Drake Sykes was a three-year letter winner for the baseball team that rewrote the school record book in many categories. He also kicked for the football team for one season.
Sykes led all of NCAA Division III baseball in batting average (.487) and on base percentage (.583) and was fourth in slugging percentage (.826) in 2016 on his way to his first of three All-American teams. The following year he was top-20 in the nation in batting average (.420), on base percentage (.542), slugging percentage (.746), and RBI per game (1.27). He also was a four-time All-Region selection and three-time All-Conference honoree. The Galesburg native ended his career as Knox's all-time leader in hits (171), total bases (284), and stolen bases (44). He also holds the best career on base percentage (.535), the third best career batting average (.452), and sixth best career slugging percentage (.742) in the Midwest Conference.
Sykes won the baseball team’s Most Valuable Player award all three years. He also won the John W. Hilding Prize for men in 2017, the Harley Knosher Male Athlete of the Year in 2016 and 2017 and the K Club Award for Men in 2015. Sykes was awarded the Midwest Conference South Division Player of the Year in 2016.
“Drake Sykes is one of the most decorated student-athletes in Knox history,” said head baseball coach Jami Isaacson. “He is also one of the premier hitters in Midwest Conference history.”
After graduation, Sykes played professionally in Australia and then coached with the Knox softball team for a year and the Knox baseball team for a year. He then coached two years for the William Penn University baseball team as a graduate assistant.
