Hall of Fame
A native of Doncaster, England, David Holmes swam at Binghamton from 2004-07. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in human development in 2007.
In three dominating years for the Bearcats, Holmes set 93 records, won 34 conference titles and became the first male swimmer in America East history to advance to the NCAA Championship. His leadership and multi-event ability lifted BU to an overall win percentage of 75 percent and three straight conference runnerup finishes during his tenure. He also qualified for the 2004 and 2008 Olympic Trials for Great Britain.
In his first year at Binghamton in 2004-05, Holmes won eight combined America East and ECAC crowns and set 11 school records as the Bearcats posted a 9-3 dual meet record and a runnerup showing at the America East Championship.
One year later, he tacked on 14 more titles and led the team to a 9-2 record and repeat America East runnerup status. In the span of 11 days, Holmes won individual gold in six different events spanning the America East and ECAC Championships. Holmes set conference records in the 100 and 200 butterfly and 200 IM, hitting the NCAA “B” cut in the 200 fly. One week later, he rattled off six titles at the ECAC Championship, winning individual gold in the 100 fly, 100 free and 500 free to go with three relay crowns. Holmes swam another NCAA “B” cut — this time in the 200 free — and was selected as the meet’s Most Outstanding Performer.
In his final collegiate season, Holmes helped BU hoist more hardware with another runnerup team finish at the America East Championship, where he was honored as the Most Outstanding Swimmer. Holmes set new school and conference marks in the 200 fly, 200 free and 500 free and swam on BU’s winning 200 and 400 medley and 400 free relays.
After winning three more titles and repeating as MOP at the ECAC Championship, Holmes made school and conference history by competing at the NCAA Championship in Minneapolis. He finished among the nation’s top-30 in three different events and stepped out of the pool holding school records in seven of 14 individual events and all five relays.
Holmes was honored as the BU “Athlete of the Year” in 2005-06 and was awarded the John Bilos Award in 2007.
