BOTKINS, Ohio (WLIO) — Botkins' Bella Bucio is constantly putting in the work. From swimming to cross country and track, Trojan senior doesn't miss a beat.

"Bella has an immense work ethic. She's a great kid and she really knows what she wants and she doesn't really stop until she gets it. So she always puts her pedal to the metal and she's always willing to go that extra mile to get done what she wants done," said Botkins swim coach Joe Shuga.

"Being a multi-sport athlete can definitely have its challenges, especially with managing time and being efficient, but being in a sport for so long, it's just really taught me how to stay disciplined and manage my time wisely and be really accountable especially during the busy seasons," said Bella Bucio.

After Botkins, Bella will continue her swim career with the University of Findlay. "So Botkins is a really small school, so I kind of wanted kind of a similar feel, but the coaches, the team atmosphere make it feel just like home," Bucio said. "They're super energetic and supportive, and you can really see that."

And when it comes to her work in the classroom, Bella has 3.89 GPA.

"I've often said that Bella is the busiest student at Botkins because of how much she swims and being involved in three sports and being a really good student," said Botkins math teacher Ryan Gutman.

"So the similarities I see are her ability to manage her time, her ability to work hard, her ability really to just be the best version of herself, whether it's on the athletic field or in the classroom."

And when she gets to the University of Findlay, Bella plans to major in pre-law in hopes of becoming a lawyer.

"I've always loved challenges and I feel like that really, especially with sports, have taught me discipline and to want to help others and make a positive impact in their life and create those second chances and give them opportunities they might not have," Bucio said.

For Bella, Botkins has been more than just a place to learn or compete. The support she's received from the community has played a huge role in who she is today.

"Botkins really cares and values about their students, and it's just really shaped me to the person I am today. I really value the lessons that my coaches, teammates, and teachers have taught me at this school to really just care about, you know, my academics and my athletics and them always just being there for me," Bucio said.

Congratulations to Bella Bucio — our newest McDonald's Scholar Athlete of the Week. of the Week.

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