In his earlier years in Wilmington, Ben Prucha dedicated himself to volunteering and club swimming. Now, he is thrilled to see his dream of becoming a Division 1 athlete come true.
WILMINGTON, N.C. (WWAY) – In a remarkably rare situation of opportunity meeting preparation, UNCW senior Ben Prucha is proving that the only way to drown your dreams is to never swim at all.
"I really put in a lot of effort to achieve this," remarked the latest addition to the UNCW swim team, the current CAA champions, when discussing the pursuit of becoming a Division One athlete.
Since he got to Wilmington, he had been attempting to join the program but faced setbacks. However, at the beginning of this semester, a discussion with Seahawk Head Coach Bobby Guntoro led to the realization of his dream.
“(Coach Guntoro) stepped out of his office, pointed at me, and exclaimed, ‘Ben, get in here!’ My heart sank, and I thought, ‘Oh no! What have I done?’ I was sure I was in trouble…”
"I brought him into my office, had him take a seat, and said, 'We need to have an important discussion. I've been watching your efforts from a distance, and I truly believe your work ethic, determination, and passion for the sport can greatly contribute to the team.'"
Ben’s story of becoming a college athlete is reminiscent of Notre Dame’s ‘Rudy‘. Guntoro went as far to say he’s never seen a situation like Prucha’s before. So, how did it happen?
Spots are very limited on the roster for a team as competitive as UNCW, and it’s even more rare that a spot opens up. You have to be able to contribute to the team immediately if you are on it, says Guntoro, who has full autonomy of the roster. Typically, the Seahawks have 25 to 26 men on the squad. However, with graduation this year and next, it left a spot open mid-year.
“As we entered the year, we found ourselves with an additional position available,” explains the head coach, who is in his fifth year. “We were cautiously navigating the transfer portal and everything associated with it, but Ben was like the obvious choice that everyone was aware of. The entire staff recognizes his capabilities; he effectively manages our swim meets…”
“We didn’t have a place for him on the roster when he graduated high school. Throughout his freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior years, we didn’t extend an offer until October,” Guntoro explained. However, that wasn’t due to a lack of effort from Prucha.
"I wasn't exactly a top performer in high school; I'd say I was somewhere in the middle," Prucha remarked, grinning. "I received a few offers, but nothing too impressive. The other opportunities were quite distant and up north, and honestly, I wasn't keen on dealing with the cold..."
However, he fractured his collarbone prior to deciding to go to Wilmington, which meant he had to set aside his aspirations for Division One and instead commit to playing at a club level.
"I didn’t audition, but… swimming involves a lot of emails for recruitment. I reached out to Bobby (Guntoro) to inquire about a spot. I can’t recall their response exactly, but it was a no… and I thought to myself, 'Oh well'," Prucha says with a chuckle. Despite being told no, that’s not the message he took away.
"I completed my Master's program here and was involved in club swimming; I just kept at it," Prucha shared. "I formed friendships with the entire team by assisting with organizing meets, managing the timing system, and supporting their swim lessons... I developed a rapport with everyone before reaching out again."
Ben had become content competing at the club level. However, he was a member of a club level national championship team for the Seahawks, on the relay sprint for three years for making it individually just last year. At Club Nationals last season, Prucha had a standout meet. He went new personal best times in the 50 free, 100 free, and 100 back earning top-5 finishes in the 50 and 100 free. He dropped to 20.57 in the 50 free finals for 4th and 45.51 in the 100 free to finish 3rd.
This reignited his passion for a larger platform, and Ben set to work…
准备工作：
During his years as a volunteer, swim instructor, and system operator for the UNCW swim team meets, Ben experienced significant improvements in his times, all achieved without the guidance of a Division 1 coach or formal training.
“My only goal after high school was to go under 21 (seconds) in the 50 (meter freestyle race) and I was like ‘I’ll call it after that’… and in my first year, I went under 21 and I was like ‘Oh, that’s pretty cool’ and it made me want to go faster,” said Prucha. He credits Coach Guntoro and Coach Sarah Richards for helping his development by creating workout plans that he would do on his own.
"At the time he was putting in those extra workouts, there simply wasn't a place for him on the roster," Guntoro remarked about Prucha's dedication. He noted that Prucha has improved his 50-meter freestyle time by over a second since his high school days. "Honestly, I struggled to manage on my own for two months, and he has maintained that level of commitment for three years... College life can be really challenging. In my opinion, that’s quite impressive. It’s something I truly respect."
Guntoro admired Prucha's independence and determination, ultimately inviting him to join the team for summer training sessions, though he emphasized that it didn't guarantee a place on the official roster. "If he can manage on his own for three years, he has the potential to contribute more to the team than just his expertise in spring freestyle swimming. That's the quality I'm seeking."
The coach started preparing Prucha for elite Division One swimming competition. During the school break, Guntoro and Prucha dedicated themselves to refining their techniques, and the coach noted that Ben approached every session with a positive attitude. He recounted a moment when Prucha humorously remarked, “That was incredible, but I feel like I'm about to pass out.”
WHAT LIES AHEAD:
Prucha is fully approved as a Division One student-athlete and will be competing in the Seahawks’ next meet next weekend at the University of Georgia, taking on the Bulldogs and other D1 teams.
“I throw down everything at him, he just smiles and says ‘Let’s do it!'”, says Coach Guntoro with a smile about Prucha. “I do think he can he one of our best 50 freestylers this year. I hope this story can help young student athletes out there that if you believe in your ability, continue to do what you are doing, continue to work hard, and continue to believe in yourself – the opportunity will come.”
“Whatever you can envision, you can achieve,” Prucha advises young student athletes, encouraging them to persist in pursuing their dreams. “Your potential for success is boundless. If you find yourself facing an obstacle, take a moment to pause and regroup before diving back in. You might just amaze yourself.”
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