's doctoral program in Applied Science.  He won the W&M Provost Award all four years, for carrying a GPA over 3.5.  Skopic has at least one more competitive swimming opportunity in his future, as he is qualified for the 2021 Olympic Trials in the 200m IM.  That meet, originally scheduled for June of 2020, was postponed until June of 2021 and will select the U.S. team for the Tokyo Olympics later next summer.

The CAA names an award winner every year in each of the 19 Olympic sports that the conference sponsors, in addition to equivalent awards in football (Chuck Boone Leadership Award) and men's and women's basketball (Dean Ehlers Leadership Awards).  The award is given to the student-athlete who represents the highest standards of teamwork, integrity, leadership, and sportsmanship in his or her academic and athletic achievements.  The award is voted on by the Faculty Athletic Representatives at each league institution.