|
Golden Girls, Michelle Bartsch-Hackley (2008-11), Jordyn Poulter (2015-18) & Erin Virtue (2001-04), Volleyball
Michelle Bartsch-Hackley and Jordyn Poulter are both members of the U.S. women’s volleyball national team with Erin Virtue as an assistant coach. The trio represented the U.S. at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, and made history in being the first Illini women to capture a gold medal in any sport at the Olympic Games.
|
Renee Heiken-Slone (1990-93), Women’s Golf
Renee Heiken Slone was the first Illini women’s golfer to be named the 1993 National College Player of the Year by both the National Golf Coaches Association and Golfweek Magazine. She was the most dominant women's golfer in Illini history. Slone was a three-time All-American, claiming three straight Top-10 finishes at the NCAA Championships, with a high place of third in 1991. She was a two-time Big Ten Player of the Year and two-time Big Ten Championship medalist. Slone was a tournament medalist eight times as a senior to set the Illinois record. She has been the Head Coach of the Fighting Illini women's golf program since 2006.
|
Back-to-Back Final Fours (1987-88), Volleyball
Mary Eggers (1985-88) is hailed as the most accomplished player in Illinois volleyball history alongside the support of her teammate Nancy Brookhart (1986-89). The dynamic duo had a run of success together that lead to three consecutive Big Ten titles (1986; 1987, 1988) with a combined conference record of 53-1 over the three seasons and back-to-back NCAA Final Four appearances in 1987 and 1988. In 1988, Eggers was named Big Ten Player of the Year and a First-Team All-American for the third consecutive year, hitting .433 to lead the nation. Eggers, Brookhart, and Barb Winsett (1987-90) all earned First-Team All-Big Ten honors in 1988. The Eggers-Brookhart pair were distinguished as top players and led an era of dominance for Illini volleyball throughout the 1980s.
|
|
Celena Mondie-Milner (1987-90), Women’s Track & Field
Celena Mondie-Milner is one of the Big Ten Conference’s most dominating sprinters ever. She was an 18-time All-American, while winning an incredible 17 Big Ten individual and relay titles. Mondie-Milner has achieved honors including: All-Big Ten selections (1987; 1988; 1989; 1990), Athlete of the Big Ten Outdoor Track and Field Championships (1990), Big Ten Medal of Honor (1990), and Big Ten Women’s Outdoor Track All-Decade Team (1992). She set Big Ten outdoor records in the 100-meter (11.34), 200-meter (22.66) and 400-meter (51.14), and Big Ten indoor records in the 55-meter (6.73) and 200-meter (23.33). Mondie-Milner placed third in the 100-meter and 200-meter at the 1995 USA Track and Field Championships and won a gold medal at the 1995 World Championships for running a leg on the U.S. 4x100-meter relay team. She currently lives in Austin, Texas, where she serves as the Executive Director of New Student Services at the University of Texas.
|
1997 Women's Basketball Big Ten Title
It was Theresa Grentz’s second year as the head women’s basketball coach for Illinois, that the squad claimed their first and only Big Ten regular-season title, finishing with a program best record of 24-8 overall and 12-4 in conference play in 1997. The team went on to advance to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Basketball Tournament where they battled top-ranked UConn to the end before falling 78-73. Five Illini players were awarded post-season honors, including Ashley Berggren (Big Ten Player of the Year), Alicia Sheeler (Third Team All-Big Ten), Krista Reinking (Honorable Mention), Tauja Catchings (All-Freshman Team), and Katie Coleman (All-Freshman Team). On Sunday, February 23, 1997, Illini women’s basketball also set the record-breaking attendance of 16,050 fans at a home game against Purdue for the program. That 1997 crowd was larger than the total season attendance at Illinois for every year prior to 1995, marking the beginning of success during the Grentz era.
|
Nancy Thies Marshall (1976-77), Women’s Gymnastics
Nancy Thies Marshall is the only Illinois women’s gymnast to compete in the Olympics, when she made the 1972 Olympic team as a 15-year-old out of Urbana High School. She is credited with being the first person to perform back aerial tumbling on the balance beam in Olympic competitions. As an Illini, Marshall was a two-time Big Ten Gymnast of the Year, won the Big Ten All-Around title, and earned All-American honors. Marshall has co-authored athletic-themed books, volunteered and led nonprofit organizations, worked for NBC as a gymnastics commentator, and traveled as a tireless proponent of athlete wellness. In 2010, she was inducted into the World Acrobatic Society Hall of Fame. Marshall is currently the Director of Human Resources at Corban University.
