Northern Illinois University Athletics

NIU Career Bests:
Vault - 9.725 (2x, last at Illinois State Meet [Champaign, Ill.], 3-5-16)
Beam - 9.775 (vs. Western Michigan, 3-4-18)
Floor - 9.850 (at Ball State, 2-17-19)
2019: Starter on floor (12 meets) and vault (5 meets) in 2019. Helped lead NIU to first MAC Championship in school history. Averaged a 9.733 in leadoff position for NIU on floor exercise and a 9.590 after moving into starting line-up for last four meets of the season on vault. Scored a season and career high 9.850 on floor exercise at Ball State to help NIU break the team record on floor. Posted nine scores of 9.700 or higher on floor with three above 9.800. Earned a season best 9.625 on vault in final two meets of the season after moving into the line-up due to an injury. Named Academic All-State, Dean’s List.
2018: Started on every floor lineup this season, missed only one vault lineup against Central Michigan (Jan. 28) and competed in seven beam lineups. Recorded a pair of 9.825 scores on floor to set her season-high. At the MAC Championship, Nicholas competed on vault with a 9.550 and floor with a 9.725. Recorded career-highs on beam against Western Michigan (March 4) with a 9.775 and on floor with a 9.825 against Ball State (Feb. 25) and again at Bowling Green (March 17).

2017: Started the season as an exhibition competitor on floor before making the lineup at Western Michigan (Feb. 12). She competed in three more competitions on the lineup against Eastern Michigan (Feb. 17), at Kentucky (Feb. 24) and at Central Michigan (March 11). Tied her career high against EMU of 9.750.

2016: Competed in 11 meets for the Huskies this season. Placed first on floor with 9.750 against UIC (1-16). Competed on the balance beam for the first three meets. Set her career-high on vault at the IGI Chicago Style Meet (2-12) posting a 9.725 and tied it at the State of Illinois Classic (3-5).

Prep: Trained at Pinnacle Gymnastics in Medina, Ohio under Amy Alexander...As a freshman earned first place on balance beam and third all-around at Regionals as well as second on balance beam, floor and all-around at State...During sophomore season finished second on vault at both Regionals and State...During her first season competing at level 10 (Junior year), she took second on vault at Regionals before heading to State and earning first place on vault and floor as well as a third place finish all-around...As a senior, Nicholas earned fourth at State on vault...Member of the National Honors Society, honor roll all four years, Student Council, yearbook and a student ambassador.  

Personal: Born Dec. 21, 1996 in Cleveland, Ohio...Daughter of Mark and Debbie Nicholas...majoring in Psychology.