Kansas State University Athletics
Senior CLASS Award Goes To Wecker
Apr 03, 2005 | Women's Basketball
INDIANAPOLIS Joining an elite list of senior standouts in the history of college basketball, Kansas State All-American Kendra Wecker has been named the female winner of the 2005 Bayer Advantage Senior CLASS Award as announced Sunday at the 2005 NCAA Women’s Final Four.
The Senior CLASS Award an acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School was launched during the 2001-02 college basketball season. It is designed to honor the attributes of seniors who remain committed to their university and elect to pursue the many rewards that a senior season can bring. Legendary sportscaster Dick Enberg initiated the idea for the award and now serves as Honorary Chairman. Kansas’ Wayne Simien was this year’s male recipient of the award.
Wecker, a 5-foot-11 senior forward from Marysville, Kan., led the nationally-ranked Wildcats to four-straight NCAA Tournament appearances, 104 victories, 70 consecutive weeks ranked in the top 25 and a Big 12 Conference regular season title over her storied four-year career at K-State. She is the Big 12’s all-time leading scorer with 2,333 career points and school’s all-time leading rebounder with 1,087 career rebounds.
Voted as this year’s Big 12 Conference Player of the Year, Wecker also holds the school records for most career double-doubles (52), career field goals made (935), career field goals attempted (1,913), career minutes played (4,141) and most consecutive frees throws made (28). She averaged a conference-leading 21.0 points and 10.1 rebounds per game this past season and most recently was named a Kodak All-American and John R. Wooden Award All-American.
“Kendra Wecker epitomizes everything the Senior CLASS Award stands for,” Kansas State head coach Deb Patterson said. “Her personal character, her excellence as a student and her tremendous basketball accomplishments and skills combine to make her a truly exceptional individual in every respect. Kendra is a person of the utmost integrity who is a model of class, dedication and commitment to excellence.
“She has few peers in the women's game with respect to the versatility of skills and the explosive athletic power that she has brought to the floor as a player. In her four-year career at Kansas State, Kendra has distinguished herself, first and foremost, as a young person of exceptional character and secondly, as one of the best to have ever played in the women's game. Recognition as the CLASS Award recipient is a tremendous honor and recognition which she will hold in the highest esteem."
Both winners were determined by a points system involving three voting groups: the national media committee, Division I head basketball coaches and national online fan balloting via the official website.
Saint Joseph’s Jameer Nelson and Duke’s Alana Beard were honored last year joining an elite company of past winners including Maryland’s Juan Dixon, Connecticut’s Sue Bird, Xavier’s David West and Mississippi State’s LaToya Thomas.
The Fourth Annual Tribute Gala for the Bayer Advantage Senior CLASS Awards will be held on Saturday, April 30 at the Westin Crown Center in downtown Kansas City, Mo. The event is hosted by the Pride of Kansas City Foundation.