|
|
Final Four Run (2018), Volleyball
The No. 3 Illini volleyball team, led by seniors Jordyn Poulter and Ali Bastianelli and junior Jacqueline Quade, nearly dominated the entire season, finishing 17-3 in conference play (a program best since 1992) and 32-4 overall. The momentum from the end of the regular season carried over in the NCAA Tournament, and Illinois began with wins over Eastern Michigan and Louisville. The Illini beat Louisville in four sets and swept No. 14 Marquette to advance to the quarterfinals. Their matchup in the quarterfinals and last game of the year at Huff Hall would be a familiar foe: the Wisconsin Badgers. Illinois came out with a 3-1 victory, sending them to Minneapolis for their fourth Final Four matchup in program history, against Nebraska – a team they split with in the regular season, foreshadowing a great match. After the Illini won the first two sets, the second being by nine points, Nebraska found a rhythm, and Illinois fell in sets three and four by a combined eight points and lost the fifth set 15-11, ending their season. Although the Illini didn’t achieve their ultimate goal of winning a national championship, many individual awards were achieved. Poulter and Quade were First-Team All-Americans, Bastianelli was a Third-Team All-American, and all three earned First-Team All-Big Ten selections. Junior Ashlyn Fleming earned Second-Team All-Big Ten honors, and Chris Tamas was recognized as the AVCA Northeast Coach of the Year in his second year as head coach for the Fighting Illini.
|
Angela Bizzarri Pflugrath (2006-10), Women’s Track & Field & Women’s Cross Country
The most decorated women’s distance runner in Illini history, Angela Bizzarri was a three-time NCAA Champion and nine-time All-American (five in track & field and four in cross country) at Illinois. She helped lead the cross country team to their first NCAA Regional Championship in 2006. Bizzarri is the Illinois record holder in the indoor mile, 1,500-meter, 3,000-meter and 5,000-meter, the 1,500-meter and 5,000-meter outdoor, and at 6,000-meter in cross country. Following her collegiate career, Bizzarri competed professionally for six years.
|
Ashley Berggren (1995-98), Women’s Basketball
Ashley Berggren finished her career as Illinois’ most accomplished women’s basketball player. Berggren has earned several nods, including Illini Athlete of the year (1996; 1998), Honorable Mention All-American (1996; 1997), Big Ten Player of the Year (1997), three-time First-Team All-Big Ten honoree, Third-Team All-American (1998) and Big Ten Medal of Honor (1998). She led the Illini to their first Big Ten Championship in 1997 and finished her career as Illinois’ all-time leading scorer with 2,089 points. Currently, Berggren’s jersey is honored from the rafters of State Farm Center.
|
|
Tonja Buford-Bailey (1990-93), Women’s Track & Field
Tonja Buford-Bailey is a three-time Olympic hurdler in 1992, 1996 and 2000, earning Bronze in ‘96 in the 400-meter hurdles. She has won an incredible 25 individual Big Ten titles, had 10 All-American performances, and was four-time Big Ten Athlete of the Year in women’s track and field. Her best result came in the 1995 World Championships in Sweden where she won the silver medal in the 400-meter hurdles, losing the race by 0.01 seconds, which was under the previous world record. As Illini women’s track coach, she led the team to one Big Ten Championship in 2013. Buford-Bailey currently coaches at her own track club, called The Buford-Bailey Track Club in Austin, Texas.
|
Mary Eggers Tendler (1985-88), Volleyball
Mary Eggers Tendler is the most accomplished player in Illinois volleyball history. Tendler was named the Honda Broderick Award winner (1988) as the nation’s top player, three-time First-Team All-American, four-time First-Team All-Big Ten selection, and three-time Big Ten Player of the Year. Following her Illini career, Tendler spent a year-and-a-half playing with the USA Olympic team and spent two years playing professionally in Europe. In 2003, Tendler was named Head Coach at Elon University, where she remains today.
