He was a national champion and she was an All-American. Together, Trent Paulson and Lyndsey Medders were named male and female student athletes of the year by the ISU athletics department.

Paulsen, originally from Council Bluffs, capped off his senior wrestling season by winning the 157-pound NCAA Championship. He also earned team MVP honors by finishing his Cyclone career with 115 victories, 18th best in school history.

Despite all the success, Paulson said he was still surprised he won the award.

“I think it’s awesome,” Paulson said. “There’s a lot of great athletes on campus and to be named athlete of the year – it’s a great feeling.”

Medders, who helped guide the Cyclones women’s basketball team to a 26-9 mark last season, was an honorable mention All-American last season. The former guard from Los Angeles set the Cyclone’s women’s basketball record for career assists and currently ranks seventh in ISU all-time scoring.

“I was very honored to hear about this award because Iowa State University and the Ames community has meant so much to myself and my family over the years,” said Medders in an e-mail interview.

Now that his playing career at Iowa State is complete, Paulson will work as the strength and conditioning coach for the Cyclone wrestling team.

Although Paulson will be coaching his old teammates, his former coach and current ISU head wrestling coach Cael Sanderson will continue working with him to help prepare him for a run at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.

“I’m going to look to him for advice,” Paulson said. “If anyone knows what to do, its him.”

As for Medders, she’ll continue to work in basketball. After a tryout with the Indiana Fever of the WNBA, she found a job working for the Point Guard College, a basketball camp that travels around the country.

“I’m very excited about this opportunity and my continued involvement in the game I love: basketball,” she said.

Even though she’ll no longer be wearing a Cyclone jersey, Medders said she’ll keep a close eye on her former team.

“I am now the number one ISU woman’s basketball fan and look forward to attending some games next year,” she said.