- 2006 Northwoods League All-Star Team
- Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll (Fall 2005; Spring 2006)
2007 Outlook: With the number of veteran pitchers on last year’s staff, redshirt freshman Mike Nihsen (pronounced NISSEN) was able to develop at his own pace and put himself in line for a major role in 2007 ? Dominated the Northwoods League over the summer, going 9-2 with a 1.04 ERA ? Works consistently in the upper 80s with a solid off-speed arsenal and is consistently around the strike zone ? Is one of the front-runners to be NU’s midweek starter or could prove more valuable working out of the bullpen on conference weekends.
2006: Nihsen redshirted during the season ? Spent the summer pitching for Duluth in the Northwoods League ? Earned all-star honors as the Huskies reached the Northwoods League Playoffs with a 53-25 record ? Compiled a 9-2 record with a 1.04 ERA in 77.2 innings of work, as he tied for the league lead in wins and shutouts (two) and ranked second in ERA ? Fanned 40 and walked just 16 while holding foes to a .181 batting average.
Ralston High School: Nihsen was one of the state’s top hurlers, playing for Ralston High School and Coaches Marty Santoni and Curt Shockey ? Compiled a 5-3 mark with a 2.27 ERA as a senior, striking out 68 and walking 20 over 52.1 innings ? Was a two-way performer during American Legion ball, hitting .452 with seven homers and 36 RBIs in 2005 ? Lettered all four seasons at Ralston, earning all-state honors with a 5-2 mark in 2003 ? Fanned 14 in a nine-inning one-hitter against No. 4 Creighton Prep as a freshman ? Played basketball and football at RHS, earning all-state recognition after guiding the Rams to a Class B state football playoffs in 2004 ? Helped his basketball team to state runner-up finishes in both 2002 and 2003 ? Nominated for the state’s Wendy’s High School Heisman for his athletic and academic accomplishments ? Named to the honor roll all four years and graduated with high honors while taking several advanced classes ? Chose Nebraska over Creighton, Iowa Western and Wayne State.
Personal: Born on Nov. 5, 1986, in Omaha ? Parents are Don Nihsen and Connie Nihsen ? Has two brothers (Jason and Dustin) ? Has not declared a major.