|
Vanessa DiBernardo (2010-11), Soccer
Vanessa DiBernardo was one of Illinois’ most-heralded soccer players, earning many accolades including: Big Ten Freshman of the Year (2010), Big Ten Midfielder of the Year (2011), Second-Team All-American (2011; 2012; 2013), two-time First-Team All-Region, Second-Team All-Region, three-time First-Team All-Big Ten pick, three-time Herman Trophy Watch List recipient, and the Big Ten Medal of Honor (2014). DiBernardo is currently fourth on the Illinois career goals list (43), the career assist leader (22), and third in career points (108). She has represented the U.S. at the under-20 and under-23 level, helping the U.S. to the 2012 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup championship. DiBernardo was selected fourth overall in the 2014 NWSL College Draft by the Chicago Red Stars, where she continues to play.
|
|
1992 Volleyball Squad
In 1992, the UI volleyball team, led by All-American Kirstin Gleis, All-American Tina Rodgers, and top hitter Kristen Henriksen, won their fourth Big Ten Championship, sharing the regular-season title with Penn State, winning 19 out of 20 Big Ten matches with a 32-4 overall record. Their success garnered large crowds, resulting in the Illini leading the nation in total attendance with 52,666 fans pouring into Huff Hall, averaging nearly 3,100 fans per match. In 1992, the Illini listed the highest attendance in a single match of 4,316 fans against the eventual 1992 NCAA Champions, Stanford, in the NCAA Mideast Regionals at Huff Hall. It remains Top-5 in the attendance record books.
|
Tonya Williams (1993-96), Women’s Track & Field
Tonya Williams was a two-time NCAA champion in the 400-meter hurdles in 1995 and 1996, setting an NCAA Championships meet record of 54.56 in 1996. She is a 14-time All-American with an impressive 20 Big Ten Championships, 10 each in individual and relay titles, the second-most in Illini women’s track history. Williams has earned Illinois Dike Eddleman Female Athlete of the Year (1996; 1996), Big Ten Track and Field Female Athlete of the Year (1996), and Track and Field News Collegiate Athlete of the Year (1996). Williams currently resides in Pembroke Pines, Florida.
|
Jenna Smith (2007-10), Women’s Basketball
Jenna Smith finished her Fighting Illini career as the program’s all-time leader in scoring with 2,160 points and rebounds with 1,217 boards. Smith holds several other Illinois scoring records, including career double-doubles (53) and the most double-doubles in a season (21) in 2010. She has also earned several accolades such as, three-time First-Team All-Big Ten honoree (2008; 2009; 2010), Associated Press Honorable Mention All-American recognition, and three-time team MVP. Smith was drafted in second round as the 14th overall choice of the 2010 WNBA Draft by the Washington Mystics and spent time with the Indiana Fever. She continues to play professionally in Southern France.
|
|
First for No. 1 (2011), Volleyball
The Illini began the year 20-0, the second most wins to start a season in school history. It results in the school’s first No. 1 ranking in the AVCA Coaches poll. The wide-open national race is reflected in six different teams reaching the top spot, but none hold it as long as Illinois (four weeks). With the help of freshman Liz McMahon, redshirt freshman Anna Dorn, junior Annie Luhrsen, and seniors, Michelle Barstch and Colleen Ward, the Illini reached the 2011 NCAA Volleyball Championship Tournament, their furthest post-conference gambit in program history. The Illini were runner-up to No. 9 UCLA, 3 sets to 1; however, the loss doesn’t overshadow the list of accomplishments for Illinois, who finish a school-best second in the final coaches’ poll. The Big Ten honor Bartsch and Ward as all-conference, and McMahon on the Big Ten All-Freshman Team. Erin Johnson, who led the Illini in attack percentage (.328), joined by Luhrsen and Dorn in earning Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week throughout the year.
|
Perdita Felicien (2000-03), Women’s Track & Field
Perdita Felicien was a three-time NCAA hurdles champion, 10-time All-American, and NCAA Track Athlete of the Year (2001; 2003). She was a two-time world champion in the 100-meter hurdles (2003; 2004), two-time world silver medalist (2007; 2010), and two-time silver medalist at the Pan American Games (2003; 2007). Felicien was the first Canadian woman to ever win a medal at the World Championships. Felicien represented Canada at the 2000 and 2004 Olympics and is a 10-time Canadian champion. She set the Canadian record in the 100-meter hurdles (12.46) in 2004, which still stands today. In 2016, Felicien was inducted into the Athletics Canada Hall of Fame for her outstanding athletic career. After retiring from competition in 2013, Felicien now works as a freelance sports broadcaster, public speaker, television host, and author.
