Nolan Zikas first heard the “C” word at the age of 15. It was January 2012 when his world was turned upside down. At that moment, there was no way he could fully grasp the tribulations that would follow over the coming weeks, months and years. A form of cancer called osteosarcoma resulted in the removal of Zikas’ right femur bone, the insertion of a titanium rod and knee replacement in the spring of 2012.
Thirteen surgeries later, Zikas feels about as normal as possible, given all he’s been through. His most recent operation, which occurred in September 2024, steadied his right leg after the rod had broken. The operation improved his ability to walk and made him feel stronger and healthier.
God tested someone with the resolve to handle hardship. Now 10 years cancer free, Zikas reflected on the trying and sometimes excruciating journey. Says Zikas, “When you’re 15 years old and you’re told you have cancer, your heart kind of stops and your life is forever changed. Once you get past the initial reaction, you have to adapt. I knew there was a bigger meaning to life and that I couldn’t give up. There was so much to fight for.”
Zikas understands that the fight continues, and he’s at peace with it. The La Vista, Nebraska, native has already proven to possess the heart of a champion. When cancer reared its ugly head once again during Zikas’ freshman season as a member of the Concordia University, Nebraska Men’s Golf program, he somehow managed to play at an all-conference level. Deservedly so, Zikas was recently named to the Concordia Athletics Hall of Fame class of 2026. The honor is not just about sentimentality. Zikas earned it.
A 2019 Concordia graduate, Zikas continues to own notable men’s golf program records for single season scoring average (74.06), career scoring average (75.60) and best 36-hole tournament score (-4, 138). Zikas collected GPAC All-Conference awards all four seasons and totaled 17 career top-10 tournament finishes. In 2019, the Golf Channel named Zikas as the David Toms Overcoming Adversity Award winner in recognition of his triumph over cancer.
Zikas is willing to open up and tell his story to anyone that asks. Says Zikas, “A lot of people know my story, so it doesn’t seem like it comes up as much. If someone were to ask me, I would be open and honest. I’ll share anything I can if I can be an inspiration to somebody and change somebody’s life. The things that saved my life were God, family, friends and golf. It’s about living life because you don’t know when that last day is.”
In his post graduate life, Zikas has settled in Papillion with his wife Ali. Nolan currently works at Home Solutions as lead estimator. Golf remains a big part of his life. He plays a Wednesday night league in Plattsmouth. He says he gets less emotional whenever he hits a bad tee shot or misses a putt, but the competitive juices are still there.
It wasn’t long ago that Zikas was fighting to win tournaments while wearing the Bulldog colors. Things got better physically for Zikas after a tough go his freshman season when he was granted the use of a cart due to the challenges he faced (Zikas used the cart reluctantly). In September 2018, Zikas put together the best back-to-back rounds of his career when he shot 69-69–138 and won the Siouxland Invite. Zikas recounts that experience as one of his proudest moments as a Bulldog. As Zikas recalls, “Everyone went crazy cheering me on. They were all super happy for me.”
There are other moments on the course that will stick in his memory. As a freshman, Zikas beat out the field of conference competitors at GPAC qualifiers Nos. 3 and 4 in the spring of 2016. In those instances, Zikas made a statement. His cancer would not be a crutch or an excuse for not playing at a high level. Early in his career, Zikas’ competitive fire shone through when he accidentally broke his driver after poorly striking a tee shot at Oakland Golf Course. Head Coach Brett Muller witnessed it and lifted Zikas out of a moment of despair.
“Coach was there to pick me up and make sure I kept fighting,” Zikas said. “Don’t ever give up. You always have to have that dog in you and that fight in you. He would tell me that the team needed me. He was super positive and always pushed you and wanted to see you succeed on the course and in life.”
In turn, there was plenty for Muller and Nolan’s teammates to take away from what they observed. In May of 2016, Zikas underwent an operation just after completing his freshman season, but he was not deterred. “I will be the victor,” are the words that came defiantly from Zikas.
As Muller said roughly a decade ago, “I don’t think I’ve ever heard the kid complain. He’s never used his medical misfortunes as an excuse. He’s never complained about his situation. He’s always met it head on. His quote before the surgery is him. He is the victor.”
In the present day, Muller continues to marvel at how composed Zikas was throughout his time as a student-athlete.
Says Muller, “When you think back on Nolan and his four years at Concordia, his story is such an inspiration with everything he faced. With all that going on, he performed at a high level. Back when we had one-day GPAC championships, he tied for first or won outright the final two qualifiers, which was incredible. He had the cancer in remission and then had another setback. He was so determined not to let that define who he was as a person. It wasn’t going to be the end of the story.”
His parents, Tim and Erica, expressed back in 2016 that Nolan had handled the journey better than they had. It’s that fighting spirit that caught the attention of the Golf Channel. In March of 2019, the Golf Channel aired a segment with Zikas, who was flown to Orlando for a sit-down interview within the Golf Channel studios. It was an opportunity for Zikas to tell his story to a wider audience. The Golf Channel extended the invitation in response to him winning the David Toms award.
Comically, Zikas recalls that it was the first time he ever wore makeup. “Man, this better not show up on TV. This is going to be embarrassing,” Zikas thought.
Says Zikas, “I remember walking in and just being in awe. The studio and everything was super cool. Walking in, I saw Arnold Palmer’s bag. It was really surreal. I was able to share my story with the world. That part was really cool.”
It can’t be overstated how incredibly persistent and determined Zikas has remained through the process. There were times when moments of joy were quickly followed by harsh realities. In April of 2016, Zikas had just fired a 74 to outduel a field of 55 GPAC golfers at Firethorn Golf Club in Lincoln. Two days later, he learned that the tumor in his lungs had spread, requiring another surgery. It didn’t matter, Zikas still played on April 18 and 19 and again on May 9 while concluding a tumultuous freshman year.
After the surgery in 2016, Zikas was told he couldn’t play golf for at least a month. He still went down to the basement and practiced his putting. As a release from the Golf Coaches Association of America detailed in 2019, Zikas was told he had cancer five different times. He also participated in two clinical trials at the Mayo Clinic, in addition to the 13 surgeries. Golf was his escape.
It’s likely there were many times that no one else knew exactly what he felt and what he was going through. In the heat of a tournament, Zikas didn’t want your pity. He wanted to win. It’s the type of mindset that makes Zikas just as legendary as any of the professional golfers he may have grown up idolizing.
In some of his toughest moments, Zikas had his family, Coach Muller, teammates, professors and the Concordia community to help him cope. He graduated with his degree in Recreational Sports Studies (emphasis in Sports Management) and a whole lot more.
Says Zikas of his takeaways from the experience, “You just have to live life day by day. Concordia taught me a lot of life lessons. You woke up and you had somewhere to be and you had people holding you accountable. You’re working towards goals and achievements. You wake up and try to be the best version of yourself every day. At Concordia, you’re held to a high standard of expectation.”
Zikas met the standard – and then some. The surgeries and numerous rounds of chemotherapy gave Zikas a perspective that few people his age possess. As Zikas says, “Once you’re diagnosed with cancer, the fight really never ends. You battle it every day. I’m grateful to be alive.”
Fourteen years since his initial diagnosis, Zikas keeps on winning thanks to God, family, friends and golf.