June 9, 2009

MACON, GA. - - Belmont University senior Andy Wicke (Hendersonville, Tenn.) was named Atlantic Sun Conference Male Student-Athlete of the Year, the league office announced Tuesday.

This marks the sixth time in the last eight years that the Atlantic Sun Conference Male-Student Athlete of the Year has been a Belmont Men's Basketball player. Wicke joins Wes Burtner (2002), Justin Hare (2007, 2008), and Adam Mark (2003, 2004) in this exclusive fraternity.

"It is a tremendous honor for our university and the Belmont Basketball program for Andy to receive this award," Belmont head coach Rick Byrd said. "Andy, like many of our student-athletes before him, took great pride in being a leader on the court, in the classroom and in the community. We thank the Atlantic Sun Conference and its Faculty Athletic Representatives for recognizing Andy in this way."

Wicke's academic and athletic accomplishments are well documented. This year alone, the senior captain was named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic-All America Team, Lowe's Senior CLASS Award All-America Team, NACDA Scholar-Athlete Team, and was recipient of postgraduate scholarships from the NCAA and Atlantic Sun Conference.

Wicke held a 3.74 GPA in his major of environmental studies and minor of business administration. He earned his undergraduate degree in May and will enter dental school at the University of Louisville later this summer.

On the court, the 6-2 guard concluded his decorated college basketball career with 1,236 points - good for sixth all-time on Belmont's NCAA-era scoring list. He finished his career second in Atlantic Sun Conference history in made three-point field goals with 303. Wicke holds the Curb Event Center single-game record for made three-point field goals with 10, against Gardner-Webb Feb. 15, 2007.

In 2008-09, the Hendersonville, Tenn. native established single-season Belmont records for minutes played (1,056) and steals (70).

He was also part of 88 Belmont victories and four postseason appearances - including three NCAA Tournaments - over his four-year career.

But Wicke truly distinguished himself through numerous service endeavors. Among them, Wicke was part of Belmont Athletics' sports evangelism mission trips to Ukraine, Venezuela, Brazil, and most recently, South Africa, whereby student-athletes share basketball and their personal faith with thousands of underprivileged locals.

Wicke was an active member of Belmont's chapter of Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE), where students, faculty, and area business leaders join forces with the sole goal of bettering the lives of others. For his part, Wicke tutored high school aged minority students in mathematics to bolster their college entrance exam scores and eventual prospects.

Another SIFE community service project had Wicke working with leaders in East Nashville to plant and harvest fresh fruits and vegetables in an otherwise underutilized field. The field serves as a self-sustaining source of healthy food for area residents.

Wicke also volunteered his time and talents at Harris-Hillman School in Nashville - a school for children with special needs. He assisted school administrators in sprucing up Harris-Hillman's `Sensory Garden', an invaluable space for children with cerebral palsy. \

At the annual Scholar-Athlete Recognition Reception, Wicke received the 2009 Belmont University Presidential Scholar-Athlete of Year award from Dr. Robert C. Fisher.

Wicke shared the Atlantic Sun Conference Male Student-Athlete of the Year award with Anton Axelsson of Jacksonville.

Each of the nominees was required to be a junior or senior in academic standing, have a minimum grade point average of 3.20 (on a 4.00 scale) in undergraduate study and have attended his or her school for at least one full academic year prior to the current season of competition.

Member institutions nominated one male and one female student-athlete for inclusion in Student-Athlete of the Year ballots. Faculty Athletic Representatives from each school submitted completed ballots to select the winners.

Belmont University

Belmont University, host of the 2008 Town Hall Presidential Debate, is a fast-growing community of 5,000 students who come from every state and 29 countries. Committed to being a leader among teaching universities, Belmont brings together the best of liberal arts and professional education in a Christian community of learning and service. The university's purpose is to help students explore their passions and develop their talents to meet the world's needs. With more than 75 areas of study, 12 master's programs and three doctoral degrees, there is no limit to the ways Belmont University can expand an individual's horizon.