Bucknell University Athletics
Swimmer Mike Nicholson Named Bison Athlete of the Week
2/24/2014 3:53:00 PM | Men's Swimming and Diving
LEWISBURG, Pa. – Bucknell senior swimmer Mike Nicholson (Chappaqua, N.Y./Horace Greeley) was named the Bison Athlete of the Week on Monday after an outstanding Patriot League Championships that saw him finish first in two individual races, place second in another, and be a part of two school record-setting relays.
Nicholson entered the four-day Patriot League Championships with four individual school records and proceeded to lower two of those as he completed his PL career with 12 championship final appearances, including nine top-three finishes. He was honored following the meet as the highest point scorer in the Patriot League's Class of 2014. His 57 points this year ranked second to Navy's Thomas Duvall.
Nicholson opened his individual racing Thursday with his first career Patriot League 200 IM title, winning the event in a school-record time of 1:48.16, .65 faster than his own school mark set last February. He followed with a 400 IM crown the next night, touching the wall in 3:52.84, 1.62 seconds ahead of runner-up teammate Louis Behnen. Nicholson, one of only two swimmers in program history to go under 3:56.00 in the 400 IM, was just over 1.5 seconds shy of his own school standard.
A soon-to-be four-time First Team All-Patriot League selection, Nicholson wrapped up the Patriot League Championships with a second-place showing in the 200 fly. He finished fourth in the prelims with a school-record time of 1:48.07 and then shaved nearly two seconds off that to finish second in the finals in 1:46.17.
A 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials participant, Nicholson was also part of school records in the 200 and 400 medley relays this past week, while he helped the 400 free relay to the No. 7 time in program history.
Nicholson became the first Bison to win two events at the same Patriot League Championships since Luke Trafton in 2008 and his three career titles (he won 400 IM in 2011) are the most since Trafton claimed three crowns during his tenure (2007-10).
The owner of a record 16 Patriot League Male Swimmer of the Week awards during his career, this is the fifth time Nicholson has been named the Bison Athlete of the Week, including the first since his sophomore campaign.
In addition to his school records and gold medals, Nicholson has also hit NCAA “B” cut qualifying times this year in the 200 IM, 400 IM and 200 fly.
Nicholson's performance at the Patriot League Championships helped Bucknell finish fourth out of 10 teams in this year's expanded standings.
The Bison swimming & diving teams will be in action this weekend at the ECAC Championships back in Annapolis, Md., the host site of the Patriot League Championships. Nicholson won the 200 IM and 200 breast at the 2012 ECAC Championships.
Mike Nicholson's Career Patriot League Championships Finishes (individual)
2011: 1st in 400 IM, 3rd in 200 IM, 7th in 200 fly
2012: 2nd in 200 IM, 2nd in 400 IM, 6th in 200 fly
2013: 2nd in 400 IM, 3rd in 200 IM, 4th in 200 breast
2014: 1st in 200 IM, 1st in 400 IM, 2nd in 200 fly
Mike Nicholson on Bucknell's Top-10 Lists
200 breast – 1st, 1:59.61
200 fly – 1st, 1:46.17
200 IM – 1st, 1:48.16
400 IM – 1st, 3:51.31
1,000 free – 9th, 9:40.35
Patriot League Network Video Features on Mike Nicholson
Players Mentioned
