Northwestern University Athletics
Photo by: Ryan Kuttler/Northwestern Athletics
Positively Dr. Gragg – January 2024
1/30/2024 2:23:00 PM | General
Wildcats,
This is a new year, which means a perfect time for new ideas and new approaches. Therefore, we wanted to expand the reach of this monthly communication to our nearly 500 student-athletes who will now receive this newsletter, as well as its accompanying video.
Writing these newsletters is a rewarding experience for me. It allows me to stay connected and provide regular updates to our entire NUDAR community and it also creates an opportunity to receive insightful feedback that helps inform how we will continue to serve you.
As always, I am very proud of our Wildcat student-athletes. Our men's basketball team continues to excel with great conference wins over Purdue, Michigan State, Maryland and others. They continue to perform on a high level in front of sold-out crowds.
We are also looking forward to a sellout crowd for the upcoming women's basketball game versus Iowa. This will be the first sellout in the history of our program.
I want to thank our students, including Northwestern Wildside, for their attendance and incredible enthusiasm at our games. They make a tremendous difference.
Congrats again to our softball Wildcats, who my family celebrated with recently at our home for their sweep of both Big Ten titles this past season. Also, congratulations to all 19 of our sport programs that continue to excel in the classroom with each team earning at least a 3.0 GPA for the fall quarter.
As we enter 2024, no matter the task, many things related to college athletics appear to be complex – and oftentimes they are. However, the intentional approach I have incorporated – and have also encouraged our leadership team to consider – is to simplify as much as we can.
This approach will be important as we continue to administer many important projects such as the upcoming rebuild of Ryan Field, working on building a world-class venue for our championship softball program and continuing to emphasize our strategic plan, R.I.S.E. Northwestern, in all aspects of our athletics department. The R.I.S.E. core values include: Respect, Integrity, Service and Excellence.
This is also a great time for reflection, something I was able to do recently on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. This important day consistently reminds me that we can always evolve, adapt and improve.
This new year provides the opportunity to write a new chapter in both your own story and the story of Northwestern Athletics. Let's make 2024 our best year yet!
God Bless and Go 'Cats!
Positively,
Dr. Gragg
Quote of the month: "Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education." Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Reading recommendation: The Power of Who! by Bob Beaudine
This is a new year, which means a perfect time for new ideas and new approaches. Therefore, we wanted to expand the reach of this monthly communication to our nearly 500 student-athletes who will now receive this newsletter, as well as its accompanying video.
Writing these newsletters is a rewarding experience for me. It allows me to stay connected and provide regular updates to our entire NUDAR community and it also creates an opportunity to receive insightful feedback that helps inform how we will continue to serve you.
As always, I am very proud of our Wildcat student-athletes. Our men's basketball team continues to excel with great conference wins over Purdue, Michigan State, Maryland and others. They continue to perform on a high level in front of sold-out crowds.
We are also looking forward to a sellout crowd for the upcoming women's basketball game versus Iowa. This will be the first sellout in the history of our program.
I want to thank our students, including Northwestern Wildside, for their attendance and incredible enthusiasm at our games. They make a tremendous difference.
Congrats again to our softball Wildcats, who my family celebrated with recently at our home for their sweep of both Big Ten titles this past season. Also, congratulations to all 19 of our sport programs that continue to excel in the classroom with each team earning at least a 3.0 GPA for the fall quarter.
As we enter 2024, no matter the task, many things related to college athletics appear to be complex – and oftentimes they are. However, the intentional approach I have incorporated – and have also encouraged our leadership team to consider – is to simplify as much as we can.
This approach will be important as we continue to administer many important projects such as the upcoming rebuild of Ryan Field, working on building a world-class venue for our championship softball program and continuing to emphasize our strategic plan, R.I.S.E. Northwestern, in all aspects of our athletics department. The R.I.S.E. core values include: Respect, Integrity, Service and Excellence.
This is also a great time for reflection, something I was able to do recently on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. This important day consistently reminds me that we can always evolve, adapt and improve.
This new year provides the opportunity to write a new chapter in both your own story and the story of Northwestern Athletics. Let's make 2024 our best year yet!
God Bless and Go 'Cats!
Positively,
Dr. Gragg
Quote of the month: "Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education." Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Reading recommendation: The Power of Who! by Bob Beaudine
Lacrosse - NCAA Tournament 2nd Round vs JMU Postgame Press Conference (5/10/26)
Sunday, May 10
Baseball - 'Cats Ground Redbirds in 7-1 Midweek Victory (5/5/26)
Tuesday, May 05
Softball - Marina Mason Tosses One-Hit Shutout, 'Cats Claim Series Win vs. Minnesota (5/3/26)
Monday, May 04
Baseball - 'Cats Take Series with 9-6 Victory over Hoosiers (5/3/26)
Sunday, May 03