|
Gia Lewis-Smallwood (2000-02), Women’s Track & Field
Gia Lewis-Smallwood is the most accomplished field event athlete in Fighting Illini women’s track and field history. She holds Illinois records for the 20-pound weight throw and discus. Lewis-Smallwood won the Big Ten Championships in the discus in 2001, finished fifth in the discus at the 2001 NCAA Outdoor Championships, competed at the 2012 Summer Olympics, finished fifth at the 2013 World Championships, and won a bronze medal at the 2015 Pan American games. Lewis-Smallwood is a four-time U.S. discus champion, while finishing second in 2010 and third in 2011, and has competed in a total of four World Championship meets.
|
|
Dr. Karol Kahrs (1966-2000), Administration
Dr. Karol Kahrs began her career at Illinois in 1966 as an instructor in the College of Physical Education and spent many years coaching women’s sports. In 1974, Dr. Kahrs pivoted to the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics where she worked on developing women’s athletic programs as Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 introduced changes in women’s sports nationally. At Illinois, Dr. Kahrs was promoted to Associate Athletic Director and Senior Woman Administrator. Under Dr. Kahrs’s direction and leadership, Illinois was one of the first institutions to be reviewed by the Office of Civil Rights and found to be compliant with Title IX guidelines in 1981. She retired from the institution in 2000 after 36 years of service, including 30 years in the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. In 2014, Dr. Kahrs was given the Lifetime Achievement Award by NACWAA, awarded to administrators who have dedicated their professional careers to advancing women in sport. Dr. Kahrs passed away in 2020 at the age of 80..
|
Theresa Grentz (1996-2007), Women’s Basketball
Grentz began coaching following a distinguished playing career at Immaculata College, now University, where she contributed to three AIAW National Championships wins (1972; 1973; 1974). That team was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2014. Grentz is a member of the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame (Class of 2001) and Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (Class of 2022) after building a career record of 681-360 during her 35 years as head coach at Illinois, Rutgers, St. Joseph’s, and Lafayette. She was also the 1992 U.S. Olympic head coach for the women’s basketball team, which captured a Bronze. At Rutgers, Grentz became the first full-time women’s basketball coach in the nation in 1975, where she held a 434-150 (.743) record during her tenure. Grentz led Rutgers to nine straight postseason appearances and their first AIAW National Championship title in 1982. Her record during 12 seasons at Illinois was 210-156, including the only Big Ten Championship in school history in 1997. Grentz took Illinois to two Sweet Sixteens and five NCAA Tournament appearances. Over the course of her coaching career, Grentz has been named the Converse National Coach of the Year (1987) and recognized as four-time Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year (1986; 1988; 1993; 1994), two-time Big Ten Coach of the Year (1997; 1998). Grentz now owns her own basketball academy, Grentz Elite Coaching, and runs clinics and camps around the country.
|
Sheila Johnson (1967-70), Cheerleading
The Chicago-born Sheila Johnson wear many hats as a businesswoman, philanthropist, entrepreneur, film producer, and musician. Johnson is the co-founder of Black Entertainment Television (BET), founder and CEO of Salamander Hotels and Resorts, Vice Chairman of Monumental Sports & Entertainment, and became the first Black female billionaire upon the sale of BET to Viacom (now Paramount) for $3 billion in 2001. She has continued to make strides in the league of firsts, being the first Black woman to be an owner or partner in three professional sports franchises: the Washington Capitals (NHL), the Washington Wizards (NBA), and the Washington Mystics (WNBA). In 2008, Johnson donated $4 million to endow two chairs in School of Music at the University of Illinois to honor two of her former mentors with the Daniel J. Perrino Chair in Jazz and the Susan Starrett Chair in Violin, respectively. For her many contributions over the years, the University of Illinois named Johnson as an honorary degree recipient in 2018. The Lincoln Academy of Illinois granted Johnson the Order of Lincoln award in 2019, the highest honor bestowed by the State of Illinois, dedicated to recognizing contributions made by living Illinoisians. In 2019, the Women’s Sports Foundation honored Johnson with the Billie Jean King Leadership Award to celebrate her commitment to leadership and service in sports.
