NAIA All-American Honorees

Kansas City, MO – Having one of the best seasons by any softball player in program history, Maddie Sickau made some history of her own. For the first time in UC softball history, a Patriot has earned a spot as a NAIA All-American. Sickau claimed Second Team honors, which matches her NFCA All-American, awarded earlier this week.

She is in the top-five for three different UC Records, one of which is the most career RBIs at 104 and Sickau is just a sophomore. The Anderson County, TN native was an integral part to not only her own personal success, but also to one of the best UC softball teams ever. The team posted a 41-16 season record, the first 40+ win season in program history.

"I'm extremely proud for Maddie, and for our program. Not only do you have to have one of the most talented players in the country to receive a recognition like this. It definitely helps when there's a sense of respect for our program and the athletes we are putting on the field at UC," Head Coach Bailey Dillender said. "I think Maddie's best days are still ahead of her and she has the opportunity with two more years at UC to continue to make her mark on our program for years and years to come. I'm thankful she has allowed me to come along for the ride."
 
The sophomore led the team in almost every offensive category including batting average (.428), homeruns (12), RBIs (51), slugging percentage (.742), hits (68) and sacrifice flies (5). As well as impressively only having 10 strikeouts in her 159 at bats, ranking her second up against the starting lineup for the Patriots. Sickau has been the starting shortstop since she stepped on campus, starting in all 57 games this year. She recorded a team best 139 assists along with 73 putouts for a fielding percentage of .934.

Her NAIA All-American is joined by her NFCA All-American, NFCA All-Region, First Team All-Conference, MSC All Academic and an MSC Player of Week honor.

For the latest and most up-to-date information on University of the Cumberlands Athletics, please visit www.cumberlandspatriots.com. Follow us on Twitter- @UC_Patriots and @UCPatsGameday, Instagram- @UCPatriots, Youtube- Cumberlands Patriots, and Facebook by searching University of the Cumberlands Athletics.