Chris Austin and Craig Pykett have enjoyed illustrious careers at Kentucky on and off the soccer field. Recently, they were inducted into the prestigious Frank G. Ham Society of Character.
The Society of Character is a part of the University of Kentucky?s CHAMPS/Life Skills Program, which is designed to help student-athletes realize the value of higher academic achievement, a higher level of maturity, self-responsibility and greater overall success. The Society was founded in 1998 to recognize those individuals who epitomize the term ?student-athlete.?
Austin and Pykett fit the guidelines of the Society of Character to a ?T.?
Chris Austin Profile:
Chris Austin came to UK from Wheeler High School in Marietta, Ga., where he was a four-year letterwinner in soccer, team MVP and a member of the National Honor Society. Austin made an immediate impact at Kentucky as he started 12 of the 17 games in which he appeared as a freshman. Austin hit one of four Wildcat penalty kicks in a shootout with No. 9 Saint Louis to help UK advance to the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history.
As a sophomore, he started in 12 of 18 games and was named to the Mid-American Conference Academic Honor Roll.
The following year, Austin was selected to the MAC All-Tournament team and scored his first goal as a Wildcat, a game-winner, in a 2-1 win over Western Michigan. He was also named an East Region Scholar All-American by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America and received his second consecutive MAC Academic Honor Roll recognition.
This year, the journalism major continued his to add to his list of accomplishments. Austin guided Kentucky to a 12-7-2 record, including a perfect 6-0 MAC regular season. UK advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the third time in five years and suffered a narrow 2-1 defeat in double-overtime to the eventual national champions. Austin was named to the Soccer America ?Men?s Team of the Week? after Kentucky shutout Western Michigan, 3-0, and dropped No. 12 Akron, 1-0, in the same weekend. Austin was also named the State Farm Insurance Student-Athlete of the Month in December.
After the season, Austin was named to the 2003 Academic All-District IV team by CoSIDA, and received his third consecutive Academic All-MAC honor. He was also one of nine Kentucky players to make the 2003 SEC Academic Honor Roll.
Austin also serves as the men?s soccer Outreach Representative, has made the Athletic Director?s Honor Roll twice and belongs to the Omicron Kappa Leadership Honor Society.
Craig Pykett Profile:
Craig Pykett joined the Kentucky men?s soccer team in 1999 as a walk-on from Marquette University High School in Fox Point, Wis. Pykett was a two-year letterman, was named Best Defender and All-Conference for his high school team and led his club team to three state championships.
He spent his first season at UK as a red-shirt as he worked on getting stronger and learning the Kentucky system.
In 2000, Pykett appeared in 11 games with six starts and helped Kentucky notch three shutouts in the MAC Tournament and one in NCAA play.
As a sophomore, he started in seven of the 10 games he appeared in and played a key role in the Cats? nine shutouts on the season. Pykett was named to the MAC All-Academic team and SEC Academic Honor Roll in 2001.
His junior season, Pykett started 10 of 16 games and recorded an assist on the Wildcat?s first goal of the MAC tournament against Buffalo. Pykett received his second SEC Academic Honor Roll honor and organized the 1st Annual Big Blue Trifecta 3-on-3 basketball tournament for the Boys and Girls Club of Lexington.
This year, Pykett played an important role on Kentucky?s defensive unit that allowed a school record low 15 goals. The senior started 17 of 18 games he appeared in and helped lead Kentucky to the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the third time in five seasons.
Pykett, who currently serves as the Vice President of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee, was named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll for the third consecutive season.
Men?s Soccer Players in the Society of Character
Chris Austin
Lee Baker
Jason Bell
Giovanni Fernandes
Ilkka Jantti
Chris McAlpine
Craig Pykett
Marc Theriault