|
|
Aja Evans (2008-10), Women’s Track & Field
Aja Evans was a prolific athlete for the Illini track and field team in the shot-put and 4x100-meter relay. She was a five-time All-American, winning three Big Ten titles while setting the 20-pound weight record (56-0 ½) and outdoor shot-put record (55-10 ½). Following her Illini career, Evans transitioned from track and field to bobsledding, where she competed for the U.S. at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi and 2017 World Championships in Koenigssee, winning the bronze medal in both competitions.
|
Lindsey Nimmo Bristow (1991-93), Women’s Tennis
Lindsey Nimmo Bristow is the most acclaimed women’s tennis player in Fighting Illini history after being named the Big Ten Player of the Year (1993), earning three-time All-Big Ten honors (1991; 1992; 1993), Big Ten Medal of Honor (1993), and CoSIDA Academic All-American (1993). She finished her Illini career as the school’s record holder for career wins (103) and wins in a season (48). Nimmo was the first Fighting Illini women’s tennis player to earn All-American honors and remains as Illinois’ only Big Ten Player of the Year in women’s tennis.
|
Illinois 3D: 25th Anniversary of Title IX (2003)
Prior to the Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, women's opportunities for competitive physical activity were limited in the U.S. until federal legislation became law. Although women participated in athletics at the University of Illinois, they did not receive funding for uniforms, travel expenses or varsity letters until the 1974-75 calendar year. To commemorate the 25th anniversary of Title IX, The University of Illinois held a celebration in 2003, where all female athletes who participated on a varsity team before 1974 were retroactively granted a varsity letter. The celebration was called Illinois 3D, which stood for dreams, desire, and dedication. Over 200 women of varying decades came from across the nation to receive their varsity letters.
|
|
Jenna Hall (2003-06), Softball
Jenna Hall set the offensive standard for Fighting Illini softball by finishing her career as Illinois’ record holder for best career (.357) and single-season (.481) batting average, slugging percentage (.580), on-base percentage (.486), home runs (33), RBI (142), total bases (361) and walks (148). Hall was named four-time First-Team All-Big Ten, three-time All-Region, USA Softball Player of the Year Award Finalist, and NFCA First-Team All-American. Following her Illini career, Hall played professionally for the Philadelphia Force, and was selected to the National Pro Fastpitch League All-Star Team in her first season. Hall is currently an Assistant Coach at the University of Pittsburgh.
|
Lisa Robinson (1979-82) and Lynette Robinson (1979-82), Women’s Basketball
Twin sisters, Lisa and Lynette Robinson, were an inaugural part of catapulting women’s sports after the University of Illinois recruited and offered the pair the school’s first full athletic scholarships for female athletes. Lisa finished her Illini career as the school’s all-time leading scorer (1,906), averaging 17.4 points, while Lynette finished as the program’s second all-time scoring leader (1,322) and leading rebounder (8.7). Highlights among their accolades included Lisa’s Big Ten Medal of Honor, Kodak All Region IV, and Wade Trophy nominee in 1982, the same year that Lisa and Lynette led the Illini to the program’s first NCAA Tournament. Both Robinson sisters went on to long and successful college basketball coaching careers.
|
Becky Beach (1974-78), Women’s Golf & Women’s Basketball
Homegrown talent, Becky Beach, was a two-sport athlete competing for the Illini on the women’s golf team (1974-77) and women’s basketball team (1976-78). Beach was Illinois’ first women’s golf medalist, winning the Big Ten title in 1976. She also won the AIAW State Championship in both 1976 and 1977, and competed at the 1976 AIAW National Championship Tournament. Beach’s contributions on the basketball court helped the Illini to records of 15-10, 15-9 and 9-9 in the three seasons. She led the Illini in scoring in 1976 and 1977, averaging 13.4 and 14.3 points, respectively. Beach also led the Illini in rebounding in 1977 with an average of 9.5, and in assists in both 1977 and 1978, with averages of 2.6 and 2.8, respectively. Recently retired from being the Head Golf Professional at the Stone Creek Golf Club, Beach currently resides in Champaign-Urbana.
