We highlighted 50 of our favorite Northwestern athletes, and, with help from our readers, we picked our "Top Cats" — our all-time top 10 plus two fan favorites.
Several fans weighed in on our 50 greatest Wildcats. Check out their comments on Northwestern's best, including a few we missed.
All photos courtesy of Northwestern University Athletic Communications.
Katrina Adams (C89)
Tennis
Katrina Adams and Diane Donnelly Stone (C87) were one of the most dominant pairings in NCAA history. They won the 1987 NCAA doubles championship, ending the season with a 24-match winning streak. They did not lose a set in the championship. They finished the season 36-2 and compiled a 72-5 record over a two-year period. Adams was a two-time first-team All-American and All–Big Ten member in both singles and doubles. (See “Tennis: A Great Match for Katrina Adams,” winter 2004, and Updates, fall 2012.) Vote for Katrina Adams.
Darnell Autry (C06)
Football
Darnell Autry was a 1995 Heisman Trophy finalist during Northwestern’s first Rose Bowl run in nearly 50 years. (Autry finished fourth in the Heisman balloting that season, when Eddie George [KSM09] won the trophy.) Autry followed that up with another outstanding season in 1996, when he was named a finalist for the Doak Walker Award, given to the nation’s top running back. Autry, who was drafted by the Chicago Bears after his junior season, left Northwestern as the school’s all-time leading rusher (3,793 yards). He returned to the University to complete his degree in 2006. Vote for Darnell Autry.
Jennifer Averill (SESP87)
Field hockey and lacrosse
An amazing six-time All-American in two sports (four in field hockey, two in women’s lacrosse), Jennifer Averill became the first Wildcat to win the Broderick Award, given annually to the nation’s best field hockey player, in 1986–87. She was also named Big Ten Female Athlete of the Year that same year. Field hockey won 72 games and three Big Ten titles during her career, and the lacrosse team finished fifth in the nation in three of her four seasons. (See “Winning with Passion,” fall 2006.) Vote for Jennifer Averill.
Ralph “Moon” Baker (EB27)
Football
Named to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1981, Moon Baker was a triple-threat halfback known for his running, passing and kicking. Known to many as “Mr. Wildcat,” Baker spearheaded Northwestern’s emergence as a Big Ten contender in 1924, when the school earned the nickname “Wildcats.” He was named to the All-America team in 1926 as he led Northwestern to the Big Ten championship. Vote for Moon Baker.
Amy Balcerzak [Field] (WCAS00)
Swimming
Amy Balcerzak was the most prolific breaststroker in Northwestern women’s swimming history. She earned four All-America distinctions for breaststroke in both the 100 and 200, capturing 20 All-America honors throughout her career (in NCAA swimming, athletes and relay teams who make the championship final are considered first-team All-Americans). She led the team to two top-10 finishes at the NCAA Championships. Balcerzak also won six Big Ten championships and owns or shares three individual or relay records for Northwestern. Vote for Amy Balcerzak.
Ralph T. Breyer (EB25)
Swimming
Anucha Browne [Sanders] (C85)
Basketball
Anucha Browne had smashed almost every Northwestern women’s basketball record by the end of her career, when she owned a staggering 24 school records, many of which still stand. She averaged an NCAA-best 30.5 points per game as a senior and set an NCAA record by scoring 30 or more points in six straight games. Browne, an All-American in 1985, scored in double figures in 56 consecutive games. She owns the career marks for points (2,307) and rebounds (951). She was a finalist for national player of the year honors three times. (See “Slam Dunk in the Big Apple,” summer 2003.) Vote for Anucha Browne.
Ron Burton (SESP60)
Football
Ron Burton was a huge part of Northwestern football’s turnaround under Ara Parseghian. The running back was an All-American as a senior and was twice named to the All–Big Ten team, setting Northwestern records for career touchdowns and points. Burton was a first-round draft choice in both the American Football League and National Football League drafts (he went on to play for the AFL’s Boston Patriots) and was named to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1990. (See “The Burton Legacy,” spring 2006.) Vote for Ron Burton.
Walter Colbath (EB30)
Diving
At 6-foot-2, Walter Colbath was one of the biggest divers of his era and one of the greatest divers in the sport’s history. He won three NCAA diving championships, a Big Ten title and earned a bronze medal at the 1928 Summer Olympics in Amsterdam. Vote for Walter Colbath.
