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2026 Women's Gymnastics Roster

Samantha Nickle

  • Height 5-0
  • Class Senior
  • Hometown Yorktown, Va.
  • High School York

Biography

NIU Career Bests: 
Vault- 9.775 (3x)
Bars- 9.800 (at Lindenwood, 2-26-23)
Beam- 9.775 (at USA Invitational, 1-17-24)
Floor - 9.875 (at NC State, 3-2-24)

2025
:
  • Competed in five events on Vault
  • Season-best of 9.725 twice on Vault (Kent State, 2-7 and WMU, 2-23)
  • Saw action in ten meets (two were exhibition) as part of the Beam lineup
  • Season-best of 9.700 on Beam vs Illinois State (1-24)
  • Was a part of the Floor lineup ten times (one exhibition)
  • Best score of the season came against Ball State with a 9.750
  • NQS of 9.350 (Beam) and 9.715 (Floor)
  • Named a 2025 Academic All-MAC Gymnast
2024
  • Competed 11 times on vault
  • Started on beam five times and floor three times
  • Earned NQS of 9.740 on vault and a 9.705 on beam
  • Earned season high 9.775 on vault three times
  • Scored a season high 9.875 on floor at NC State (2-25)
2023
  • Appeared in the competitive lineup on uneven parallel bars in 10 of 12 meets and compiled a NQS of 9.720 as a true freshman.
  • Earned her personal best of 9.800 at Lindenwood (2-26).
  • Scored above 9.700 in five of 10 meets and earned a 9.600 or higher seven times. 
  • Competed in the beam lineup at the first two meets of the season and in the exhibition spot on beam six times.
  • Twice earned a personal best of 9.700 – versus Iowa State in Des Moines (1-14) and in exhibition action at Lindenwood (2-26).
  • Exhibition gymnast on vault seven times, scoring 9.550 or above on every vault with a season high 9.750 at Western Michigan (3-4).
  • Scored a 9.725 in the exhibition vault line-up at Michigan State (3-11).
Prep
  • Trained at World Class Gymnastics in Newport News, VA. 
  • Two-time Developmental National Championships qualifier. 
  • Posted a career high all-around score of 37.85 at the 2021 Developmental National Championships. 
  • Has qualified four-times for the Region 7 meet and scored a personal best of 9.8 on the floor exercise in 2021 to win that event. 
  • Added a 9.45 on vault and 37.05 in the all-around to win those titles as well. 
  • Scored a personal best of 9.75 on vault and 9.525 on beam at the 2021 City of Lights meet. 
  • Was named an alternate for the 2021 Region 7 All-Star team.
Personal
  • Daughter of Susan and Garth Nickle. 
  • Intends to major in Computer Science. 
  • Achieved the highest academic honors in all four years of high school. 
  • Member of National Honor Society and Mu Alpha Theta.

Historical Player Information

  • 2023Freshman

    5'0"
  • 2024Sophomore

    5'0"
  • 2025Junior

    5'0"
  • 2026Senior

    5'0"