INDIANAPOLIS—After a decisive vote from the league’s Sports Information Directors, Findlay’s Daniel Garcia was officially labeled as the winner of the 2022-23 Great Midwest Athletic Conference Male Athlete of the Year award Thursday afternoon.
 
The Great Midwest Male Athlete of the Year is traditionally presented on an annual level to a nominee based on athletic accomplishments and contributions to their specific sports and the institution’s overall athletic program.
 
Garcia is the first ever swimming & diving athlete to receive the prestigious award since it was first introduced during the 2012-13 academic year.
 
Garcia, a Junior from Bucaramanga, Colombia, was a seven-time All-American, while leading the Oilers to their sixth consecutive Great Midwest title.
 
During the 2022-23 season, Garcia won seven G-MAC event championships including the 200 and 400 individual medley, 100 and 200 breaststroke, and was a member of the 400 and 800 free relay.

"I'm extremely proud of the hard work and commitment Daniel showed while training at UF", said head coach Diego Santos. "His versatility and drive to become the best swimmer possible is something that is very unique and hard to find. He is someone that has an incredible amount of talent and when you pair that up with work ethic, it becomes a recipe for success. I'm very excited and look forward to see his development and what his future entails."
 
At the national championship event, Garcia won the 200 breaststroke, making him the second swimming and diving national champion in Great Midwest history.
 
Coaches voted Garcia as the Great Midwest Male Swimming and Diving Athlete of the Year after a dominant season.

Garcia is the third Oiler to recieve the conference Athlete of the Year honors, following in the footsteps of All-American golfer Kristina Kniesly and 2018-19 Track & Field National Champion Eldred Henry.