By JOHN GREGG, Correspondent, TB Reporter

She was named to the “Thirty Under 30” list by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Assoc.

SAINT LEO – Megan Dzikas, the women’s basketball assistant coach at Saint Leo University, on Wednesday (March 29) was named a “Thirty Under 30” Honoree for the 2016-17 season by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association.

The program, which was created to recognize 30 up-and-coming women’s basketball coaches under the age of 30, is in its second year. Dzikas was the only honoree from a Florida institution. The WBCA was founded in 1981 and is the professional association for coaches of women’s and girls’ basketball of all levels.

“I am very grateful to be honored by the WBCA,” Dzikas said. “It feels wonderful to be recognized in such a great class of young talented coaches. I would also like to thank everyone who has helped me on my coaching journey, including the amazing head coaches that I have worked under.”

Dzikas just completed her first season at Saint Leo working with head coach Anthony Crocitto. Before that, she was at St. Catherine College in Springfield, KY, for two seasons, one as head coach. She got her start in the coaching profession as a graduate assistant coach at Goucher College in Towson, MD, where she earned a Masters of Education with a specialization in athletic administration and leadership.

“Megan is a fantastic assistant coach. She is everything you want in a top assistant as she is as loyal as the day is long and she is very hard working,” Crocitto said. “She is well respected by her staff and Saint Leo student-athletes. She will last a very long in this business and will be a very successful head coach. I’m so proud to see her accept this honor and she should be very proud of herself.”

Dzikas graduated from Florida Southern College in Lakeland where she helped the school win back-to-back Sunshine State Conference championships in 2011 and 2012 and finished her career second in assists (515) and three-pointers (239). In 2009, she was named SSC Freshman of the Year, a year after graduating from Manatee High School in Bradenton as the school’s all-time leading scorer.

Saint Leo Softball Now Ranked #5, Kelly Named Player of the Week

The latest National Fastpitch Coaches Association Coaches’ Poll has the Saint Leo softball team ranked fifth in the nation in NCAA Division II. The team, which after a 3-0 record last week is 28-7, moved up three spots in the rankings. Sunshine State Conference opponents University of Tampa are ranked #16 and are the only other SSC team represented. Saint Leo lead the SSC with a 9-3 conference record and are first in team hitting (.312) and team ERA (1.49).

Freshman Kacie Kelly has been a big part of the Lions success this season and she was named Sunshine State Conference Player of the Week on Monday (March 27), after a huge weekend at the plate where she went 11-for-13 with six RBI, four runs scored and three extra base hits. The Jacksonville native and West Nassau High School graduate who was twice Nassau County Player of the Year, is hitting .432 for the season, a total which leads the SSC. She also ranks first in on base percentage (.492) and hits (51) and is tied for second in runs scored (27).

For information about the Saint Leo women’s basketball team, go to saintleolions.com. For information about the Saint Leo softball team, go to saintleolions.com.

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