Completed Event: Women's Basketball versus UCF on January 31, 2026 , Win , 65, to, 52
Final
Women's Basketball
65
UCF
52
Iowa State University Athletics
Nisleit Sets Standard for ISU Women's Basketball
03.06.2009 | Women's Basketball
AMES, Iowa ?There are many players who have met the lofty standards head coach Bill Fennelly sets for the student-athletes in his Iowa State women's basketball program. Few have demanded so much of Fennelly's respect and admiration through the daily demonstration of heart, character and integrity, like Amanda Nisleit.
The senior from Woodbury, Minn., is the gold standard of the Cyclone program no matter what her statistics might say. Nisleit's role has changed from year-to-year and she has gone from a freshman who posted just 22 points in 26 games, to a senior who has started all but one contest and is averaging 8.1 points and is ISU's top rebounder at 5.2 boards per game.
“Amanda came in as someone that a lot of people didn't think could play at this level,” Fennelly said. “We've played her at about four different positions in her career and she's evolved into a utility player. We've kind of created a position for her because of her talents and effort. For her to contribute the way she is contributing is probably a surprise to a lot of people. You can measure a lot of things, height, weight, jumping ability and statistics, but you can't measure what's inside that kid.”
Nisleit's contributions to ISU go beyond an occasional three-pointer or a putback off a missed field goal. The Cyclones rely on those aspects of her game, but they also count on her positive outlook and her constant encouragement. Those are traits she gives her parents, Rick and Charlotte, credit for instilling in her.
“I would say that my mom and dad are both really hardworking people,” Nisleit said. “They are definitely role models that I look up to and I strive to be like every day. I think I've also gotten the encouragement and caring part from them too. That has been my personal goal for this year, regardless of how much or how little I play or what my performance is, to constantly encourage my teammates.”
As a freshman, Nisleit moved three hours to the south and had no idea what was ahead of her. While she was building friendships and a support system in Ames, it was her family she leaned on the most. She says her family has always been her constant, and they will be there long after her basketball career has ended.
“I think they have been my constant, regardless of what I was doing,” Nisleit said. “They are most important to me because basketball is only so many years of your life, but they will be there through every stage.”
The life of a student-athlete isn't easy. When ISU students get a long holiday break or are busy taking a trip for spring break, the women's basketball team is in the gym preparing for or playing games. Even though the three-hour drive to Woodbury doesn't seem long, it's a lifetime away for Nisleit who gets a rare chance to make the trip during the school year. Fortunately, her family has decided to come to her. They make most home games and her parents traveled to Hawaii to be with her for the Thanksgiving break. Nisleit's father, Rick, has made several recent road trips, including driving all the way to Lubbock, Texas, only to make his way back up to Missouri, before he returned to Minnesota.
“I know they've made a lot of sacrifices for me, both financially and their time,” Nisleit said. “I know both of my parents have been supporting me since I was little, playing in all those AAU games. I think of all those games they sat through, good and bad, as well as my sisters. They've had to sacrifice things too. My sisters have missed a lot of school. They go to the Big 12 Tournament and make a lot of trips down and back.”
Nisleit has two younger sisters. Sarah is a freshman at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, and Carly is in the fifth grade. Now that Sarah is in college and not as busy with her own athletic schedule, she gets to make more trips to Ames to see her big sister. Carly has learned to text, and sends Amanda messages throughout the season to tell her to keep up the good work. She made care packages for all of Amanda's teammates for their long flight to Honolulu and once got to serve as a ball girl for a game at Hilton Coliseum.
“I think she is setting a standard in a nice way for her little sisters, to see what big sis did, how she did it and the way she conducted herself,” Fennelly said. “The way she has become something so very special on our campus is a great example for them. She once told me, ?Coach, you can't yell at me much, because Carly is going to be the ball girl.' I cut her a deal on that one. It's an amazing family and it's not a surprise that Nis is how she is.”
While her biological family is her anchor and her support, Nisleit has also learned to lean on her Cyclone family. The coaching staff acts as pseudo parents and the freshmen play the role of little sisters.
“I think that we've grown together and gone through hardships together,” Nisleit said. “I think that is what is important in a family. The coaches have played a major role in my adjustment. We have meetings with a certain coach once a week, and it's not just about basketball, but they ask how our family is doing and about our classes. They play an active role and that shows the fact that they care not just about what we do on the court, but off it as well.
“I think it is helpful to talk to the underclassmen, because I've been in all those situations and I can say ?Keep working hard, it's going to pay off.' I think it is better sometimes for me to talk to them rather than people who have played a lot since the first day they got on campus. I've been trying to use my experience to help the younger ones.”
Now that the days of her basketball career are slowly coming to an end, Nisleit has started preparing for life after hoops. She has a semester left of student teaching in the fourth grade, and would like to split the time in Ames and studying abroad next fall.
“The first eight weeks I would student teach somewhere in Iowa, probably Ames, and the second eight weeks, I would go to Rome, England, Norway or New Zealand. I have always wanted to study abroad, but basketball has kind of limited that opportunity. Basketball has so many good things to offer, but one of the downsides is you don't have time, even in the summer, because you need to be here to workout. I think it would be a great opportunity.”
Those fourth graders who are fortunate enough to be in Nisleit's class, whether in Ames or Rome, will have a role model they can look up to for years to come.
“I've said this a lot of times, but every coach in America would die to have 12 of her,” Fennelly said. “She makes your job better. The contributions she's made on the floor are really good, and the contributions she has made to our team off the floor have been dramatic. She's been exactly what we want Iowa State women's basketball players to be. You want good things to happen to good people, and there's no one better than Nis. It's great to see her accomplish the success she's had this year.”
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