LA MIRADA, Calif. ---  For the second-straight year, Biola Athletics is taking to social media and its website to announce its annual EDDIES awards. Since we were unable to announce our finalists and celebrate student-athletes in person with an end-of-year banquet, we will take the next two weeks to do so online and via social media to look back at the most memorable performances of Spring 2021.

The process continues today as we announce the winner of the 2021 Male Newcomer of the Year award. This award is meant to honor the best of the first-year Eagles. The list includes both freshmen and transfers for the 2021 season. 

The 2021 winner of the Biola Male Newcomer of the Year award is Matthew Trejo from Biola Swim & Dive. Trejo joins Meghan Tolman as the second Biola swimmer to earn a 2021 EDDIES honor as Biola Sim & Dive sweeps the EDDIES in the category.  

In his first collegiate swim season, Trejo made a name for himself as the true freshman broke record after record. Trejo's first school record came in the 400-medley relay (3:25.87) alongside teammates Tanner Smith, James Gamette and Jonas Huckabay. 

Trejo earned his first individual collegiate victory in just his second meet, as the Manteca, California native outswam the runner-up in the 100-butterfly with a :51.79 to :52.07 for the victory.

Trejo was selected amongst a small group to go to the elite UNLV Invite where he continued to shine. There, he broke the school record in the 100-butterfly with a time of :50.47, a personal best for Trejo by about a half-second. 

Trejo continued to make history at the UNLV Invite as the freshman helped set two more school records in both the 400-freestyle (3:04.00)and 200-medley (1:33.64) alongside his teammates.

During his outstanding freshman campaign, Trejo earned his first career PCSC Weekly honor. Trejo's success continued at the PCSC Championship meet where he helped Biola Swim win the conference title for the first time with more record-setting efforts. 

Trejo's first school record of the championship meet was in the 200-medley relay (1:33.30). He went on to re-break the individual record in the 100-butterfly (49.35) to take home the conference title. Trejo's final school record in the 2021 season came in the 400-freestyle (3:01.94) to beat FPU by three seconds and secure the PCSC Championship Title. 

Trejo's efforts in the pool this spring helped Biola launch itself into the top-25 programs in NCAA Division II, as measured by championship points.

"Butterfly is one of the more demanding strokes of swim, but Matthew Trejo made it look easy this year. He had a fantastic freshman season and will continue to be an important part of this men's swim & dive program as it continues to build," said Associate Athletic Director Neil Morgan. "His dominance of the butterfly events at PCSC made a big impact on the Eagles' ability to win the championship."

Past Male Newcomer of the Year Award Winners:
Matthew Trejo (2021)
Alexei Prokopchuk (2020)
Alex Wright (2019)
Isaiah Jones (2018)
Derek James (2017)

Head on over to our @BiolaAthletics Instagram account to leave some love for Matthew.

On Wednesday, we plan to announce the 2021 recipient of the Breakout Performance of the Year Award.

EDDIES Release Schedule 
July 5 - Finalists Announced - Female Newcomer of the Year 
July 6 - Finalists Announced - Male Newcomer of the Year
July 7 - Finalists Announced - Breakout Performance of the Year
July 8 - Finalists Announced - Female Student-Athlete of the Year
July 9 - Finalists Announced - Male Student-Athlete of the Year
July 12 - Winner Announced - Female Newcomer of the Year
July 13 - Winner Announced - Male Newcomer of the Year
July 14 - Winner Announced - Breakout Performance of the Year
July 15 - Winner Announced - Female Student-Athlete of the Year
July 16 - Winner Announced - Male Student-Athlete of the Year
July 19 - Winner Announced - Dr. Dave Holmquist Career Achievement Award