Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell's Mike Nicholson Named Patriot League Male Swimmer of the Week for Third Time this Season
1/31/2011 7:00:00 AM | Men's Swimming and Diving
Jan. 31, 2011
LEWISBURG, Pa. - For the second time in three weeks, Bucknell freshman swimmer Mike Nicholson (Chappaqua, N.Y./Horace Greeley) earned Patriot League Male Swimmer of the Week honors, the league office announced on Monday. Nicholson posted three victories by a combined 11.89 seconds in last Friday's home dual meet against Connecticut (L, 177.5-116.5).
Nicholson, who now has 23 first-place finishes this year, including 11 in the last four dual meets, claimed three of Bucknell's five first-place showings against the Huskies as he won the 200-yard butterfly, the 200 breaststroke and the 200 individual medley.
In addition to his three victories, Nicholson was able to move up a pair of Bison top-10 lists. He swam the 200 fly in 1 minute, 50.99 seconds, placing him second in program history behind only Bucknell Hall of Famer Jim Harvey's 23-year-old record (1:50.30). Nicholson previously listed seventh on that list.
Nicholson made a similar jump in the 200 breast where he moved from eighth to fifth on the program's all-time list by touching the wall in 2:05.00, .83 seconds faster than his previous best mark.
The freshman was unable to record a personal best in the 200 IM, but still claimed victory in 1:53.26, marking his second-best time in the event this year.
Nicholson won in dominate fashion on Friday evening as his closest competitor in any event was 2.76 seconds behind him (200 fly). He won the 200 breast by 6.03 seconds and the 200 IM by 3.10.
Nicholson swam in just one event (100 fly) in Saturday's Bison Invitational and took third in 52.62. It was his first time swimming the 100 fly this season.
Monday's honor marks the third time this year Nicholson has been named Patriot League Male Swimmer of the Week. He was also cited as the Susquehanna Valley Limousine Bison Athlete of the Week once.
Bucknell (6-5, 4-2) will be idle until the Patriot League Championships Feb. 17-19 in Kinney Natatorium. For tickets to the event, call the Campus Box Office at 570-577-1000 or visit www.bucknell.edu/boxoffice.
