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Melanie Nolt flanked by her parents (L) and head coach Chris Leicht and Wilkes University President Patrick Leahy (far right)

NOLT NAMED 2013 GIANT STEPS AWARD WINNER

5/8/2013 10:26:00 AM

NOLT NAMED 2013 GIANT STEPS AWARD WINNER

WILKES-BARRE – Wilkes University women's tennis standout Melanie Nolt (Manheim, PA/Manheim Central) was named a 2013 Giant Steps award winner Tuesday afternoon at the Middle Atlantic Conference awards luncheon held on the campus of Lycoming College. The Giant Steps award is given to a student-athlete who has prevailed over great adversity throughout his/her career.

Nolt, a three-time Freedom Conference Player of the Year and First Team All-Freedom selection, has led the Lady Colonels to four of its seven straight Freedom Conference Championships during her time in the Navy and Gold. She has put together this tremendous on-court resume all while suffering through the daily challenges of type I diabetes. She was diagnosed with the disease in February 2008, her junior year of high school, and initially struggled to accept the diagnoses.

During her sophomore year at Wilkes, Nolt was introduced to a pump that would give her the insulin she needed without hassles of needles or self-injection. Now, Nolt is working with her doctors to help develop a new pump system that would allow her and fellow athletes to keep the pump on during exercise. She has taken all the struggles of her diagnoses in stride and has not let it affect her on or off the court.

“Melanie has had one of the most decorated careers at Wilkes leading the women's team both on and off the court throughout her four years,” said head coach Chris Leicht. “Although she was diagnosed with this disease in high school, Melanie carries herself with such a confidence and positive attitude that most people do not even realize she is affected by it,” he added.

For her career, Nolt owns a 60-15 career mark at No. 1 singles and 60-20 record at No. 1 doubles. A Wilkes University and MAC Scholar-Athlete of the Year, she captured two straight MAC Individual titles at No. 1 singles as a freshman and sophomore.

Nolt and the rest of the Lady Colonels head to Amherst, MA Friday for the first round of the 2013 NCAA Women's Tennis National Tournament. Wilkes meets Mt. St. Mary's at 1:00 p.m.

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