Northwestern University Athletics
Center Court Holds Its Annual Banquet
5/24/2002 12:00:00 AM | General
May 24, 2002
EVANSTON, Ill. - Northwestern University's Center Court Club held its annual awards banquet Thursday, May 23,honoring the Wildcats' 11 women's varsity athletic programs.
The Jean Baddeley Spirit Award was given to junior Lauren Schwendimann (Tustin, Calif./Foothill) of the softball team. Schwendimann led the team in pitching this season and earned second team All-Region from the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA). In addition, she earned a spot on the Verizon District V Academic All-America Softball Second Team this spring. With one year still to play, Schwendimann is on NU's Top 10 all-time list in eight pitching categories.
Three women were honored as the Center Court's Outstanding Seniors. Swimmer Merritt Adams (Norcross, Ga./The Lovett School) earned her second Big Ten title this year in the 200 butterfly and was an All-America in that event, and will graduate as a four-time All-American. Soccer player Katie Hertz (Orland Park, Ill./Carl Sandburg) led the team in scoring this season and finished her career tied for third in all-time goals (19) and fourth in all-time points (48). Softball standout Erin Jancic (Houston, Texas/Alief Elsik) earned NFCA All-Region this season and graduates as Northwestern's all-time leader in runs (115), RBI (108), doubles (38) and total bases (276).
The Center Court Scholar-Athlete was given to two women, Nora Colligan (Rockford, Mich./Rockford) of cross country and Courtney Koester (Richmond, Ind./Richmond) of lacrosse. Colligan ran in the No. 6 position for NU during the fall. Koester-who had never played lacrosse before being recruited by head coach Kelly Amonte Hiller just before Thanksgiving-started every game this season and led the 'Cats with 38 draw controls. She also scored 13 points, good for fifth on the team, and was third with 36 ground balls.
The Torch of Center Court Scholarship was awarded to Kate Rawsthorne (Okemos, Mich./Okemos) of the soccer program. Rawsthorne walked on to the team this season and ended up playing in 18 of the Wildcats' 19 matches. She also scored twice, and will return to the team next year as a fifth-year senior.
Several graduating seniors were honored by the Center Court with Senior Recognition. They were: Maria Badaracco (Brookline, Mass./Brookline) and Sara Jurek (Tulsa, Okla./Cascia Hall) of cross country; Kathryn Breed (Los Gatos, Calif./Los Gatos) of field hockey; Kristen Dorf (St. Paul, Minn./St. Paul Academy), Jen Greenebaum (Mendham, N.J./Pingry School) and Maggie Kebrdle (South Bend, Ind./St. Joseph's) of fencing; Emily Gilley (Flossmoor, Ill./Homewood-Flossmoor) of golf; Lia Jackson (Glendale, Wis./Nicolet) and Simona Petrutiu (Constanta, Romania) of tennis; Susie McCreery (Glenview, Ill./Glenbrook South) of soccer; and Bill?e Russell (Sleepy Hollow, Ill./Dundee Crown) of basketball.
