Hall of Fame

Dave Nel completed his swimming career at UE in 2002, and returned to complete his degree with a double major of economics and finance in 2004. He was a four-time all-Missouri Valley Conference performer, and was MVC champion in the 200-yard medley relay in 1999, the 100-yard breaststroke in 2000, and the 400- and 800-yard freestyle relays in both 2001 and 2002. Two relays that Nel swam still hold Missouri Valley Conference records–the 800-yard freestyle event in 2001 with a time of 6:41.41 and the 400 free relay in 2002 with a time of 3:00.71. He still holds five University of Evansville individual records, in the 50-yard freestyle (:20.51), 200 backstroke (1:48.93), 100 breaststroke (:56.48), 200 individual medley (1:50.94) and 400 individual medley (4:01.29). Nel is also a member of all five relay teams in the UE record book. He made the MVC Scholar-Athlete Team in 2001, and is one of only five UE men on the Missouri Valley Conference All-Centennial Swimming & Diving Team. The native of South Africa earned a master’s degree at Southern Illinois University before returning to his home country.