Wickham concluded an exceptional year as captain of the 1964 basketball team that not only earned the first state tournament bid in Pius X history, but also stands as the only basketball team to earn a bid into the Class A state tournament.
Long before the three point line and creating shots off the dribble became integral parts of the game, Wickham brought both long range shooting and advanced ball handling to the gym for Pius X. His 422 points in the 1964 season led the city in scoring and still ranks as the fourth highest season total in program history. Wickham’s 22 ppg still ranks as the second highest scoring average in a season more than 50 years later. Wickham also earned two letters on the Pius X baseball team.
Wickham completed a degree in Education from Wayne State College in 1969 and taught at Boys Town for five years. He left the educational field and became a sales rep for 25 years in California, Arizona, and Nebraska. He returned to teach another decade in the Scottsdale School District in 2002. Wickham has since returned to Nebraska and enjoys his retirement by spending time with his children, Molly and Cody, and his five grandchildren.
Former Pius X Basketball Coach Lane Birkel, “At a time when shooters shot from medium and close range, Chris was able to shoot a jump shot from long range, outside most players’ capability. He was the first athlete that we ever saw that could dribble behind his back to evade defenders. Had there been a three point line in those days, Chris might have set a scoring record that still stands in Nebraska.
