Northwestern University Athletics
Six To Be Inducted into Athletic Hall of Fame
2/13/2001 12:00:00 AM | General
Feb. 13, 2001
EVANSTON, Ill. - Northwestern will induct the 2000-01 class into its Athletic Hall of Fame this Friday, February 16. The induction ceremony and dinner will take place at 6 p.m. at the Allen Center on Northwestern's Evanston campus.
This year's class:
WESLEY BROWN, Jr. -- Wrestling, 1931-33
Brown was a three-time Big Ten champion at 175 pounds, Northwestern's only three-time winner. As a sophomore in 1931, he helped the Wildcats win their first Big Ten wrestling championship, then proceeded to reach the NCAA semifinals that year. He again reached the NCAA semifinals in 1933, but was forced to default with a knee injury.
ANDREW CVERCKO -- Football, 1956-58
A three-year starter who played on both the offensive and defensive lines at NU, Cvercko was named an All-American and Academic All-American in 1958, the first Wildcat to accomplish that feat. He was on the Academic All-Big Ten team in 1957 and 1958, and in 1959, won the Big Ten Medal of Honor and participated in the College All-Star game. After graduation, he spent four years playing in the NFL with Green Bay, Dallas, Cleveland and Washington.
JACK CVERCKO -- Football, 1960, 1962-63
Voted an All-American in 1962 and 1963, Jack Cvercko, like his brother Andy, played on both sides of the ball, except primarily as a guard. Jack's career was often hampered by a chronic knee injury but, as a Michigan State player once said about him, "Even on just one leg, Cvercko was the toughest player I've played against." NU was 17-10 during his three seasons with victories over Oklahoma, Notre Dame (twice), Miami and Ohio State (twice).
TODD MARTIN -- Tennis, 1988-90
Todd Martin began his Northwestern career as the 1989 Big Ten Freshman of the Year, and the next season won the Big Ten singles title, was named Big Ten Player of the Year and accorded first-team All-America honors. He still holds the NU records for career winning percentage (.898), and for single season victories (51 in 1989-90) and winning percentage (.944 in 1989-90).
Martin has spent the last decade as one of the best and most respected players in international tennis. After leaving Northwestern in 1990 to turn pro, Martin has risen as high as No. 4 in the ATP Tour rankings, played on a championship-winning U.S. Davis Cup team (1995), and reached the finals of both the Australian Open and U.S. Open tournaments. Overall, he has won eight singles and four doubles titles, and represented the U.S. at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
GRETCHEN SCHEUERMANN -- Field Hockey, 1991-94
One of two Northwestern field hockey players (the other being 1996 NU Hall of Fame inductee Jennifer Averill) that have won the Honda Broderick Cup Award as the top collegiate field hockey player in the country (1994). Scheuermann was named All-American in 1993 and 1994, and, in 1994, was the Big Ten MVP and Offensive Player of the Year. She was a member of the 1994 team that advanced to the NCAA Final Four, where she was named to the All-Tournament team.
NORMAN KRAGSETH -- Honorary
A 1953 Northwestern graduate, Kragseth was a three-year letterwinner for the Wildcats in football from 1950-52. He was named All-Big Ten Honorable Mention his senior season as a placekicker/punter. He also played on the basketball and golf teams. But, it was later in his life that he distinguished himself as a Big Ten and National Football League official. Kragseth officiated for five years for the Big Ten, and in 1974, began a 15-year career as an NFL official. He worked Super Bowl XIV in Pasadena, Calif., between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Los Angeles Rams, and in 1988, became an instant replay official. He continues to work as a scout and an observer for the NFL.
For reservations to the 2000-01 Northwestern Athletic Hall of Fame induction ceremony, please call Jean Yale at 847-491-3694.
