2019-20 / AS A SENIOR
• Big Ten Sportsmanship Honoree
• Academic All-Big Ten
• CSCAA Honorable Mention Scholar All-America
• Competed primarily in the distance freestyle events
• Graduated in May with his bachelor’s degree as a double major
• Posted season-best times and the team’s top marks of the year in the 500 (4:23.80) and 1,650 free (15:17.27) at the Purdue Invitational
• Also registered career-best times in the 200 free (1:38.78) and 200 fly (1:50.35) at the Purdue Invite
• Scored in the mile with a time of 15:34.09 at the Big Ten Championships
• Finished his career ranked third among the Purdue all-time leaderboard in the 500 (4:21.20), 1,000 (9:07.21) and 1,650 free (15:10.79)
• Led the Purdue swimmers with nine individual event victories
• Swept the distance free events at the Big Ten Triple Duals for the second time in his career, finishing the annual two-day meet with five career wins
• Registered his season-best time in the 1,000 free (9:09.68) in the November dual meet at Tennessee, another mark that was a team best for the year
• One of only three Boilermakers to score in four individual events at the Purdue Invitational, accounting for 32.5 team points
• At the Purdue Invite, finished top five in the 500 and the mile while also scoring in the B final of 200 free and 200 fly
• Won the 500 free at Indiana and the 1,000 free vs. Notre Dame
• Swept the 500 and 1,000 free in the dual meet victory vs. Michigan State
• Won the 400 free at the FIU Sprint Invitational
• Swept the 200 and 500 free at the Indiana Intercollegiates
• Victorious in the 500 and 1,000 free as well as the 200 fly to lead the Gold team to victory at the season-opening intrasquad
2018-19 / AS A JUNIOR
• Academic All-Big Ten
• CSCAA Honorable Mention Scholar All-America
• Competed primarily in the distance freestyle events as well as the 200 free and 200 fly
• Posted season-best times in the 200 (1:38.88), 500 (4:22.66) and 1,650 free (15:31.43) at the Big Ten Championships
• Moved up to third place in program history with 1,000 split of 9:07.21 on the mile at Big Tens
• Also still third in team history in the 500 (4:21.20) and 1,650 free (15:10.79)
• Scored in the C final of the 500 free at Big Tens
• Accounted for 30 team points by scoring in all three of his individual events to help Purdue win at the Hawkeye Invitational
• Placed third in the A final of the 500 free and also took seventh overall in the mile at Iowa
• Shared the team lead with five individual event victories
• Victorious in the 500 free at the Big Ten Triple Duals and Indiana Intercollegiates
• Swept the 500 and 1,000 free at Michigan State; also won the 1,000 at Notre Dame
• Represented Purdue in the 1,000 free at the ACC/Big Ten Challenge
• Won his heat of the 200 fly with a season-best time (1:53.61) at the November Triple dual with Tennessee and Wisconsin
• Won gold in the 200-meter free at the Indiana Senior State Championships in July
• Represented Boilermaker Aquatics at the USA Swimming Phillips 66 National Championships in August
• Selected as one of eight student-athletes interns with Purdue Athletics for the summer, working in the communications office
2017-18 / AS A SOPHOMORE
• Big Ten Distinguished Scholar
• Academic All-Big Ten
• CSCAA Honorable Mention Scholar All-America
• Competed primarily in the distance freestyle events
• Posted career-best times in the 200 (1:39.34), 500 (4:21.20) and 1650 free (15:10.79) at the Big Ten Championships
• Moved into third place in program history in the 500 and 1650 free
• Also now third in Purdue history in the 1000 with a split of 9:09.64 on the mile at Big Tens
• Only Boilermaker to compete in the mile at Big Tens in 2017-18
• Ranked second on the team with 11 individual event victories
• Represented Purdue at the USA Swimming’s Phillips 66 National Championships in July, qualifying for the C final of the 400-meter free and placing 27th overall in both the 800 and 1500
