LUCAS, WICKS EARN NSU ATHLETES OF THE YEAR HONORS

May 13, 2003

Aberdeen, S.D. - Seniors Christi Lucas (White, S.D.) and Sundance Wicks (Gillette, Wyo.) earned Northern State University’s prestigious Hildred Wolfe and Clark Swisher Athlete of the Year Awards. NSU’s athletic department made that announcement today.

Lucas is the recipient of the Hildred Wolfe Female Athlete of the Year award, while Wicks earned the Clark Swisher Male Athlete of the Year award. The awards are given to seniors who demonstrate everything it takes to be a true student-athlete, which includes academic as well as athletic excellence and involvement in campus and university life.

Lucas will leave Northern State as one of the most dominant volleyball players that the university has ever seen. As a middle blocker, Lucas ranks fourth in Northern State history with 1,113 career kills and 431 total blocks and is also sixth with 93 solo blocks and second with 338 assisted blocks in her four-year career.

Christi was the first ever NSU volleyball player to receive all-region recognition by being placed on the Daktronics all-region second team in 2002. Lucas followed up with an AVCA all-region first team selection in her senior season and earned first team all-NSIC recognition for three straight years as well.

In addition to her prowess on the volleyball court, Lucas was also a standout in track & field during her two-year career running on the school record holding 4x400 meter indoor relay team and being named as all-NSIC honorable mention three times in the 4x100 and 4x400 meter relays in the outdoor season.

Wicks has become one of the most prolific names in Northern State basketball history. Sundance ranks 24th in Northern State history in scoring with 1,174 career points and was the team’s leading scorer and rebounder in 2002-03 with 14.1 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. He helped lead NSU to NSIC regular season titles in 2002 and 2003 and also ranks in the top 15 in career rebounding.

Sundance was an NABC all-region second team selection in 2002 and earned all-NSIC honors all four years at NSU being named to the first team in 2002 and 2003, honorable mention in 2001 and NSIC Newcomer of the Year in 2000.

In addition to his accomplishments on the hardwood, Wicks is one of the most involved students on the Northern State campus. He is president of the Student-Athlete Mentors program, an NSU youth mentor, on the NSU honor roll and also competes on the Northern State track & field team.

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