Nancy Bechtholdt Koch swam for the Vandals from 1979-1982. Koch not only qualified for nationals four times, she brought home eight individual national championships and set several national records.
She was a 24-time All-American, and was named the Idaho Female Athlete of the Year for the 1979 season and still holds three Idaho school records.
Her 500-yard freestyle record is nearly eight seconds better than the school’s next best. Her 1,000-yard freestyle time is three seconds faster than anyone else has ever swam at Idaho and her 1,650-yard freestyle school record is nearly 20 seconds faster than any other Vandal’s effort.
Koch still holds all-time top-10 times in the 100- and 200-yard freestyle.
Behind Kock, Idaho finished fifth in 1981 at nationals and seventh in 1982.
Koch led the way for the school’s highest national team finish by winning the 100- and 200-yard freestyle, placing second in the 500-yard freestyle and third in the 1,650-yard freestyle. She was on the 800-yard freestyle relay team that finished second 400-yard medley relay team that finished fourth.
Koch won her fourth 200-yard freestyle title at the 1982 championship. She also won the 1,650-yard freestyle and placed fourth in the 100-yard freestyle and placed on three relays.
