“I’m not asking for money, I have really good news. Please call me.” This was the voicemail that was left for former Duster standout Lindsay Sullivan while she was in a work meeting. It was the voice of Cody Vance, Assistant Athletic Director for Athletic Outreach at Doane University. The good news he was referring to was Sullivan’s selection to the Doane Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2023.
Lindsay Sullivan, or Lindsay Anderson as she was known in her playing days, will join six other inductees on Friday, March 31 for a ceremony enshrining some of the university’s best athletes, coaches, and administrators. Sullivan has rightfully earned her spot in Tiger history as all-time leading scorer in Doane women’s basketball history. She is currently the only player to ever reach the 2,000 point mark, finishing with 2012. Her 16.0 points per game and 772 career field goals are also Doane records.
Sullivan was a three-time NAIA All-American selection and was named to the All-GPAC team four times, including three years as a first team selection. This was all while excelling in the classroom as a two-time NAIA Scholar-Athlete. The well-rounded star became the first Doane Tiger, male or female, to win the NAIA Emil S. Liston Award. The award recognizes one male and one female basketball student-athlete nationwide for excellence in character, playing ability, and scholar achievements.
At the time, Tracee Fairbanks was the head coach for Doane and found Sullivan by accident. Fairbanks was originally scouting a player from Grand Island Northwest when she noticed the Holdrege star. After talking with Fairbanks and visiting the campus in Crete, Sullivan knew she wanted to be a Tiger. Coach Fairbanks was a big influence on the incoming freshman. “She really took my game to the next level and pushed me to do great things,” Sullivan said. She remembers her time at Doane fondly with team trips to Hawaii and the Virgin Islands, qualifying for the NAIA Tournament her freshman year, and the relationships she had with her teammates. Sullivan said, “It was kind of like our own little sorority.”
The Duster alum credits former Holdrege coach Trent Benjamin as a major contributor to her success on the court. Benjamin arrived for Sullivan’s sophomore season. By the time she was a senior, Holdrege had emerged as a perennial power in Class B girls basketball. The 2004-2005 Dusters qualified for state, starting the incredible streak of 10 consecutive appearances in Lincoln. Sullivan graduated in 2005, leaving Holdrege with the career scoring record of 901 points. The record no longer stands, but it served as one of many examples of her impact as a Duster. Sullivan wasn’t just a basketball star for Holdrege. She went on to set four track records for the Dusters as well.
Lindsay Sullivan graduated from Doane with an accounting and business degree. She earned her CPA license and currently resides in Holdrege with her husband Dylan and their four children. She is an accountant at Phelps Memorial Hospital.