Garland Cooper (C07)
Softball
The Big Ten home run queen, Garland Cooper became the all-time Big Ten home run leader (55) at the end of her illustrious career. She was the Big Ten’s first-ever three-time Player of the Year and also was named to three All-America teams (twice as a first-team selection). As a senior, Cooper hit 23 home runs to break the Big Ten single-season record. She led the Wildcats to two consecutive Women’s College World Series semifinal appearances and a Big Ten championship. (See "Purple Reign," fall 2007.) Vote for Garland Cooper.
Luke Donald (WCAS01)
Golf
Before he became the world’s No. 1 golfer in 2011, Luke Donald won the 1999 NCAA individual championship and was named College Golfer of the Year. The England native was a four-time All-American (including three first-team selections) and three-time Big Ten Player of the Year. He won two individual conference titles. (See “Swing Time,” spring 2012, and "Former Northwestern Star Tees It Up on Tour," summer 2004.) Vote for Luke Donald.
Diane Donnelly [Stone] (C87)
Tennis
A two-time All-American and All–Big Ten player, Diane Donnelly Stone holds the Northwestern record for consecutive singles matches won (16 in 1985). She also claimed the 1987 NCAA doubles championship with Katrina Adams (C89). The duo ended the season with a 24-match winning streak during a 36-2 campaign. They did not lose a set in the championship. Stone and Adams compiled 72-5 record over a two-year period. Vote for Diane Donnelly.
Evan Eschmeyer (SESP98, KSM08, L08)
Basketball
The only three-time first-team All–Big Ten selection in Northwestern history, Evan Eschmeyer is the school’s all-time leader in field goal percentage (59.5) and rebounds (995), and he ranks third in points (1,805). He earned second-team All-American honors in 1999. Eschmeyer, the most recent Northwestern basketball player selected in the NBA Draft, played four seasons in the league with the New Jersey Nets, Golden State Warriors and Dallas Mavericks. (See “Jump Shot: Evan Eschmeyer,” winter 2008.) Vote for Evan Eschmeyer.
Pat Fitzgerald (SESP97)
Football
Pat Fitzgerald was the most decorated football player in Northwestern history prior to becoming the team’s head coach in 2006. He won both the Chuck Bednarik and Bronko Nagurski Awards as the nation’s best defensive player and Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year for both the 1995 and 1996 seasons. The two-time first team All-American led the Wildcats to the team’s first Rose Bowl in nearly 50 years. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2008. (See “Mr. Intensity,” fall 2010.) Vote for Pat Fitzgerald.
Jim Golliday (C54)
Track and field
In 1955 James Golliday was considered the world’s fastest human when he matched the world-record time of 9.3 seconds in the 100-yard dash at the Big Ten Championship. He also set a world indoor dirt track record with his time of 6 seconds flat in the 60-yard dash. Golliday, the greatest sprinter in Northwestern history, broke all of the Wildcats’ indoor and outdoor records. Vote for Jim Golliday.
Clark Graebner (SESP67)
Tennis
Along with partner Marty Riessen, Clark Graebner won the Big Ten doubles championship in 1963 and 1964, twice making it to the NCAA semifinals. After Riessen graduated, Graebner went on to win the Big Ten singles championship in 1965. He was named to the All-America team in 1963 and 1964, making him Northwestern’s first two-time All-American in tennis. Vote for Clark Graebner.
Otto Graham (SESP44)
Football, basketball and baseball
“Automatic Otto” became famous for his professional football accomplishments with the Cleveland Browns. But before he dominated the professional ranks, Otto Graham was a three-sport star at Northwestern. He was All-American in both football and basketball and was a .300 hitter in baseball. Graham, who finished third in the Heisman Trophy voting in 1943, was named to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1956. Vote for Otto Graham.
Matt Grevers (C09)
Swimming
Matt Grevers is now known for his collection of Olympic gold medals, but he picked up his share of hardware while at Northwestern as well. A four-time NCAA champion, 19-time Big Ten champion and 27-time All-American (athletes and relay teams who make the NCAA championship final are considered first-team All-Americans), Grevers became the first Wildcat in nearly 50 years to win a national championship when he captured the 100 backstroke over the University of Florida’s Ryan Lochte in 2005. Grevers and Lochte were Olympic teammates in 2008 and 2012. (See "Matt Grevers: Golden Boy," winter 2012.) Vote for Matt Grevers.
