Athletes of the year: Wallace and Rickert

Two Cyclone seniors, each considered the best in school history at his or her position, have been named the male and female student-athletes of the year.

Second-team All-Big 12 quarterback Seneca Wallace and five-time All-American high jumper Gina Rickert received the awards after being selected by the ISU athletic awards committee.

Wallace, a Sacramento, Calif. native, was a threat as a passer and as a runner in his two-year Cyclone career. In 2002, he broke the single-season passing yardage record at Iowa State, throwing for 3,245 yards. David Archer was the old record-holder, passing for 2,639 yards in 1983.

Wallace, who received his bachelor’s degree in sociology earlier this month, was a fourth-round pick in April’s NFL draft by the Seattle Seahawks.

Rickert will compete Saturday afternoon in an NCAA Midwest Regional meet for her sixth trip to the NCAA championships. Rickert has been effective in both the indoor and outdoor high jumps, and holds the school record in both events — 6 3 1/2 inches indoors, and 6—2 1/4 outdoors.

Rickert, a Brooklyn Park, Minn., native, has also won four Big 12 championships, including both the indoor and outdoor competitions this season.

Rickert was a co-winner of the female student-athlete of the year award last season, sharing the award as Gina Curtis with former Cyclone standout center Angie Welle.

Wrestler Cael Sanderson was the male student-athlete of the year for 2001—2002.

— Lucas Grundmeier

Iowa State Athletics certified by NCAA

The NCAA Division I Committee on Athletics Certification announced May 22 that it has certified the Iowa State University department of intercollegiate athletics.

Athletics certification shows that a department has high standards with regard to NCAA regulations, ISU athletics director Bruce Van De Velde said.

The certification process took several years to complete and involved a self-study committee from Iowa State as well as an external review committee from the NCAA.

“Receiving full NCAA Division I Athletics Certification validates the constant and continuing commitment to academic integrity, fiscal integrity, governance, rules compliance, equity, student welfare and sportsmanship that our Iowa State coaches, staff, alumni, friends, and, most importantly student-athletes make each and every day,” said self study co-chair Dick Horton. He is a professor of electrical and computer engineering.

All 325 active Division I members participate in the certification process, which became mandatory in 1993.

The certification process is separate from the NCAA’s enforcement program. That program investigates possible rules violations by NCAA member institutions.

— Lucas Grundmeier, Media Relations contributed to this article.

Parks & Rec offers summer activities

Ames residents can take part in a number of activities this summer through the Ames Parks and Recreation Department.

For parents with small children, the Small Wonders Preschool program has openings in its morning summer sessions.

Children ages three to 12 can sign up for the gymnastics and tumbling tots program.

The department also offers summer day camps for students in kindergarten through sixth grade.

Children in the fifth through 12th grades can take part in an instructional volleyball program.

An instructional baseball program is also offered at three different levels of instruction.

For adults, a beginning line dance class will be offered on Monday evenings.

Beginning and intermediate classes are available in belly dancing.

Also, summer water fitness classes will be offered at several times each week. Options include deep water classes, and aqua conditioning classes.

For more information on any of these camps, contact the Parks and Recreation Department at 239—5360.

The office for the department in located at 1500 Gateway Hills Park Dr., while the Community Center is at 515 Clark Ave. Most programs have a sign-up deadline of June 2.

— Lucas Grundmeier