Erin Reilly is one of three Big Ten Distinguished Scholars in this year's senior class.Erin Reilly is one of three Big Ten Distinguished Scholars in this year's senior class.

Northwestern Welcomes Notre Dame, No. 15 Michigan Saturday on Senior Day

Jan. 14, 2011

EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern concludes its 2010-11 home season and celebrates Senior Day at 1 p.m. CT Saturday, Jan. 15, when it hosts No. 15 Michigan and Notre Dame at the Norris Aquatics Center.

The Wildcats will honor their eight member senior class, comprised of Kiersten Cooley (Hershey, Pa./Hershey), Liza Engstrom (Reno, Nev./Robert McQueen), Katie Eschenburg (Hartland, Wis./Arrowhead), Ellen Grigg (Charlotte, N.C./Charlotte Latin School), Alex Kraus (Birmingham, Ala./Vestavia Hills), Erin Reilly (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln-Way East), Kate Stephensen (Davis, Calif./Davis Senior High) and Caroline Walls (Tucson, Ariz./Sabino).

During their four years in Evanston, every member of this year's senior class has earned Academic All-Big Ten honors with three of them earning Big Ten Distinguished Scholar awards. The class holds four individual Northwestern school records and has won three All-America honors while qualifying for two of the last three NCAA Championships.

Northwestern enters this weekend's meet with a 4-3 dual-meet record after picking up a victory over the University of Puerto Rico during the Wildcats' December training trip to the island. In its last home action, NU took first place in its own six-team TYR Invitational in November.

In separate dual meets a year ago, Northwestern staged a dramatic comeback with a 1-2-3 sweep of the 400 IM and a final relay victory to defeat Notre Dame, 153-147, before a similar comeback attempt fell short at then No. 16 Michigan, 157.5-142.5.