When he graduated from Kent County High School, Dennis W. Hickman Jr. was widely regarded by his coaches and teammates — and most likely a fair number of opponents — as the definitive combination of athleticism, sportsmanship and leadership.
“He is one of the finest young men to go through our program,” said varsity soccer coach Larry Hanifee, who also was on the coaching staff of the KCHS baseball team, when presenting Dennis as the outstanding male athlete in the Class of 1993.
Dennis also was a recipient of a Coach’s Choice Award in baseball and wrestling.
A four-year starter in soccer and wrestling, Dennis also lettered three years in baseball and one year in football.
Dennis was one of five athletes inducted into Kent County High School’s Hall of Fame on Saturday, Oct. 18. The Evening Enterprise is telling their stories, one at a time, in the order of their year of graduation.
Dennis was a rare quadruple-threat in his senior year, when he joined the football team as the place-kicker.
He captained the soccer, wrestling and baseball teams as a senior.
The heart and soul of the soccer team as a fullback, he twice was named the Trojans’ MVP and gained All-Mid-Shore recognition during challenging, rebuilding campaigns.
In wrestling, he was a two-time state tournament qualifier and a two-time All-Mid-Shore honoree.
As a junior wrestling at 171 pounds, Dennis compiled a 22-11 record.
The following year, moving up a weight class to 189, he went 13-1 in dual matches and 30-7 overall while winning the Cambridge and Kent Holiday tournaments and placing second in the district and region tournaments.
At the state tournament in his senior year, he went 2-2, losing to the eventual runner-up and third-place finisher.
Dennis was a captain of the 1993 wrestling team that went 8-0-1 in conference matches — the first time that a Kent County wrestling team had been unbeaten in the Bayside Conference since 1976 — and shared the conference title with Mardela. Overall, the Trojans finished 11-2-1.
Dennis was a two-time All-Mid-Shore performer in baseball, where he pitched and played the corner positions of the infield while also batting in the meat of the lineup. He led by quiet example, and was looked to as the glue that held together inexperienced and youthful teams.
Baseball was Dennis’ favorite sport during his years at KCHS.
Now, as a family man, he says soccer has taken priority.
A former assistant soccer coach at his alma mater, Dennis is now in his second year as the Trojans’ head varsity boys coach. His oldest child is a senior captain on the team.
Dennis’ contributions to the community go beyond his accomplishments as an athlete and coach.
He is a career lawman of 25 years — all that time with the Kent County Sheriff’s Office. His service includes four years as the school resource deputy at Kent County High School.
Since 2022, he has been the elected sheriff here.
Dennis is a graduate of Salisbury University’s esteemed Perdue School of Business and the Eastern Shore Criminal Justice Academy in Salisbury.
He and his wife and their four children, ages 7, 11, 14 and 17, live in Chestertown.
“It’s truly an honor to be recognized and have my picture on the wall,” Dennis said of his induction into KCHS’ athletic hall of fame. “I can’t wait for my kids to be able to see my picture and plaque on the wall of their high school.”
