2018-19 / AS A JUNIOR
• Big Ten Sportsmanship Honoree
• Competed primarily in the 200 and 500 freestyle as well as the 200 breaststroke
• Posted season-best times in the 200 (1:39.22) and 500 free (4:31.01) while helping Purdue win the Hawkeye Invitational
• Registered a career-best time in the 200 breast (2:02.87) at the Big Ten Championships
• Finished his career ranked among the Purdue all-time top 15 in the 200 (1:37.04, 9th) and 500 free (4:25.58, 12th)
• Accounted for 11 team points at the Hawkeye Invite, scoring in the B finals of the 200 breast and 200 free
• Finished as the runner-up in the B final of the 200 breast at Iowa and was also a C finalist in the 500 free
• Swam the leadoff leg on Purdue’s top 800 free relay team at the Hawkeye Invite
• Raced in the 200 and 500 free as well as the 200 breast at Big Tens
• Won the 200 IM and anchored his 200 medley relay team to a heat victory at the Indiana Intercollegiates
2017-18 / AS A JUNIOR
• Competed primarily in the 200 and 500 freestyle
• Posted career-best times in the 100 (45.09), 200 (1:37.04) and 500 free (4:25.58) at the Big Ten Championships
• Represented Purdue at the USA Swimming’s Phillips 66 National Championships in July
• Victorious in the 200-meter freestyle at the Indiana Senior State Championships in July
• In program history, moved into eighth place in the 200 free and 12th place in the 500 free
• In 2017-18, ranked second on the team in the 200 free and third in the 500 and 1000 (9:32.55)
• Scored in the C final as Purdue’s top finisher in the 200 free at Big Tens
• Also swam on the 800 free relay at Big Tens, helping the quartet post the fifth-fastest time in program history
• Victorious in the 200 free in the season-opening dual meet win at Miami (Ohio)
• Qualified for the C final of the 200 free at the Purdue Invitational
2016-17 / AS A SOPHOMORE
• Competed primarily in the 200 and 500 freestyle
• Posted season-best times in the 200 (1:37.38), 500 (4:26.89) and 1650 free (15:48.20) at the Big Ten Championships
• Raced in the 500 free in every meet in which he competed
• Purdue's top finisher in the 500 free at Big Tens
• Contributed to the victorious 400 free relay team in the dual meet win vs. Miami (Ohio)
• Took third in the B final of the 200 free at Virginia Tech's H2Okie Fall Invitational to account for six team points
• Also raced in the 200 and 1650 free as well as the 200 back at Va Tech
• Represented Purdue at the U.S. Open Championships in August
2015-16 / AS A FRESHMAN
• Competed in the mid and distance freestyle events
• Ranked among the top five on the team in 2015-16 in the 200 (1:38.35, 4th), 500 (4:25.96, 1st), 1,000 (9:37.43, 4th) and 1,650 free (15:38.90, 4th)
• Posted his season-best times in the 200 and 500 free at the Purdue First Chance meet to earn one of final spots on the roster for Big Tens
• Won the 200 free and finished second in the 500 free at the Purdue First Chance meet, posting the 10th-fastest time in program history in the 500
• Finished 24th in the mile with his season-best time at Big Tens to account for one team point
• Accounted for four team points at the Purdue Invitational by qualifying for the B final of the 200 and 500 free along with a 15th-place finish in the mile
• Posted his season-best time in the 1000 free in the dual meet victory vs. Iowa
• Improved his 500 free time by 16 seconds and his mile time by 30 seconds from the start of the season to the end
HIGH SCHOOL
• Four-year letterwinner for coaches Jennifer Jervis and Trevor Tilly at Oakwood High School in Dayton, Ohio
• Four-year individual Ohio state qualifier
• Ohio state championships Division II Swimmer of the Meet as a senior after winning the 200 and 500 freestyle
• Helped Oakwood's 200 and 400 free relays win DII state titles as a junior
• Part of state championship teams as a sophomore and junior
• Established a new high school state record in the 200 free as a senior
• Also a state record holder in the 800-meter free relay on the club circuit
• Six-time Ohio state open water champion, including five straight from 2011 to 2015
• Junior Nationals qualifier
• Two-time USA Swimming Scholastic All-American as an upperclassman
• Four-time All-Ohio Interscholastic Team honoree
PERSONAL
• Major: Industrial Engineering
• Full name is Jackson Taylor Higgins
• Born in San Diego, California
• Parents are Daniel and Kelly Higgins
• Family also includes older sister Jordan
• Mother competed in swimming and tennis at Whitman College
Purdue Personal Preferences
Favorite Athlete: Brendan Hansen
Favorite Aquatic Center (Other Than Purdue): IU Natatorium
Swimmer He'd Like to Race: Connor Jaeger
Most Exciting Event to Watch at a College Meet: 200m Freestyle
Favorite Playoff Format/Marquee Event: The Olympics
Would Like to Have Dinner With: Hunter S. Thompson
Hidden Talent: I dabble in drawing
In His MP3 Player: Portugal. The Man
Last Book He Read: The Very Hungry Caterpillar
Favorite Actor, Actress & Director: Jake Gyllenhaal, Charlize Theron & Edgar Wright
Favorite Movie to Watch on Team Bus: Kung Fu Panda
Favorite Super-Hero: Batman
Favorite Sci-Fi Series: Rick and Morty
Favorite TV Show: Game of Thrones
Favorite Month: October
Favorite Holiday: Columbus Day
Favorite Food: Pizza
Favorite Dessert: Brownies
Favorite Outdoor Activity: Mud Wrestling
Another Sport He Enjoys Playing: Frisbee
Favorite Purdue Building: Small Animal Hospital
Favorite Purdue Athletic Venue (Besides Aquatic Center): Mackey Arena
Favorite Big City: Chicago
Country He'd Like to Visit: The Netherlands
Favorite Thing About the Boilermaker Aquatic Center: Chocolate Milk
Most Memorable Moment at Purdue: Training Trip to Florida
Best Thing About Being a Boilermaker: My Teammates
Enjoyed this Professor's Class: Mario Ventresca, Industrial Engineering
Furry Friend: Reno, Collie