March 12, 2004

EVANSTON, Ill. - Ten Northwestern field hockey student-athletes have been recognized by the Big Ten and the National Field Hockey Coaches Association for their work in the classroom, the highest number of individuals to be so honored in the program's history.

"This is a positive indication of the direction our program is taking," NU coach Kelly McCollum said. "We are attracting more and more talented student-athletes who are equally committed to their athletic and academic pursuits."

Seven Wildcats earned NFHCA 2003 Division I National Academic Squad honors: Senior Suzi Sutton (York, Pa./Dallastown), Sophomore Holly Palin (Mequon, Wis./University School of Milwaukee) and freshmen Wenny Ng (Vernon Hills, Ill./Stevenson), Sherri-Anne Nyberg (Kelowna, British Columbia/Kelowna Secondary), Lauren Przyborowski (River Forest, Ill./Oak Park River Forest), Megan Sieberg (Toledo, Ohio/Maumee Valley Country Day) and Meghan Small (Macungie, Pa./Moravian Academy).

Palin is a two-time NFHCA honoree. Students must maintain a 3.3 cumulative GPA or higher to make the squad.

In addition to the NFHCA awards, senior Katie Walshauser (Wildwood, Mo./St. Joseph's Academy), junior Morgan Kuhn (Chesterfield, Mo./Lafayette) and sophomore Ellen Schlafly (St. Louis, Mo./MICDS) joined Sutton and Palin as all five Wildcats earned Academic All-Big Ten honors. Athletes must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better and be in their second academic year at the school to be named Academic All-Big Ten.

Sutton and Walshauser are three-time Academic All-Big Ten selections while this is Kuhn's second such honor.

"Our kids are challenged at the highest level here at Northwestern," McCollum said. "It is great to see so many of our athletes recognized for their work in the classroom."

Nine different Wildcats received academic honors a year ago.