Nick Chase

Nick Chase ’19 was one of the most accomplished swimmers in Dowling Catholic history. A four-year varsity letterwinner, Chase earned 14 state swimming medals and was a three-time state champion. He won back-to-back state championships in the 100-yard backstroke in 2018 and 2019 and was also a member of the state championship 200-yard medley relay team.

 

Chase left a lasting mark on the Dowling Catholic swimming program, setting school records in the 200-yard medley relay in 2018 and the 100-yard backstroke in 2019. His achievements also included two High School All-American honors, five first-team Iowa High School Swimming Coaches Association All-State selections and two appearances on the Des Moines Register All-Iowa Boys’ Swimming Team. In 2019, he was named a finalist for the Des Moines Register All-Iowa Boys’ Swimmer of the Year.

 

A standout student-athlete, Chase was named Dowling Catholic’s Athlete of the Year for the 2018–19 school year and received the John B. Hayes Award during the 2017–18 academic year. He was also a four-time CIML academic honoree, a member of the National Honor Society and earned the Aquinas Key, Excellence Medal and academic letter.

 

Chase continued his swimming career at the University of Notre Dame, where he earned a varsity letter, became a member of the Notre Dame Monogram Club and served as team captain during the 2022–23 season. In 2023, he received the Hipp-Bealer Award, which recognizes student-athletes who give their all each day and help unite their team through leadership. His academic accomplishments at Notre Dame included four ACC Honor Roll selections and three appearances on the Mendoza College of Business Dean’s List.

 

Following graduation, Chase returned to the Des Moines area and now serves as Senior Manager of Enterprise Growth at The Waldinger Corporation. When reflecting on his time at Dowling Catholic, Chase is most grateful for the lifelong friendships and mentors who shaped his experience. Among his favorite memories are the guidance of Coach Crouch, sharing an English class with his cousin Jesse and the swim team breakfasts that brought teammates together outside of the pool.