Utica University Athletics

A four-time NCAA Division III All-American, eight-time National Qualifier in track & field, 12-time Empire 8 Conference Champion, seven-time New York State Champion and four-time ECAC Division III Champion, Nicodemus Gambill is one of the most accomplished runners in Utica men’s track & field program history. His efforts helped guide Utica to back-to-back Empire 8 Conference Outdoor Track & Field team championships. His dedication to and commitment to excellence as a Utica athlete awarded him the Dick Miller award his senior year. 

Throughout his remarkable career, Gambill totaled 53 first place finishes across various meets and events. He competed in the 60m, 100m, 200m, 4x100m, 4x200m, and 4x400m. In Individual events, he placed first 18 times in the 200m, 15 times in the 60m and 11 times in the 100m.
He finds himself in the school and Empire 8 record books in several categories. At the 2017 NCAA Championships, he ran a 6.82 60m in the preliminary round, qualifying himself for the finals. This time was an all-time indoor best and set a school and Empire 8 record. His 21.91 200m at the 2016 ECAC Championships stand as a school and Empire 8 Record as well. Gambill also holds two records in outdoor competitions with a 10.51 time in the 100m (school and Empire 8 record) and holds the Utica record in the outdoor 200m with` a 21.38 time in the Oneonta Final Qualifier in 2017.

A champion in many regards, his reign of dominance in the Empire 8 began in the 2015 Empire 8 Championships where he took both the 100m and 200m crown with times of 10.68 and 21.72. He would go on to win 10 more times, with his most decorated Empire 8 event being the 200m in which he was a champion five times.

Gambill’s successes extended beyond the Empire 8 where he continued to be a winner, excelling in ECAC and New York State Championship meets. A four-time ECAC champion, winning the 60m and 200m his junior and the 60m and 100m his senior year in 2017. His first New York State Championship came in winter competition during the 2016 season with a time of 6.92 in the 60m and 22.17 in the 200m. Winning a total of seven New York State Championships, he was also an eight-time national qualifier and four-time All-American. His top finishes were third nationally in the 2016 outdoor 100m with a time of 10.81 and fourth nationally in the 2017 indoor 60m, running a 6.86. 

Also a four-year member of the Utica football team, Gambill was a running back who also was a kick return specialist. In his career as a running back, he totaled 724 rushing yards, and six rushing touchdowns. He was efficient on the ground with a program leading 6.03 yards per carry across his career. With 893 career kick return yards, he ranks fifth in the Utica record books and sits first all-time in yards per return (28.81). 
In 2016, Gambill had his top season as a returner with 711 kick return yards which is still a Utica single season record. This season he tallied the two longest kick returns in  school history with a 99 and 97 yard return, both of which going for a touchdown. He was awarded Empire 8 Second Team All-Conference in returns this season as well as D3football.com All-East Region Third Team. 

His best season as a rusher came in his senior campaign in 2017 where he totaled 56 carries for 368 yards (6.6 yards per carry), 40.1 yards per game, and three rushing touchdowns. 

He continued his football career by playing professionally for the Erding Bulls of Germany in 2019. In his one season with the team with a record 11 touchdowns and 1,735 rushing yards.
 
Gambill’s prolific athletic career extended into bobsledding and skeleton. At a Lake Placid combine, he was the top qualifier in both events. At this same combine he would qualify with the fastest sprint times and had respectable finishes in the broad jump and shot toss to earn 535 points at the combine. His excellent performances here earned him a rookie camp invite. 

Originally from Rochester, NY, Gambill graduated with a degree in Wellness Adventure Education and Corporate Wellness in 2018. He is currently serving as a U.S. Army Sergeant in the State of Washington.