May 30, 2007

EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern University's N Club held its annual Senior Recognition Banquet Wednesday night at The Hotel Orrington in downtown Evanston. The banquet recognized some of Northwestern's finest athletic efforts from the past season while inducting the senior class into the N Club.

Northwestern announced its nominations for the Big Ten Suzy Favor and Jesse Owens Awards. The two awards are given annually to the outstanding female and male athletes in the Big Ten. This year's Wildcat honorees are Garland Cooper (Mission Viejo, Calif./Santa Margarita Catholic) from softball and Matt Grevers (Lake Forest, Ill./Lake Forest) from men's swimming.

Cooper is the best hitter ever to don a Northwestern uniform, and is the only player in Big Ten history to earn three conference Player of the Year awards. Holder of nine Northwestern offensive records, she is the Big Ten's all-time and single-season home run record holder. A three-time NFCA All-American, Cooper also is a finalist for the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award and is a repeat ESPN The Magazine first-team Academic All-American.

Grevers concluded his career at Northwestern with four national championships (two in the 100 back, one in the 200 back and one in the 400 medley relay). He is one of just three swimmers in NCAA history to break the 1:40 mark in the 200 back, and during his career he repeatedly shattered school records, finishing his time in Evanston with 11 school records. He earned a school-record 27 All-America honors. He will represent America at the 2007 World University Games in China.

Two student-athletes are receiving the prestigious Big Ten Medal of Honor, Alexis Prousis (Lake Forest, Ill./Lake Forest) of women's tennis and Chris Wilson (Dublin, Ohio/Dublin Coffman) from men's golf. This award is given annually to one graduating male and female student-athlete of outstanding academic and athletic talent.

Prousis' stellar four-year career was highlighted by an NCAA doubles title in 2006. Along with former Wildcat Cristelle Grier, Prousis won NU's second national doubles title -- and its first since 1987. Prousis compiled a 117-46 career singles record, was a three-time All-Big Ten selection, clinched two Big Ten titles for the 'Cats and earned doubles All-America honors in 2006.

One of five finalists for the 2006 Byron Nelson Award, Wilson concluded his four-year career seventh on the Wildcats' all-time stroke average list with a mark of 74.36. His career highlight came in 2006 when he became the first Northwestern player in five years to earn medalist honors at the Big Ten Championships. Wilson, a two-time All-Big Ten selection and a three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree, totaled 18 top-20 finishes during his collegiate career. He was tabbed a Cleveland Golf All-America Scholar in 2006 and received ESPN The Magazine second-team academic all-district honors in 2007.

The N Club Performance Award winners were Kristen Kjellman (Westwood, Mass./Westwood) from women's lacrosse, Cooper from softball and Jake Herbert (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny) from wrestling. This award is generally presented to one male and one female student-athlete in recognition of "spectacular and outstanding" athletic performance by a graduating senior and letter award winner. The award is being given to two females this year due to a tie in the voting.

Kjellman, who led her team to an incredible 77-5 record over her four years, recently capped off an illustrious career with the team's third-straight national championship on Sunday night. Among her many accomplishments, Kjellman won the 2006 and 2007 Tewaaraton Trophy, which is awarded to the top player in collegiate lacrosse. She is a four-year All-America choice and a three-time American Lacrosse Conference Player of the Year. Kjellman owns the all-time Northwestern record for goals (250) and points (349) and recently set an all-time NCAA record with 39 career goals in NCAA Championship play.

With a 184-pound national title, Herbert became Northwestern's first NCAA champion since 1990 and helped lead the Wildcats to a program-best fourth-place finish at the 2007 NCAA Championships. The three-time All-American and two-time Big Ten champion now sits in fifth place on Northwestern's career wins list with 115 after a perfect 32-0 season. Herbert also has been recognized for his work in the classroom. He is a two-time Academic All-Big Ten selection and has twice been recognized as a National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) All-Academic Team selection.

Eileen Canney (Paradise, Calif./Paradise) from softball, and Grevers and Mike Alexandrov (Champaign, Ill./Centennial) from men's swimming were the recipients of the N Club Achievement Award, which is given to the student-athletes who have exhibited the qualities of good citizenship, significant academic achievement and outstanding athletic performance.

Canney has established herself as one of the best pitchers in the entire nation. Canney earned All-America honors as a junior, leading Northwestern to a program-best runner-up finish at the 2006 Women's College World Series as a member of the All-Tournament team. She is a two-time Big Ten Pitcher of the Year, becoming only the third pitcher in conference history to earn the honor twice. Entering the World Series with 1,110 strikeouts, Canney ranks second all-time at NU in the category, along with her 95 career wins.

Alexandrov capped off his Northwestern career by winning a pair of NCAA Championships and breaking a 10-year-old NCAA record. His time of 51.56 in the 100 breast at the NCAA meet in 2007 earned him a record previously thought of as unbreakable. He also swam as a member of the NCAA champion 400 medley relay. During his career, Alexandrov earned 25 All-America accolades, second in school history to teammate Grevers. He holds seven school records, and will represent his home country of Bulgaria at the 2007 World University Games.

The Billy McKinney Award is presented to the male student-athlete who has exhibited exemplary leadership qualities, constant (110 percent) effort, and a positive attitude that, in his coach's estimation, makes him a "coach's dream." The award was presented to men's soccer player Jeff Mills (Barrington, Ill./Palatine).

Mills is a three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection. During his senior year in 2006, he played in 15 games and started the final 11 as the Wildcats magical season advanced them all the way to the NCAA quarterfinals -- one win away from the NCAA College Cup, only to fall to the eventual national champions by one goal. He was part of a defensive unit that recorded eight shutouts, including two in the NCAA Tournament.

Lauren Greenwood (Brentwood, Tenn./Brentwood) from women's volleyball received the Lisa Ishikawa Award, which is presented to a female student-athlete who has exhibited outstanding leadership ability and selfless dedication to team goals; Ishikawa's determination and positive attitude led her to perform above and beyond the expected.

Greenwood played every position asked of her during her time wearing purple. Used as a defensive specialist her freshman and sophomore years, Greenwood transitioned to setter as a junior, helping lead Northwestern to its first NCAA Tournament victory in 2005. She then moved back to the defensive specialist position as a senior, compiling 187 digs as a member of NU's backcourt. Off the court, Greenwood is extremely active, holding positions in SAAC and helping run Relay For Life.

Sophie Eustis (Andover, Mass./Concord Academy) from women's fencing and Willy Lock (Lima, Peru/Markham College) from men's tennis are Northwestern's 2007 Big Ten Female and Male Sportsmanship Award recipients. The award is given to one male and female student-athlete who displays exemplary sportsmanship and is a key contributor in the community.

Eustis was a strong senior leader for the 'Cats this season, ending her final year with a 54-35 record. She placed sixth at Midwest Conference Championship with a 7-1 mark. For her efforts she was named second-team All-Midwest Conference. The Andover, Mass., native compiled 147 wins over career, good enough for eighth on the all-time sabre wins list.

Lock was a four-year starter for the men's tennis team and anchored the top of the Wildcats' lineup in 2006-07. The senior played in both the No. 1 and No. 2 singles spots all season and recorded a team-high 12 dual match wins.

Northwestern also announced its 2007 NCAA Woman of the Year candidate at the event. This award recognizes individual excellence in three areas: athletics, academics and community service. Up to two graduating seniors at each institution who participated in the 2006-07 academic year will be recognized as the "NCAA Women of the Year" and will automatically be eligible for state selection. Northwestern's nominee is Kjellman from women's lacrosse.