There were plenty of things for Virden’s Drew Cochrane to like about his third season competing for the University of Manitoba men’s swimming team.
“I definitely enjoyed the challenges associated with the training this season, as well as the camaraderie of the team in general,” he wrote in an email interview. “I enjoy the strong bonds that are formed between teammates and being able to grow in something together. Also, just the daily break from my studies is always much appreciated and gets my mind off of the stress of university.”
The son of David and Jennifer Cochrane juggles his busy schedule as a University Sports athlete with his intense workload as a computer engineering student. In addition, Cochrane is the Bisons Against Bullying coordinator on the University of Manitoba Athletic Council.
“He is a worker. He has a good work ethic,” Bisons head swimming coach, Vlastimil Cerny said. “He is a great teammate. He is on the Bisons Athletic Council. .... He is a really good role model all around.”
In the pool last season, Cochrane capped the season in fine form. He medaled at the Prairie Winter International Meet in Winnipeg in March. At the very competitive Canwest championships in Edmonton, Cochrane made it to the consolation finals in the 200-metre butterfly.
“He finished off really strong last year,” Cerny said.“I think he has a lot of potential in the butterfly. He’s not afraid to put in the work.”
The 6-foot-2 Cochrane’s swimming success came, in spite of him having to work out sometimes on his own due to a very busy school workload. Cochrane, who has who has two more years of school left, enjoys the continuous challenges of his major and the new situations it provides on a day-to-day basis.
“Especially in computer engineering, there are always so many different aspects of electronic hardware and software that you are constantly learning and innovating to be able to solve.”
As of early July, Cochrane was working a co-op job in engine test cell engineering at Standard Aero.
“Developing hardware and software to test aircraft engines and the challenges it provides on a daily basis make me excited to go to work every day, as I know it will never be the same.”
He also appreciates the opportunity to be the Bisons Against Bullying coordinator.
“I organize presentations in which athletes go and talk to children in Gr. 4-6 about bullying and how to stop and prevent it, while serving as role models,” Cochrane wrote. “I participate in lots of these presentations and enjoy the impact it has on the kids. We even attended and presented at a youth conference for high school kids in The Pas in March to five different regional schools of the area.”
He said that without the continued support of his family he wouldn’t have made it to where he is academically or athletically.
“They are always there to help and talk whenever I am stressed with school and sports. They sacrificed an immense amount of time to allow me to participate in swimming as a kid and I would not be where I am at without them. They still come and watch me swim in Winnipeg, which I really appreciate.”