Cristelle Grier (WCAS06)
Tennis
Along with partner Alexis Prousis in 2006, Cristelle Grier was part of the second team in Northwestern history to win the NCAA doubles national championship. She was also a top singles player, compiling an overall record of 181-38. Her 46-1 mark in Big Ten singles play is still the best singles record in conference history. She was also a four-time All-American in singles and three-time All-American in doubles. Grier became the first women’s tennis player in conference history to win three Big Ten Player of the Year honors. (See "A Season of Champions," fall 2006, and "A Sense of Titlement," fall 2005.) Vote for Cristelle Grier.
Jack Griffin (SESP90)
Wrestling
Jack Griffin won the 118-pound NCAA championship in 1990, making him the University’s first individual wrestling champion in 17 years. Prior to that crowning achievement, he won Big Ten individual titles in 1989 and 1990. Griffin finished his career with 156 victories, putting him atop Northwestern’s all-time wins list. Vote for Jack Griffin.
Jake Herbert (C09)
Wrestling
The most dominant wrestler in Northwestern history, Jake Herbert was the University’s first two-time NCAA champion in nearly 80 years. He won the 184-pound title in 2007 and 2009, was a four-time All-American, a three-time Big Ten champion and won the 2009 Hodge Trophy as the nation’s best wrestler. Herbert suffered just four losses during his Northwestern career (135-4) and went undefeated during his final two seasons. (See "Unbeatable: Jake Herbert," summer 2009.) Vote for Jake Herbert.
Bryan Hines (J24)
Wrestling
After going through his junior season undefeated and capturing the Big Ten championship, Hines won the title again as a senior before winning the pre-NCAA National Collegiate Championship, the first wrestling national title in Northwestern history. Vote for Bryan Hines.
Chris Hinton (WCAS83)
Football
As a senior, Chris Hinton blossomed into perhaps the best collegiate offensive lineman in the country. He was selected as a first-team All-American and first-team All–Big Ten. The following year Hinton was selected as the fourth overall pick in the 1983 NFL Draft, widely considered one of the most talented draft classes in league history. Vote for Chris Hinton.
Richard Howell (WCAS26)
Swimming, water polo and wrestling
During two years of swimming competition Richard “Dick” Howell, one of the greatest freestyle distance swimmers in the Northwestern history, captured three NCAA titles. In 1924 he won the 400- and 1500-meter freestyle events and added the 220-yard championship to his résumé in 1925. Howell won four Big Ten titles and at one time held 10 Big Ten freestyle records. He also played for three intercollegiate championship water polo teams and wrestled while at Northwestern. He was a member of the 1924 U.S. Olympic team. Vote for Richard Howell.
Lisa Ishikawa [Sliwa] (McC88)
Softball
Lisa Ishikawa threw 14 career no-hitters, compiled a 0.47 earned run average, tallied 1,200 strikeouts and recorded 54 shutouts, all of which are still Northwestern records. A three-time All-American and two-time Big Ten Player of the Year and Big Ten Female Athlete of the Year, Ishikawa pitched 90 consecutive scoreless innings in 1985. That same year, the American Softball Association named her Sportswoman of the Year. She also led Northwestern to three College World Series appearances. Vote for Lisa Ishikawa.
Kristen Kjellman (C07)
Lacrosse
Kristen Kjellman helped build the foundation for Northwestern’s women’s lacrosse dynasty. On her way to three consecutive national championships (2005–07), Kjellman became the University’s first four-time All-American in lacrosse and first two-time winner of the Tewaaraton Trophy, awarded annually to the most outstanding college lacrosse player. She was the first male or female player in college lacrosse history to win the Tewaaraton in consecutive years. Vote for Kristen Kjellman.
Kathleen Kochmansky [Fluharty] (SESP85)
Field hockey and lacrosse
Kathleen Kochmansky was a two-sport All-American and Northwestern’s only three-time first-team All-American in field hockey. She was named to the NCAA all-tournament team in 1983, when she led the Wildcats to the national semifinals. It was one of three NCAA Tournament appearances in her career. She remains among the Wildcats' all-time leaders in scoring. Kochmansky also earned three All-American honors as a women’s lacrosse player. Vote for Kathleen Kochmansky.
Arthur Kraft (SESP60, GSESP61)
Wrestling
After serving in the military, Arthur Kraft followed his younger brother, wrestler Ken Kraft (SESP57, GSESP59), to Northwestern, where Arthur made his own mark on the University record books. The 157-pound wrestler was a two-time All-American and a national champion in 1960. He was the fourth wrestler in school history to win an individual national title. Vote for Arthur Kraft.
