Jan. 14, 2002
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern will induct the 18th class into its Athletic Hall of Fame Friday, February 22. The group also will be honored at halftime of the Northwestern-Illinois men's basketball game on Saturday, February 23. The induction ceremony and dinner take place at 6 p.m. at the Allen Center on Northwestern's Evanston campus.
The Athletic Hall of Fame was inaugurated in 1984 to honor former athletes, coaches and administrators who have helped establish a proud tradition in intercollegiate competition at Northwestern.
The Hall of Fame is divided into two categories:
* The Pioneer Era consists of any individual who would have graduated prior to 1951.
* The Contemporary Era spans the years since 1951, excluding the five years prior to the current year. This era is divided into two groups: Group I is made up of individuals from the 20 most recent years, excluding the five-year probationary period. Group II encompasses the remaining student-athletes since 1951.
This year's five inductees increase Northwestern's Hall of Fame membership to 103.
This year's class includes:
* Lee Assenheimer, Cross Country (1964-66) -- Assenheimer provided the top individual highlight in NU men's cross country history by winning both the 1964 and 1965 Big Ten championships. His outstanding performance also helped the Wildcats claim the 1965 team championship, the school's only men's cross country league title. The Wildcats also placed second at the 1965 NCAA Championships. For his efforts, Assenheimer received Northwestern's Frank Hill Award, given for dedication, leadership and loyalty.
* Antoinette Lucas, Field Hockey/Lacrosse (1987-91) -- One of NU's top two-sport athletes, Lucas earned All-America honors on two occasions in both field hockey and lacrosse. She led the Wildcats to four straight NCAA Tournament appearances in field hockey, including a national semifinal showing in 1989 when she earned all-tournament honors. In lacrosse, Lucas was a second-team All-America selection in 1988 and a first-team choice in 1990. She continued her illustrious field hockey career with a spot on the 1996 U.S. Olympic team and the 1999 U.S. Pan American team.
* William Moore, Track & Field (1946-47) -- Following stints at Drake and Western Michigan, Moore concluded his collegiate athletic career at Northwestern by winning the Big Ten pole vault competition in 1946 and tying for the championship in 1947. Participating under the Navy ROTC plan, he won the Drake Relays pole vault title three times while representing three different schools-Drake (1943), Western Michigan (1945) and Northwestern (1946). Moore is the only athlete in the illustrious history of the Drake Relays to win the same event for three different institutions. He also won the 1946 AAU national championship.
* Michele Savage, Women's Basketball (1990-92) -- One of only two players in NU history to be named a first-team All-Big Ten player three times, Savage garnered All-America honors in 1991. She holds NU's career records for field goal percentage (.606) while ranking among the school's leaders in points (1,688), rebounds (681) and steals (200). A five-time Big Ten Player of the Week, Savage was named a second-team Big Ten Centennial squad selection. She averaged 25.2 ppg in 1990-91 in Big Ten action, the third-best average in league history. In 1990, Savage helped lead NU to its first Big Ten title and an NCAA Tournament berth.
* Rory Weber, Wrestling (1960-62) -- Weber concluded his illustrious Wildcat wrestling career with an all-time record of 58-8. That .881 winning percentage presently ranks second all-time at Northwestern. He garnered All-America honors three years (1960-62) in the heavyweight division, making him one of the Wildcats' most decorated wrestlers. Weber captured the Big Ten championship in 1960 and was the squad's Stuteville Award (most points) recipient in 1961.
For reservations to the 2001-02 Northwestern Athletic Hall of Fame induction ceremony, please call Jean Yale at 847-491-3694.