University of Vermont Athletic Hall of Fame
Ben Nye 1997 - Swimming
A four-year standout on the men's swim team, Ben Nye, a 2008 UVM Hall of Fame inductee, was regularly a top finisher at the conference meet and held three individual school records in freestyle and butterfly upon graduation.
He wrapped up his career as a senior in 1997 with three high finishes at the America East Championship at Maine setting UVM records in two events. He placed third in the 1650 freestyle with a school-record time of 16:20.17 and came in fourth in the 500 free with a Vermont-record 4:43.21 snapping the record held for seven years by Hall of Famer Dan Canty '91. He also set a UVM record in the 1000 free in that meet with a time of 9:50.06 and came in third in the 200 butterfly in a personal best time of 1:57.31.
Nye capped an excellent junior year with a second place finish in the 1650 freestyle at the America East Championship in Delaware with a then-school record 16:24.03. His runner-up finish was the highest for the Catamounts at the meet. He also added a fifth place in the 500 freestyle and a seventh in the 200 butterfly.
He made an immediate impact at UVM in distance events setting a school and freshman record in the 1650 freestyle on February 19, 1994 coming in 10th at the America East Championship (16:50.21). Nye followed that up with a fifth place finish in the 1650 free (16:33.10- then school record), an eighth in the 500 free and a ninth in the 200 butterfly at the 1995 conference meet.
Well known on the team for his hard work and dedication in and out of the pool, Nye swam on many of the Catamounts relay teams at each meet. He was twice named the team's Peter Gross Athlete of the Year in 1996 and 1997, and was named the most improved swimmer in 1994.
A native of Essex Junction, he graduated from UVM with a degree in medical technologies. He was named to the America East Academic Honor Roll as a senior in 1997.
