Some would say that an athlete’s dream of making it to the big-time is primarily about the bling.
Oregon men’s golfer Mike Sica doesn’t embody such a mentality, instead working hard on and off the course to better himself, his teammates and the community around him.
The senior and co-captain will be remembered for a number of accomplishments during his time with Oregon, and while his on-course achievements have made an impact, his off-course compassion will continue to make an impact for years to come.

Mike Sica, the golfer
Sica came to Oregon in the 1999-2000 season, a winner of 16 prep tournaments and a three-time West Catholic Athletic League selection for San Francisco’s St. Ignatius High School. His resume also includes wins at the 1999 Robert O’ Brien Junior and the California Golf Tour Amateur.
“I came up here and I just really liked the atmosphere and the college town,” Sica said. “I had some good friends from high school who went here. And when I signed here, (the men’s golf team) was ranked No. 10 in the country, and the Pac-10 was the best conference in my opinion, so that was a pretty key factor.”
Oregon’s coach Steve Nosler also was a key in Sica’s decision to come to Oregon.
“I really liked him,” Sica said. “He was pretty honest with me, said that I would have to probably redshirt my freshman year, which I did, because we had four or five seniors on the team that year. (He told me) work hard and you’ll play, and that’s what happened.”
What Nosler saw in Sica was a player who had good Division I potential.
“Mike’s a good kid, a smart kid,” Nosler said. “I knew I would never have trouble with him on the academic side. He had a lot of enthusiasm, he cares a lot and he wanted to play.”
On the course, Sica is described jokingly by his teammates as the most deliberate and slowest player on the team, a honor that is not fully understood by Sica.
“Honestly, that’s the complete opposite. I think I am one of the fastest players on the team,” Sica said. “Matt Ma has to be the slowest player by far. I guess he just does things the Hawaiian way, you know, half as slow as everyone else.”
Joking or not, what the players do see in him is a leader by example to a team comprised of almost entirely freshmen and sophomores — the only other upperclassman being co-captain and fellow senior Jimmy White. Sica does not dispense much swing advice or tips on how to play the game. Instead, his experience becomes most valuable because Sica is someone who is always available to provide some tips about a particular course or how to cope with the amount of travel players may have to face.
“He tries to help out the younger guys a lot,” Ma said. “It’s obvious during the practice rounds, I think. Obviously, he’s been there and seen it all before.”
Nosler said Sica tries to instill knowledge to the team in his own way.
“How individuals take a leadership situation, that’s kind of an individual thing,” Nosler said. “I can’t fault Mike. Mike is a team player, Mike really cares about the team, and I think that he has tried to share what experiences he’s had with the team, and that’s really all I can ask.”
Sica sees his leadership role in much the same way as Nosler.
“I just try to answer any of the questions guys have,” Sica said. “When we go to a tournament, they’ll usually listen to me and ask for advice because I’ve probably played the course three or four times. And as far as practice goes, (I) just encourage them to get out there and practice, stuff like that. Our schedule is pretty hectic, so there is some adjustment period, and I just try to help them out.”

The softer side of Sica
The impact of Sica’s leadership is felt far beyond the 18th green.
Most only see the student/athlete side of Sica’s life, but one lucky young man was able to see a completely different side of him. Sica presented the boy, who was paralyzed at age 10 in an automobile accident, with a racing wheelchair at halftime of last year’s spring football game.
The money was raised in last year’s inaugural Birdie-a-thon, where Sica, members of his family and fellow teammates were sponsored by Chambers Communications to make birdies during the golf season. By the end of the season, more than $3,200 dollars was raised.
“That is something that I am pretty proud of,” Sica said. “I just went to high school and grew up in a family where charity work was pretty important.”
Sica also is involved with the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, which does community service work throughout the year.
“We have days were we invite, like, 10 elementary schools and we get all the athletes and play with them over at the Moshofsky Center for the day,” Sica said. “It’s fun to be able to give back, because we are so lucky to be athletes here at Oregon, and it’s nice to show the community that we’re thankful for what they do for us.”
This year, with help from the Sparrow’s Club and Chambers Communications, Sica again will head the Birdie-a-thon to raise money for a 3-year-old boy with leukemia.
“He needs a bone marrow transplant and his insurance won’t cover it, so we’re trying to raise money for him,” Sica said.
Sica’s mother, Joan, was one of the biggest influences for him.
“I grew up just helping her out,” Sica said. “I can remember in middle school, going to wrap presents for underprivileged families. It’s nice to be able to give back.”
Nosler said Sica’s willingness to volunteer helps him stand out on the team.
“He’s worked quite hard on different projects that we’ve done as far as community service projects, and he has always been willing to do that type of thing,” Nosler said. “He will always have a soft spot in my heart for what he was.”
A soft spot, indeed. One that most hope will continue wherever Sica’s travels take him.