Wheaton, Ill. - The Wheaton College Athletics Department will induct three new members into the Wheaton Athletics Hall of Honor this weekend as part of the 2026 Homecoming Weekend. Founded in 1976, the Wheaton College Athletic Hall of Honor is dedicated to recognizing former players, teams, and coaches who have made a significant contribution to Wheaton athletics. Wheaton recognizes athletics as an integral part of the educational program of the college; its nominees have proven to have learned valuable lessons in discipline, sacrifice, perseverance, cooperation, and commitment. The three inductees into the Hall of Honor this year are:
Nick Biggee, Jon Nielson, and Nick Biggee.
HALL OF HONOR RECEPTION: The Hall of Honor reception will be held outdoors at Keul Patio from 10:30 AM-12:30 PM. Keul Patio is across College Avenue from McCully Stadium, located between Beamer Center, the Welcome Center and Ruth Leedy Field. Food will be provided for honorees, guests of honorees, family, friends and alumni. In case of rain, the reception will be held in the King Arena Lobby in Chrouser Sports Complex.
The honorees will be recognized at halftime of Saturday's Wheaton-North Park football game at McCully Stadium.
Nick Biggee '11
Football
Nick Biggee was an anchor on the Wheaton offensive line in his four seasons at Wheaton (2007-10). Once he earned a starting spot, he never let up in that role, starting 33-consecutive games up front. Nick was a proud recipient of the team's "John Henry Hammer" award.
He saw significant playing time as a sophomore at offensive tackle in 2008 for the Thunder squad that made the program's first and only appearance in a NCAA Division III Semifinal. He recalls that the playoff run that season was a favorite memory of his as the team won three games in Indiana, including a 45-28 victory at Franklin with considerable snow at the game. He earned his first All-CCIW award as a Second Team selection as a junior in 2009.
Biggee picked up First Team All-CCIW honors as a senior in 2010 and was also named a First Team All-American by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA). Biggee earned Second Team All-North Region honors at Center from D3football.com as a senior. In 2010, he served as a team captain for a Thunder squad that posted a 10-2 record and advanced to the Second Round of the 2010 NCAA Division III Playoffs, earning a home win against Coe College in the opening round.
Nick reflects on a life lesson learned in his time on the gridiron for the Thunder. He still recalls coach Mike Swider's mantra 'Living Life Without Regrets'. "Coach Swider taught us that every day you have to give your very best and be okay looking yourself in the mirror at the end of the night knowing you gave your best," recalls Biggee.
Today, Nick and his wife Brittni reside in Williamston, Michigan with their two children Bella (8) and Brady (6). He is an owner/operator of Chick-fil-A restaurants in Lansing and Okemos, Michigan.
Jon Nielson '05
Men's Basketball
Jon Nielson served as a three-year starter and two-time team captain for the Wheaton men's basketball program in his time on the court (2001-05). Over that span, Wheaton compiled a record of 75-26, including a 41-10 record in the two seasons he served as team captain (2003-04 & 2004-05).
Nielson earned three All-CCIW awards in his four seasons at Wheaton and was a D3hoops.com All-Region honoree as a senior in 2005. He was recognized as an ESPN The Magazine Academic All-American at the conclusion of his senior campaign. He was just the second Wheaton men's basketball player to be named a CoSIDA/CSC Academic All-American, a number that now totals 10 players (11 selections).
Nielson became just the second player from Wheaton to be selected as a finalist for the Jostens Trophy. In the years that followed, the program has produced a record 14 finalists for the top individual award in Division III men's basketball.
As a senior in 2005, Jon was a CCIW and Division III leader in assists with nearly five assists per game. He helped Wheaton earn an at-large berth to the NCAA Division III Tournament, the program's first NCAA appearance since 1999.
The quintessential point guard, Nielson distributed 411 assists in his Thunder career, a mark that ranked third in program history at the time of his graduation and is fifth today. He scored 1,014 career points and graduated as just the third player in Wheaton history to score at least 1,000 points with 400 assists in a group that now includes six players.
Jon says of his time in the 'Orange and Blue,' "Through my experience as a Wheaton College athlete, I learned the importance of discipline, integrity, character, humility, and intense effort – and above all the importance of applying those to my walk with Christ. Coach Bill Harris challenged us as players and held us accountable, but did so always pointing to the eternally significant realities of our sin, our need for a Savior, the grace of God to sinners through Christ, and the vital importance of the local church. I thank God for the blessing that Wheaton Basketball was in my life as an 18–22-year-old young man."
Jon and his wife Jeanne live in West Chicago with their four daughters: Addey (15), Averie (14), Emilie (12) and Lucy (8). He is the senior and founding pastor at Christ Presbyterian Church of Wheaton (PCA).
Seth Norton
Wrestling Coach
Dr. Seth Norton spent 12 seasons as the head coach of the Wheaton wrestling team. After one year as assistant coach in 1995-96, Norton replaced Pete Willson. Norton was named the 2006-07 CCIW "Coach of the Year" by his peers as he led Wheaton to a top-three finish at the conference championships. Norton helped guide Paul Elsen (177-pounds) and Dan Weber (165-pounds) to Division III Championships during his tenure and coached five All-Americans in his time with the program.
In 2000-01, Norton's team nearly knocked perennial conference champion Augustana off its throne, coming within a half-point of the Vikings at the CCIW Championships. Later that season Norton was alongside senior Dan Weber as he posted an undefeated season and also won a national championship. Norton's team finished fifth at the 2001 Division III Regional.
Norton coached Wheaton to a successful campaign in the 1999-2000 season. The team grappled its way to a third-place effort at the CCIW Championships behind winner Augustana. At the NCAA Division III Great Lakes Regional Championships, the team finished fourth. Wheaton's Emery Petchauer (141-pounds) and Dan Weber (157-pounds) each won a NCAA Division III Great Lakes Regional Championship in their weight class as Weber went on to place third at the Division III National Championships to earn All-American honors.
In 2002-03 Wheaton finished 17th at the NCAA Division III Championships as Sean Collins earned All-American honors with a fifth-place finish at 149-pounds and David Hirt also earned All-American recognition with a seventh-place finish at 184-pounds. Collins and Tony Nord won conference titles that season in another career highlight for Norton.
Norton is the Carl R. Hendrickson Distinguished Chair in Business at Wheaton, and the former Director of the Wheaton Center for Faith, Politics & Economics. Collegiately, Norton wrestled at Northwestern University. He was a NCAA national tournament quarterfinalist both seasons and a Midlands Invitational champion in 1968.
Norton graduated from Northwestern in 1969 with a bachelor's degree in history, earned a master's degree in public policy from the University of Wisconsin in 1971, an MBA from the University of Chicago in 1975, and a Ph.D. in economics from University of Chicago in 1982. Seth was inducted into the Illinois Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association (IWCOA) Hall of Fame in 2020.
Dr. Norton and his wife Linda reside in Wheaton. The couple has two adult daughters, Inga and Marta – both Wheaton graduates who now work in finance. Inga lives in New York City, while Marta and her husband Sean live in suburban Chicagoland with their three children.
