SAN MARCOS, Calif. – Three Cougars were honored as Cal State San Marcos Student-Athletes of the Month for the month of February 2016.

Lauren Wyckoff took home the award on the women's side, while golfer Dale Smith and shortstop Tyler Place received the accolade on the men's side.

The CSUSM Student-Athletes of the Month awards are determined through a vote of all Department of Athletics coaches, administrators and staff. Each in-season program nominates a student-athlete to be considered for the award each month.

Smith and Place tied for the same amount of votes on this month's ballot – a first-time occurrence under the new Student-Athlete of the Month voting process.

Wyckoff, a freshman, has been what head coach Steve Scott calls the "work horse" of the women's track & field team, running a variety of competitions at various meets throughout February. She's ran the 100m, 400m, 4x400m and 4x100m thus far, and her mark of 1:00.26 in the 400m is a team-best.

Place took home San Diego Hall of Champions Star of the Month honors last week. He entered the weekend leading the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) with 28 hits, a .475 batting average and a .492 on-base percentage. The Fullerton native is also the team leader in runs scored (20), stolen bases (7) and triples (2). Place accumulated nine multiple-hit games in the first 16 contests.

Smith averaged a team-low 73.3 strokes in six rounds and two tournaments in February. He tied for medalist honors while helping the Cougars to victory in the CSUSM Fujikura Invite over No. 1 Chico State. He posted three rounds of par or better and shot a 4-under 68 in the Fujikura Invite second round.

Other nominees: Joan Park (women's golf), Ashley Ontiveros (women's basketball), Patrick Holstrom (men's track & field), Akachi Okugo (men's basketball).

2015-16 CSUSM Student-Athletes of the Month
September 2016 – Louie Farfan (men's soccer), Natalie Lara (women's soccer)
October 2015 – Dylan Healey (men's golf), Natalie Rodriguez (women's cross country)
November 2015 – Darnell Taylor (men's basketball), Savannah Camp (women's basketball)
December 2015 – Darnell Taylor (men's basketball), Ashley Jenkins (women's basketball)
January 2016 – Declan Daly (men's basketball), Brianna Higgins (women's basketball)
February 2016 – Tyler Place (baseball), Dale Smith (men's golf), Lauren Wykcoff (women's track & field)