16-Time All-American Latest Swimming Great in Hall of Fame

Leah Becki’s decision to swim in Div. III at The College of Wooster paid off in spades. She enters the W Association Hall of Fame as a 16-time swimming and diving All-American and the fourth-most decorated All-American in program history upon graduation. 

Becki’s father “always loved the prestige of Wooster,” and while Becki loved Wooster too, she was undecided about swimming for a Div. I or Div. III program until May of her senior year. After looking at many Div. I and Div. III schools, she and her father came to the consensus that Wooster was the best fit. At orientation, assistant coach and dean of students, Ken Plusquellec, found her and shared that “he wasn’t sure I was even coming.” Becki added, “there is no doubt Wooster was the right fit.” 

Becki was one of Wooster’s top swimmers in the individual medley and butterfly events, and was a relay staple throughout her career. Becki produced six All-America finishes in 1999 and five in 1998 for two of the 26 times in program history a Fighting Scot earned at least five All-America laurels at a national championship. Individually, she was an All-American three times in the 400 individual medley, and twice in the 200 butterfly and 200 individual medley. Her highest finish came in the 400 individual medley in 1999, when she placed sixth. 

In relays, Becki reached All-American status three times in the 400 freestyle relay and 800 freestyle relay. She also secured the status twice in the 200 freestyle relay and once in the 400 medley relay. Her highest relay finish came in the 1998 400 medley, where Wooster placed eighth. 

At the team level, Becki’s contributions came during Wooster’s rise to a national power. The then-junior helped the Fighting Scots to a 10th-place showing at the 1999 NCAA Div. III Championships, marking the program’s first of five top-10 placements in a six-year stretch. 

Upon graduation, Becki was a program record-holder in the 200 butterfly (2:09.43), the 400 freestyle relay (3:36.64), and the 800 freestyle relay (7:49.72). During her career, she posted the second-fastest times in program history in the 200 individual medley (2:09.49) and the 400 individual medley (4:35.32). She is still ranked in the top-10 in program history in three of the four individual events. 

Since graduating with a communication studies degree, Becki has spent more than 20 years in the live sports and entertainment industry. She is currently the general manager of the University of Rhode Island’s Ryan Center and Boss Ice Arena. 

Becki lives in Rhode Island with her significant other, Jose Jimenez, and two children, Jonah and Arden.