Senior swimmer Nicole López Kohlmann has been making headlines with her remarkable performances this season. The Marketing and Management double-major from Mexico City recently earned NEC Prime Performer honors for the second time this season after an outstanding performance at the Western Pennsylvania Invitational at Carnegie Mellon on Jan. 26-27.
When this issue of the Troubadour went to press, López Kohlmann and her teammates were competing at the 2024 NEC Championship in Geneva, Ohio.
In the 500-yard freestyle at the Western PA Invitational, López Kohlmann finished runner-up in a time of 5:01.91. Her speed and endurance were again on display in the 200-yard freestyle, where she claimed third place with a time of 1:54.97.
She also finished in the top five in the 50-yard freestyle at CMU, placing fifth with a time of 24.87.
“Nicole is an exceptional athlete with a strong work ethic,” said Red Flash head swimming coach Phil Hurley. “She always gives her best in practice and it shows in her performance during meets.”
López Kohlmann’s commitment to her training regimen and her passion for the sport have enabled her to enjoy success throughout her collegiate career.
Before enrolling at Saint Francis in 2020, she swam at Mexico’s National Meet, as well as the Arena Pro-Swim Series and the Central American Championships.
She is poised to make a significant impact at this week’s NEC Championship and is a strong contender for gold in multiple events. The senior has a number of top five showings at the NEC finals in her career – including a runner-up performance in the 400-IM in 2023 – but has yet to capture conference gold.
“After the last meet, I feel ready and motivated for NECs,” said López Kohlmann, whose passion for swimming began at a young age. “We all have been working very hard and we can have great results (at the conference finals).”
In addition to her athletic achievements, López Kohlmann has found success academically at Saint Francis, maintaining a strong GPA while balancing her studies with her training schedule. She has also been active in various community service projects during her four years in Loretto.