Mark Loretta (SESP93)
Baseball
Mark Loretta was a four-year starter as Northwestern’s shortstop. He truly broke out during his senior year in 1993, when he became the Wildcats’ only first-team All-American and Big Ten Player of the Year. His 239 career hits rank third on Northwestern’s all-time list. Drafted in the seventh round by the Milwaukee Brewers, the two-time All-Star enjoyed a 15-year career in the big leagues with the Brewers, Houston Astros, San Diego Padres, Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers. Vote for Mark Loretta.
Antoinette Lucas (WCAS92)
Field hockey and lacrosse
Leading Northwestern field hockey to four NCAA tournaments (including the semifinals in 1989), Antoinette Lucas also managed to become a two-sport All-American. She earned that distinction in lacrosse in 1988 and 1989 and twice in field hockey, in 1989 and 1990. Vote for Antoinette Lucas.
Ralph Lupton (EB28, L31)
Wrestling
In 1928 Ralph Lupton earned his first Big Ten championship and went on to win Northwestern’s first individual NCAA wrestling championship at 125 pounds. He won his second Big Ten championship the following year. To this date, the annual Lupton Award is given to the Wildcat wrestler who registers the most net takedowns in a season. Vote for Ralph Lupton.
Edgar "Eggs" Manske (SESP34)
Basketball and football
Edgar “Eggs” Mankse played football and basketball and excelled at both. He became an All-American wide receiver after walking on to the football team as a freshman. On the court, the point guard led men’s basketball to the 1932–33 conference championship. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1989. Vote for Edgar Manske.
Todd Martin (WCAS92)
Tennis
Opening his career with a bang, Todd Martin was named the 1989 Big Ten Freshman of the Year. He then won the Big Ten singles championship as a sophomore in 1990, when he also won Big Ten Player of the Year and first-team All-America honors. He turned professional later that year. His .898 winning percentage is by far the highest in Northwestern history. Vote for Todd Martin.
Mark Massery (SESP74, GSESP75)
Wrestling
Mark Massery won the 126-pound national championship in 1973 to cap an already stellar career. The All-American had already won Big Ten titles in 1971 and 1973. When he graduated, Massery held the Northwestern record for career wins. Vote for Mark Massery.
Billy McKinney (SESP77)
Basketball
Setting a school scoring record that lasted 35 years, Billy McKinney was Northwestern basketball’s Most Valuable Player three times in his career. During his senior season, he averaged 21.3 points per game and was named first-team All–Big Ten. Starring for coach Tex Winter from 1974 to 1977, McKinney poured in 1,900 points. He played seven seasons in the NBA. (See “Billy McKinney: Points Leader,” spring 2012, and "On the Ball," summer 2003.) Vote for Billy McKinney.
Max Morris (McC46)
Basketball, football and track
Northwestern’s last two-sport male All-American, Max Morris excelled on both the gridiron and the basketball court. The 6-foot-2 Morris earned consensus first-team All-America honors as a forward during his senior year on the basketball team. He was the first-ever recipient of the Chicago Tribune’s Big Ten Player of the Year honor, in 1946. He led the conference in scoring twice (15.8 points per game in 1945 and 16.5 points per game in 1946). During the fall of his senior year he had been named an All-American for his exploits as an end for Pappy Waldorf’s football team. Vote for Max Morris.
Hannah Nielsen (SESP10)
Lacrosse
In a long line of accomplished women’s lacrosse players, Hannah Nielsen is the only two-time Tewaaraton Trophy winner (awarded annually to the most outstanding college lacrosse player) and four-time national champion. The three-time All-American is Northwestern’s all-time leader in points (398) and the NCAA’s all-time leader in assists (224). She started every game during her four years as a Wildcat, and Northwestern lost just three times during her career. Vote for Hannah Nielsen.
Kate Oleykowski [Bernatowicz] (McC87)
Field hockey and lacrosse
Kate Oleykowski was a three-time All-American as a women’s lacrosse player and earned three All–Big Ten honors in field hockey. Her 228 career goals still ranks third on the Northwestern women’s lacrosse all-time list, and she owns the mark for points in a game (13). As a defender she also helped the field hockey team to three conference titles and four top-five NCAA finishes. Vote for Kate Oleykowski.
Dave Pemberton (EB58)
Swimming
Before Matt Grevers rewrote the Northwestern swimming record book, Dave Pemberton was the school’s last national champion. He won the 200 backstroke national title in 1958. He also won the Big Ten championship in the same event in 1957. Vote for Dave Pemberton.
Ernest “Pug” Rentner (SESP34)
Football
Blessed with one of the great nicknames in Northwestern athletic history, Ernest “Pug” Rentner used his speed, passing and kicking skills to lead Northwestern to back-to-back conference titles in 1930 and 1931 as a halfback and quarterback. He was named an All-American in 1931 and was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1979. Vote for Pug Rentner.
