2025-26 Men's Swimming & Diving Roster
Max Nielsen
- Height:
- 6-4
- Weight:
- 190
- Class:
- Senior
- Hometown:
- Phoenix, Ariz.
- High School:
- Desert Vista High School
2024-25 (Junior)
- Competed in multiple events at the 2025 Big 12 Swimming and Diving Championships
- Represented WVU at the U.S. Open Championships in Greensboro, North Carolina
- Finished third in the 50-yard freestyle (21.03) against Villanova
- Part of the relay team that won the 400-yard freestyle relay (2:59.74) against Villanova
- Part of the relay team that placed second in the 200-yard medley relay (1:30.93) against Villanova
- Placed third in the 100-yard freestyle (46.86) against Kentucky
- Named to the College Sports Communicators 2024-25 Academic All-District Team
- 2025 Winter Academic All-Big 12 Team
- Dr. Gerald Lage Academic Achievement Award recipient
2023-24 (Sophomore)
- Part of the 800-yard freestyle relay team that set a program record (6:26.02) and earned a bronze medal at the 2024 Big 12 Swimming and Diving Championships
- Placed second in the B final of the 200-yard freestyle (1:36.55) at the 2024 Big 12 Swimming and Diving Championships
- Competed in the C final of the 100-yard backstroke (50.07) at the 2024 Big 12 Swimming and Diving Championships
- Won the 200-yard freestyle (1:39.30) against Villanova
- Placed second in the 100-yard freestyle (46.02) event against Villanova
- Part of the 200-yard medley relay (1:31.67) team that placed third against Villanova
- Finished in second place in the 200-yard freestyle (1:37.87) event at the WVU Invitational
- Part of two relay teams that won at the WVU Invitational (800-yard freestyle (6:34.19) and the 400-yard freestyle (2:56.66))
- Placed second in the 200-yard freestyle (1:41.33) event against Cincinnati
- Part of the 400-yard freestyle (2:58.62) relay team that set a pool record at the Keating Aquatics Center against Cincinnati
- Part of the relay team that won the 200-yard freestyle (1:21.54) relay against Cincinnati
- Finished in third place in the 200-yard freestyle event at the WV State Games
- Named to the College Sports Communicators 2023-24 Academic All-District Team
2022-23 (Freshman)
- Finished in third-place in the men’s 800 freestyle relay with Roanoke Shirk, Jamin Harlan and William Mullen at the Big 12 Swimming and Diving Championships
- Finished in eighth-place in the 500 freestyle event at the Big 12 Swimming and Diving Championships
- Placed seventh in the 200-yard freestyle (1:37.99) at the Big 12 Championships
- Won the 400-yard freestyle relay with Conner McBeth, Dylan Melin and David Snider at the West Virginia State Games
- Won the 400-yard freestyle relay with Braden Osborn, Shirk and Conner McBeth against the University of Cincinnati
- Won the 400-yard freestyle relay with Shirk, Osborn and McBeth at the WVU Invitational
- Defeated Pittsburgh in the 400-yard freestyle relay with Shirk, Osborn and McBeth
- Big 12 Men's Newcomer of the Week (November 23, 2022)
- Second Team All-Big 12
High School
- Attended Desert Vista and McClintock High School, swam for Shawn O’Connell at DV
- Compete for Gold Medal Swim Club under coach Michael Chasson and Jens Nielsen
- McClintock Rookie of the Year and MVP during his sophomore year
- Desert Vista Rookie of the Year and DV MVP during his senior year
- At states, Nielsen took second in the 100 free and sixth in the 500 free (senior year)
- 200 free and 400 free relay state champion (senior year)
Personal
- Son of Jens and Ann Nielsen
- Dad, Jens, swam at Iowa State, while his mom, Ann, swam at Cal Berkley
- Birthday is May 14
- Has one sister
- Majoring in finance
- Big 12 Commissioner's Honor Roll
- Garrett Ford Academic Honor Roll
2025-26 WVU Swimming and Diving Hype Video
Thursday, September 25
Behind-the-Scenes at Swimming and Diving's Media Day
Monday, September 08
WVU Swim and Dive 2025-26 Schedule Release Video
Thursday, August 21
S&D: What it Means to Represent West Virginia
Thursday, June 19