• Won the 400-meter free at the Indiana Senior State Championships in July
• Accounted for 31 team points at the Big Ten Championships by finishing as the runner-up in the B final of the 500 free and 13th overall in the mile
• Swept the distance events in duals vs. Miami (Ohio), Iowa and Michigan State
• Also swept the distance events at the Big Ten Triple Duals in Minneapolis
• Won the 1000 at Hawaii and Indiana
• Accounted for 12 team points at the Purdue Invitational by placing seventh overall in the mile
• Also finished as the runner-up in the C final of the 500 free at the Purdue Invite
• Victorious in the 500 free at the Indiana Intercollegiates
2016-17 / AS A FRESHMAN
• Big Ten Freshman of the Week (Nov. 2)
• CSCAA Honorable Mention Scholar All-America
• Competed primarily in the distance freestyle events
• Ranks sixth in program history via career-best time of 9:12.81 in the 1,000 free, posting that time at the Big Ten Triple Duals
• Season bests in the 200 (1:40.36), 500 (4:27.39) and 1,650 free (15:27.54) were at the Big Ten Championships
• Ranked third on the team with 11 individual event victories
• Won the mile at Virginia Tech's H2Okie Fall Invitational, accounting for 40 team points after also scoring via a third-place finish in the A final of the 500 free and qualifying for the B final of the 400 IM (the only time he competed in the event)
• Purdue's top finisher in the mile at Big Tens
• Swept the distance freestyle events in dual meets vs. Miami (Ohio), Notre Dame and Michigan State
• Also swept the 200 and 500 free at the Indiana Intercollegiates
• Victorious in the 1,000 free in dual meets at Iowa and vs. Indiana
• Runner-up in both the 500 and 1,000 free at the Big Ten Triple Duals
HIGH SCHOOL
• Four-year varsity letterwinner for coach Evelynne Hernandez at Durango High School in Las Vegas
• Also part of the Sandpipers of Nevada club team
• Qualified for the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials in the 1,500 free
• Selected for the 2016 USA Swimming men's national team open water select camp roster
• Four-time first team all-sunset region honoree and regional finalist
• State finalist in the 200 IM and 500 free as a sophomore before focusing on freestyle as an upperclassman
• Finished as the runner-up at state in the 500 free as a junior
• Four-year scholar athlete award winner
• Team MVP as a sophomore
PERSONAL
• Major: Management / Psychology
• Full name is Nicholas Frederick McDowell
• Born in Las Vegas, Nevada
• Parents are Jimmy and Pamela McDowell
• Family also includes older siblings Timothy, Chrissy and Jamie
Purdue Personal Preferences
Favorite Pro Team: New Orleans Saints
Favorite Coach: Dan Ross
Favorite Aquatic Center (Other Than Purdue): IUPUI Natatorium
Swimmer He'd Like to Race Against: Katie Ledecky
Most Exciting Event to Watch at a College Meet: The Mile
Favorite Marquee Event: The Olympics
In His MP3 Player: Logic
Last Book He Read: To Kill a Mockingbird
Favorite Multimedia App: Netflix
Favorite Director: Quentin Tarantino
Favorite Movie to Watch on Team Bus: The Lego Movie
Favorite Super-Hero: Batman
TV Show He Can't Stop Watching: BoJack Horseman
Favorite Month: October
Favorite Holiday: Christmas
Favorite Food: Pizza
Favorite Dessert: Cookies
Favorite Outdoor Activity: Ultimate Frisbee
Another Sport He Enjoys Playing: Running
Favorite Purdue Building: Wilmeth Active Learning Center
Favorite Purdue Athletic Venue (Besides Aquatic Center): Ross-Ade Stadium
Favorite Big City: Las Vegas
Unique Travel Locale: New York City
Country He'd Like to Visit: Croatia
Favorite Thing About the Boilermaker Aquatic Center: The Hot Tub
Most Memorable Meet at Purdue: My First Meet
Best Thing About Being a Boilermaker: Great Teammates
Enjoyed this Professor's Class: George Hollich, Psychology