Greenville, SC – The NCCAA is pleased to recognize Sydney Lane of the University of Northwestern (UNW) as the 2025 Deb Thompson Award recipient for Softball.
 
On the field, Lane was phenomenal this season for the Eagles, batting .350 with an OPS of .879 in 44 games for UNW. The Altoona, IA native was a perfect 12-for-12 in stolen bases, scoring 32 runs. With only six strike outs this year, she recorded 48 hits, 19 doubles, the third-most in the NCCAA, and 30 RBI. Defensively, Lane finished the year with a fielding percentage of .986 with 136 putouts this season. 
 
For her career, Lane has hit an astounding .333 in 155 games played for the Eagles, with 171 hits, 136 runs scored, 46 doubles, 9 triples, 3 home runs, 102 RBI, and 46 stolen bases. Lane has only struck out 38 times in 514 at-bats, recording an on-base percentage of .375. Lane earned NCCAA First Team All-Regional honors and First Team All-Upper Midwest Athletic Conference honors in 2024.
 
Off the field, Lane holds a 3.50 GPA while majoring in psychology and was a 2024 NCCAA Scholar-Athlete. She was also selected as a College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team member in 2023. Lane has also been on a mission trip to the Dominican Republic, helps with monthly game nights at Eagle Crest Senior Living, and helps with volunteer service projects with Feed My Starving Children, Source Ministries, Second Harvest, and New Life Family Services.
 
Alicia du’Monceaux, Head Softball Coach at UNW, says “Sydney is a servant-hearted, sacrificial leader. She considers others in everything she does and is the spark plug for our team's energy. She is competitive and gritty but ultimately plays softball to give glory and honor to Christ. She loves her teammates and is intentional in building them up and being their hype person every day. She has been willing to play wherever needed for the team with no complaining and has shown her willingness to do whatever the team and us coaches need her to do.” 
 
“She has perspective beyond her years, is a safe person for her teammates, loves unconditionally and gives without expectation of return. She is rooted in Christ and steps in to lead others closer to Him. On the field, she steps into her role with joy and intention, even when things aren't going her way.”
 
Lane says “I grew up in a Christian home and gave my life to Christ early on. It was one of those stories that I wasn't always eager to share because it was ‘boring’ in my eyes. I followed God as best I could with little trials or hardships to combat. Going to college changed that. Hardships came, and God led me to UNW, and I decided to play softball. God used a team that loves Him above all to show me that I could be loved completely for who I am. I love that I don’t always have to be the one that is fine or put together, and I am just allowed to be me. God has worked in my life in more ways than I could mention, but one of the biggest is that He has used UNW softball to share with me His kindness, goodness, mercy, and unfailing love.”
 
Other Finalists
Allie Weilnau, Malone University
 
Award Description
Deb Thompson became head coach at Spring Arbor University in 1987 and built a legacy through impacting players for Christ, while creating a winning culture on and off the field. She was awarded the NFCA Regional Coach of the Year on four occasions, received numerous NCCAA district/regional awards, and was the NCCAA Coach of the Year in 2005 when her Cougars captured the NCCAA National Title. Deb has over 800 career wins and counting and was inducted into the Spring Arbor University Hall of Fame in 2002. She has and continues to serve selflessly while nurturing the student-athletes who have had the benefit of calling her coach. The NCCAA is proud to present this award in recognition of Deb Thompson’s legacy of service.