Nov. 26, 2002
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern will induct the 19th class into its Athletic Hall of Fame Friday, February 28, 2003. The four inductees -- Pat Fitzgerald (football), Jack Griffin (wrestling), Lori Holmes (swimming) and Kathleen Kochmansky (field hockey/lacrosse) -- also will be honored at halftime of the Northwestern-Penn State men's basketball game on Saturday, March 1. 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. Individuals are eligible for Hall of Fame recognition beginning five years after their final competition at NU.
The Hall of Fame is divided into two categories:
* The Pioneer Era, which honors individuals who would have graduated prior to 1951.
* The Contemporary Era spans the years since 1951. This era is divided into two groups: Group I, which includes 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 four inductees increase Northwestern's Hall of Fame membership to 107.
Following are brief summaries of the inductees' careers:
* Pat Fitzgerald, Football (1993-96) -- One of the most widely heralded players in NU history, Fitzgerald was a leader on NU's 1995 and 1996 Big Ten championship teams. He became the first player ever to win consecutive National Defensive Player of the Year awards, and earned Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year awards in both 1995 and 1996. Fitzgerald also earned a pair of first-team All-America awards and was named Big Ten Player of the Week four times during his career. He captained the 1996 team, which finished 9-3 and qualified for the 1997 Citrus Bowl. Fitzgerald led the Big Ten in tackles in 1995, and and topped NU's tackle chart in 1996.
* Jack Griffin, Wrestling (1986-90) -- Griffin won the 118-pound NCAA Championship in 1990, earning his second All-America honor that season. He also earned Big Ten titles in 1989 and 1990. He finished his career with a 156-21-1 (.879) record, marking the most wins ever for an NU wrestler. Griffin served as a captain for two NU squads, and qualified for the 1992 U.S. Olympic Team as an alternate. Griffin had three seasons of 40 or more wins (no other NU wrestler has ever had more than one), and his 43-win campign in 1989 is the second-best in NU history. He also was a three-time winner of the Stuteville Award for most points and the Lupton Award for most takedowns.
* Lori Holmes, Swimming (1986-90) -- Holmes earned All-America honors in seven events during her NU career, including four during the 1988-89 season. That season, she captured individual Big Ten titles in the 200-yard freestyle, 100-yard butterfly, 200-yard butterfly and was part of the conference champion 800-yard freestyle relay team. Her winning 200-yard butterfly time remains the fastest ever at a Big Ten Championship meet. Holmes was the 1989 Big Ten Swimmer of the Year and NU Female Athlete of the Year. NU notched three top-three Big Ten finshes during Holmes' career, including a school-best second-place mark in 1990
* Kathleen Kochmansky, Field Hockey/Lacrosse (1981-85) -- Kochmansky is NU's only three-time first-team field hockey All-American. She received All-America honors in 1982, 1983 and 1984. Kochmansky helped NU to three straight NCAA tournament appearances, earning All-Tournament honors in 1983 as the 'Cats reached the national semifinals. She remains among NU's all-time field hockey leaders in career scoring and career goals scored. As a lacrosse player, Kochmansky also earned All-America accolades three times. She was a second-team honoree in 1983 and 1984 and earned honorable mention in 1985. She holds the NU record for most goals scored in a game, and is second on NU's career goals scored list.
For reservations to the 2002-03 Northwestern Athletic Hall of Fame induction ceremony, please call Jean Yale at 847-491-3694.