Senior Salute: Natalie Nichols – Ohio State Buckeyes
1/19/2012 12:00:00 AM | Women's Swim & Dive
Jan. 19, 2012
Columbus, Ohio –
With Senior Day fast approaching, OhioStateBuckeyes.com will take time the next two weeks to feature each Buckeye graduating this season. The senior members of the women’s swimming and diving team will be recognized Saturday, January 21, at McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion in a dual meet vs. Michigan.
For Natalie Nichols, swimming at Ohio State hasn’t always been a smooth ride. In fact, the distance freestyle specialist has had plenty of ups and downs throughout her career as a Buckeye.
“Natalie has probably improved as much, if not more than, any other athlete in our program,” Ohio State head coach Bill Dorenkott said. “She paid her dues, struggling for two or three years with disappointments and setbacks. She didn’t really have a great training group – our distance program was still pretty much in its infancy. To her credit, she really stuck with it.”
Nichols credits her head coach at Fullerton Aquatics Sports Team, Kevin Perry, for instilling in her the drive and determination to stick with collegiate swimming, even when it wasn’t easy.
“Kevin Perry from F.A.S.T. was really the one who developed me into a swimmer. My senior year he was diagnosed with cancer and ended up passing away,” Nichols said. “His love of the sport is what helps me carry on when things aren’t going my way. I wanted to do well in college because of all the time and effort he put into me.”
Despite the early setbacks, Nichols embraced the challenges and continued to put in the effort needed to become a better swimmer. This June she will compete at the U.S. Olympic Trials, an honor she says is one of the greatest achievements of her swimming career.
“After all the obstacles and challenges I’ve had throughout my career, just realizing I made it and accomplished one of my main goals in swimming was a really big moment for me,” Nichols said.
In order to make the Olympic Trials, Nichols had to post a qualifying time at the U.S. Nationals this past summer, an opportunity she almost didn’t have.
“Natalie convinced me to take her to Nationals this summer as a relay alternate, and I’m certainly glad I did because she went out there and picked up her Trial cut,” Dorenkott said. “She’s just been a terrific example to our underclassmen, showing them what it takes to be successful on both a personal and athletic level.”
Looking back on her time at Ohio State, Nichols expressed the pride she has for the school as well as the people who make it special.
“You have to have a lot of pride in this school. It’s such a unique experience – nowhere is like Ohio State,” Nichols said. “When I came here it was a lot like the atmosphere I was around with my club team. I just ended up loving my teammates; they push me every day.”