Marty Riessen (SESP64, GSESP67)
Tennis and basketball
Marty Riessen was dominant throughout his Big Ten tennis career, earning three straight Big Ten singles and doubles titles from 1962–64. He reached the NCAA singles title match three straight years. Riessen, son of legendary Northwestern tennis coach Clarence "Clare" Riessen (SESP39), was also a starting guard on the basketball team. Vote for Marty Riessen.
Jack Riley (EB32)
Football and wrestling
An All-American and two-time All–Big Ten tackle on back-to-back conference championship football teams, Jack Riley was even more successful as a wrestler. He won two NCAA titles in the heavyweight division in 1931 and 1932. He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1988. He later coached wrestling at Northwestern. Vote for Jack Riley.
David Roth (C08)
Soccer
Prior to David Roth’s arrival in 2004, Northwestern men’s soccer had never made the NCAA tournament. But Roth helped change the program’s fortunes, leading the Wildcats to tournament berths in three of his four seasons, including a trip to the quarterfinals in 2006. The midfielder, an All-American and three-time All–Big Ten selection (first-team twice), holds the Northwestern career assist record (32). Vote for David Roth.
Joe Ruklick (SESP59, GJ90)
Basketball
Joe Ruklick was a 6-foot-9 All-American center who led the Wildcats in both scoring and rebounding for three consecutive years. He still holds the Northwestern records for points per game (19.9) and ranks second in rebounds per game (13.2). He played three seasons in the NBA. (See “Baskets and Bylines: Joe Ruklick,” summer 2010.) Vote for Joe Ruklick.
Gretchen Scheuermann (SESP95)
Field hockey
Gretchen Scheuermann cemented her place in Northwestern athletic history in 1994 when she became the second player in school history to win the Broderick Award, given to the top collegiate field hockey player. That same year she made her second All-America team, was named the Big Ten Most Valuable Player and led the Wildcats to the NCAA semifinals. Vote for Gretchen Scheuermann.
John Shurna (SESP12)
Basketball
In breaking Billy McKinney’s 35-year-old school scoring record, John Shurna became the first Wildcat to break the 2,000-point plateau (2,038). Earning All-America honorable mention and consensus first-team All–Big Ten honors as a senior, he also became Northwestern’s first Big Ten scoring champion since 1951. Shurna also holds the school’s career blocked shots record (136) and played for the first two 20-win teams in Northwestern history. (See “All-Star Seniors: John Shurna,” summer 2012.) Vote for John Shurna.
Shannon Smith (WCAS12)
Lacrosse
Shannon Smith vaulted over some hall of fame–caliber competition to become Northwestern’s all-time leading goal scorer (254). She won three national championships and was a two-time NCAA Championship Most Valuable Player. As a junior, she became the third player in Northwestern history to win the Tewaaraton Trophy, awarded annually to the most outstanding college lacrosse player. (See “Father Knows Best,” summer 2012.) Vote for Shannon Smith.
Patricia Walsh [Iverson] (WCAS83)
Volleyball
Northwestern volleyball’s only three-time All-American, Patricia Walsh also made the Big Ten All-Decade Team for the 1980s. Among Northwestern’s career leaders in service aces, Walsh helped lead Northwestern to a second-place finish in the Big Ten during her senior season. Vote for Patricia Walsh.
Erica Westrich [Scullion] (WCAS00)
Soccer
Erica Westrich became the first women’s soccer player in Northwestern history to be named Big Ten Player of the Year, an honor she earned as a junior in 1998, a year in which the Wildcats posted the best record in school history (16-5-1 overall and 6-3 in the Big Ten) en route to a third-round NCAA Tournament appearance. Northwestern also made a postseason appearance in 1996, when she earned Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors. She was a three-time first-team All–Big Ten selection and became the first soccer player inducted into the Northwestern Athletic Hall of Fame. Vote for Erica Westrich.
Tammy Williams (SESP09)
Softball
The left-handed–hitting shortstop entered Northwestern with a bang, winning the 2006 Big Ten Freshman of the Year award, and rewrote the school’s record book by the time she graduated. Williams holds the Northwestern records for career batting average (.419), hits (310) and home runs (57). Her 235 career runs scored is 86 more than the next closest Wildcat. Williams was the 2008 and 2009 Big Ten Player of the Year and a three-time first-team All-American. Vote for Tammy Williams.
