RELEASED:  Thursday, March 6, 2008

UW-Stevens Point’s Steve Hicklin Named Men’s Basketball Scholar-Athlete

Madison, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point’s Steve Hicklin has been named the 2008 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Max Sparger Men’s Basketball Scholar-Athlete.

A native of Sussex, Wis. (Hamilton H.S.), Hicklin is a senior and is majoring in broadfield social studies with a minor in history, while maintaining a 3.50 grade point average.   He is a two-time CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District Five Men’s Basketball Third Team selection and is a four-time member of the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll.   Hicklin has been recognized on UW-Stevens Point’s Honors List nine semesters, including one semester receiving Highest Honors.

A three-year team captain, he is a two-time All-WIAC first team selection and was named to the National Association of Basketball Coaches All-West Region Second Team and D3hoops.com All-West Region Third Team a year ago.  Hicklin has been a member of two WIAC championship squads and the 2005 national championship team.

Also nominated for this year’s scholar-athlete award were: UW-La Crosse’s Billy Kegler (Sr., Waterloo, Wis.), UW-Oshkosh’s Jordan Johnson (Sr., Waupaca, Wis.) and UW-Superior’s Greg Polkowski (Sr., Goodman, Wis.).

The WIAC Scholar-Athlete Award is named after Max Sparger and sponsored by Hewlett-Packard.  Sparger served as commissioner of the Wisconsin State University Conference from July, 1971 - July, 1993.

In order to be nominated for the scholar-athlete award, a student-athlete must have a minimum 3.25 grade point average, be in their last year of competition, or on schedule to graduate this academic year, and have competed for a minimum of two years.