Completed Event: Men's Swimming and Diving versus Arizona Christian on December 13, 2025 ,
M Swimming
vs Arizona Christian
Grand Canyon University Athletics
Nikolaev named WAC's top male
7/1/2019 9:09:00 AM | General, Men's Swimming and Diving
Senior swimmer was 3-time WAC Swimmer of Year
Grand Canyon senior swimmer Mark Nikolaev was named the WAC's male winner for the Joe Kearney Award, presented to the top student-athlete in the conference.
Nikolaev finished his GCU career as the program's most decorated swimmer – a three-time WAC Men's Swimmer of the Year, an All-America first-team selection, an All-America honorable mention and the holder of the fifth-fastest time in NCAA history for the 100-yard backstroke.
The Seltso, Russia, native finished third in the 100 backstroke at the NCAA Championships in March in a time of 44.33 seconds, which would have won the event in 2018. He holds two of the fastest 10 swims in NCAA 100-yard backstroke history.
He competed at the NCAA Championships in both of GCU's eligible seasons, finishing 10th as a junior to be an All-America honorable mention and third as a senior to be on the All-America first team. He helped the team to a 32nd-place finish nationally.
"A lot of people haven't heard of GCU, but now they have," said Nikolaev, who received his only Division I scholarship offer from GCU. "It's great for generations to come.
"I would like to be here four more years easily. It was a great experience. I loved it all. I improved every year, not only as a swimmer but as a person. And as a team, we improved and we finally won the WAC championship this year. It meant a lot for us as a team and me as well. I'm proud of it."
Nikolaev was a seven-time first team All-WAC honoree as a senior, leading the Lopes to their first-ever WAC Swimming and Diving Championship in March. He also broke a 22-year-old WAC record in the 100-yard freestyle.
He ranks No. 1 in the world in the 50-meter backstroke by the International Swimming Federation after posting a time of 24.23 at the Russian National Swimming Championships.
"Mark is one of those rare individuals who is one of the best in the world at what he does, yet is so humble that he really doesn't think that he is that good," GCU head coach Steve Schaffer said. "Mark is the type of athlete any coach would want. He has always led by example and always made time to help his teammates get better. In his last years at GCU, Mark took the next step to be a more vocal leader and I believe that in doing so, helped his team bring home its first WAC Championship."
Nikolaev joins female Joe Kearney Award winner Brooke Salas, a basketball player at New Mexico State.
Nikolaev becomes the first GCU student-athlete to receive the honor since basketball student-athlete DeWayne Russell claimed the award for 2016-17.
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Swimming and Diving
“We can’t say thank you enough…”
Monday, April 27
Beach Volleyball Gets In
Monday, April 27
#TrickShots Tuesday with GCU Men's #Golf
Monday, April 27
It's senior day for the visitors too 💜 #softball
Monday, April 27