University of Minnesota Athletics

2019-20 Men's Swimming & Diving Roster

Nick Saulnier

Nick Saulnier

  • Class:
    Senior
  • Position:
    Backstroke/Freestyle
  • Hometown:
    Cedar Rapids, Iowa
  • High School:
    Washington HS
PRONUNCIATION
2019-20 Senior Season: Honored as a recipient of the 2020 Big Ten Sportsmanship Award · earned a spot in finals and finished sixth in the 200 free (1:34.88) with an NCAA ‘B’ cut time at the Big Ten Championships · placed fifth in the 200 free (1:40.97) at the Big Ten tri-dual versus Purdue and Northwestern · notched seventh place finishes in the 100 free (47.61) and 200 free (1:42.47) at USC · touched fifth in the 200 free (1:41.90) and sixth in the 100 free (46.21) versus Wisconsin · finished fifth in the 200 free (1:42.94) and sixth in the 200 back (1:56.54) against Iowa · placed seventh in both the 200 free (1:43.06) and the 200 back (1:57.84) at the Florida dual.

2018-19 Junior Season: At the Big Ten Championships, was part of the 800 free relay that placed fifth (6:22.87), took fourteenth in both the 200 free (1:35.72) and the 200 back (1:44.47). • Took fifth in the 100 back (49.62) and sixth in the 500 free (4:35.08) against Purdue and Northwestern. • Finished second in the 200 free (1:40.54), sixth in the 500 free (4:39.35), and fifth in the 200 IM (1:52.80) against USC. • Took fourth in the 100 back (51.78) and fifth in the 200 back (1:53.41) at the Hawaii Dual. • At the Minnesota Invite, took sixth in the 200 IM (1:51.22), third in the 100 back (48.99), and fourth in the 100 free (44.64). • At the Iowa Invitational, took second in the 200 free (1:36.97), was part of the 800 free relay that placed third (6:31.43), took seventh in the 200 back (1:48.09), and was part of the 400 free relay that placed third (2:55.44). • Finished second in the 200 free (1:40.70) and third in the 200 back (1:51.72) at the Florida State Dual. • Took fourth in both the 200 free (1:40.06) and the 200 back (1:51.12) at the Wisconsin Dual.

2017-18 Sophomore Season: At the NCAA Championship, swam with the 200 Free Relay that took eighteenth (1:17.63) and the 400 Free Relay that took twenty-fourth (2:53.66) • At the Big Ten Championships, swam in the 800 Free Relay that finished fifth (6:21.95), the 200 Free Relay that finished third (1:17.02), and the 400 Free Relay that finished 2:52.50) • finished third in the 200-yard free (1:38.90) and second in the 500-yard free (4:33.74) at the Triple Dual against Northwestern and Purdue. • Took fifth in the 200-yard free (1:42.35) vs. Denver • finished fifth in the 200-yard free (1:41.67) and seventh in the 500-yard free (4:43.46) vs. Hawai'i and Drury • took third in the 500-yard free (4:28.33), second in the 200-yard free (1:37.06), and third in the 200-yard back (1:45.68) at the Minnesota Invitational • placed third in the 200-yard free (1:39.29), fourth in the 200-yard back (1:50.12), and sixth in the 200 IM (1:53.49) vs. Iowa • took fifth place in the 200-yard free (1:40.41) and second place in the 500-yard free (4:36.52) against Florida State.

2016-17 Freshman Season: Named Most Improved by teammatesimproved times in the 200-yard free (1:36.24), 500-yard free (4:25.84) and 200-yard back (1:43.62) at the Big Ten Championships • earned a 1:40.51 in the 200-yard free against Iowa • improved times in the 500-yard free (4:38.98) and 200-yard back (1:49.11) at the Minnesota Invitational • notched a 1:39.54 in the 200-yard free and 1:47.36 in the 200-yard back at the Jean Freeman Invitational • earned second place in the 200-yard free with a 1:39.35 against Purdue and Northwestern.

High School/Club: Graduate of Washington High School in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where he swam for head coach Chris Cruise • set a school record in the 100 back with a time of 49.54 • notched a 1:49.8 in the 200 IM to break the school record • top time in the 200 back is 1:47.52 • swam the 200 free in 1:39.9 and the 500 free in 4:31.64 • All-American in the 100 back and 200 IM • 2013 Rookie of the Year • 2014 Most Valuable Player • all-state honoree in 2013 and 2014 • named to all-state first team in 2015 and 2016 • swam for the Iowa Flyers Swim Club under the instruction of coach Richard Salhus • qualified for the finals in the B heat at his first Junior Nationals in the 200 back by dropping nearly five seconds off his best time.

Personal: Son of Andrew and Michele Saunier • one sister, Hannah • intends to major in engineering.
 
Top Times at Minnesota
Event  Time Date
100 free 44.64 11/30/2018
200 free 1:34.88 2/24/2017
500 free 4:21.68 11/30/2017
100 back 51.78 1/12/2019
200 back 1:43.16 2/25/2017
200 IM 1:53.49 10/27/2017
Jacob Johnson - B1G Silver Medal
Saturday, March 01
YuTong Wang Wins 2024 Big Ten 1M Title
Monday, March 04
Max McHugh Wins Two B1G Titles
Monday, February 27
Jean K. Freeman Aquatic Center
Saturday, May 21