Cleveland State’s Jackson Nester Wins Horizon League’s Cecil N. Coleman Medal of Honor
Cleveland State swimmer Jackson Nester was named the recipient of the Horizon League’s Cecil N. Coleman Medal of Honor.
The honor, introduced in 1981, is presented annually to the conference’s top male and female student-athletes, based on achievement in academics, athletics, and extracurricular activities.
Nester won the men’s award. The female honor went to Oakland University cross country/track & field athlete Grace Nolan. Nester is just the fourth Viking to earn the honor and the second male honoree.
“It is a great honor to receive this recognition from the Horizon League,” Nester said in a press release. “I am astounded to have been selected, as there are so many deserving athletes in this league.”
Nester graduated in the spring with a degree in mechanical engineering technology and a minor in general business. The Blacksburg, Va., native graduated summa cum laude with a cumulative 3.96 GPA. A three-time Horizon League All-Academic honoree, he was named the Horizon League Winter Scholar-Athlete of the season in April. Upon graduation, he began working in Virginia at Wabtec, a global provider of equipment and services for industries like freight rail, transit, mining, industrial services and the marine industry.
Nester was a four-time Horizon League champion in the 400 individual medley, four times setting the program record in that event. He scored in all 12 of his career individual events at the Horizon League Championships.
“I appreciate all the Horizon League has done, as it has provided me with so many great athletic and academic opportunities,” Nester said. “The Horizon League sets an example of the importance of academics while also encouraging students to succeed in their own sport. Both Cleveland State University and the Horizon League, I believe, have prepared me for my future.”
“Jackson is one of the hardest-working individuals that I’ve ever gotten to coach and someone that holds himself to incredibly high standards both in the pool and out of it,” Cleveland State swim coach Trent Richardson said. “Jackson is incredibly thoughtful in his everyday actions, and if you had a chance to speak with him, you would hear someone who is very considerate and provides so many examples of humility and passion. Jackson is a great swimmer, yes, but even more than that, he’s an exceptional human being – if I had to guess, I’d say the latter existed first and is what has led him to be so immensely successful.”