|
|
Women Supporting Women
University of Illinois alumni Lila “Shorty” Eichelberger, Alice Martin, and Kara Demirjion-Huss are all names of dedicated women who have pushed the needle in advancing women’s athletics. Eichelberger has a history with Illinois that spans more than 80 years and includes many gifts, including through her estate plan. In the 1960s, her and her husband, Paul, began making annual gifts to 4-H and to the I-Fund to support athletics. They have helped establish the Illini softball program. Contributions to the Fighting Illini softball program have also continued through the Martin family. In honor of the late Alice Martin, the Martin family gifted $3 million to provide a new state-of-the-art indoor practice facility for softball, which includes a full infield as well as hitting and pitching cages. The Demirjian family provided a lead gift of $7 million to develop Demirjian Park for the Fighting Illini soccer program, and men’s and women’s cross-country and track and field programs, which features two new soccer fields, one for competition and one for practice, and a renovation of the existing track and field complex.
|
Tauja Catchings (1997-2000), Women’s Basketball
Tauja Catchings was the first player in Illini history with more than 1,400 points, 700 rebounds, 300 assists, and 200 steals. She earned several accolades including: All-Big Ten Freshman Team (1997), Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year (1997), two-time Second-Team All-Big Ten (1998; 1999), First-Team All-Big Ten (2000), Big Ten MVP (2000), and Honorable Mention All-American (1999; 2000). Catchings helped lead the Illini to their first Big Ten regular season title in 1997 and to their first Sweet Sixteen appearance in 1998. After an outstanding college career, Catchings entered the 2000 WNBA Draft where she was a 3rd round draft pick by the Phoenix Mercury. Following a brief WNBA stint, Catchings played professionally in France and Sweden. She currently works as a Big Ten Network women’s basketball studio analyst and Vice President of family nonprofit organization, Catch the Stars Foundation.
|
Emily Zurrer (2005-08), Soccer
During her career as an Illini, Emily Zurrer accumulated many athletic accolades such as, All-Big Ten Freshman Team (2005), three-time All-American (2006; 2007; 2008), three-time First-Team All-Big Ten (2006; 2007; 2008), two-time First-Team All-Region (2007; 2008), Big Ten Co-Defensive Player of the Year (2008), and the Big Ten Medal of Honor (2009). During her tenure on the back line, Illinois produced 42 shutouts and gave up the second-fewest goals in program history in 2008, allowing just 19. Zurrer also competed for Canada at the 2008 (starting every game) and 2012 Olympics, helping her squad to a bronze medal in 2012. Zurrer played professionally in Sweden, Germany, Canada, and the U.S., and now works as a realtor and fitness instructor in British Columbia, Canada.
|
|
Sarah Baumgartner (2001-04), Softball
Sarah Baumgartner was a high character athlete and academic standout at the University of Illinois. Baumgartner was named three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection (2002; 2003; 2004), four-time Illinois Spirit Award winner, and Big Ten Sportsmanship Award winner (2003). She was a graduate assistant in Athletic Development at Illinois, graduating with a Masters in Sports Administration in 2005. Following graduation, Baumgartner lead athletic development at the University of Missouri, and later, Rutgers University until her promotion to Deputy Director of Athletics, where she held this position for 5 years. She is a member of the Women Leaders in College Sports Board of Directors and served as President of the National Association of Athletics Development Directors (NAADD) in 2019-20. In 2021, Baumgartner was named the Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director of Sports Administration at the University of Texas.
|
The First UI Basketball Team (1896)
In 1891, Springfield College lecturer and graduate student, James Naismith, invented the sport of basketball; five years later, a group of women introduced the sport to the University of Illinois, creating the first basketball team on campus. Women’s Gymnasium Director, Jennette Carpenter Lincoln, coached the team, leading the women to their first game and victory on Nov. 20, 1896, defeating Illinois Wesleyan, 28-14. The women’s team trailblazed the way for men’s basketball at the University of Illinois, which wasn’t established until 1905.
|
Ella Masar (2004-07), Soccer
Urbana local, Ella Masar, was the first Illini soccer player drafted professionally, when she was selected as the 9th overall pick by the Chicago Red Stars in the 2008 WPS General Draft. The former Illinois standout ranks as one of the most prolific in Illini history, ranking sixth on the Illini career list in goals scored (27) and fifth in all-time points (74). Masar has earned many accolades including, Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year (2006), First-Team All-Region (2006), Second-Team All-American (2006), First-Team All-Big Ten (2007), and First-Team All-American (2007). She is currently the Assistant coach for the Kansas City Current in the National Women’s Soccer League.
|
|
Danielle Zymkowitz (2008-11), Softball
Danielle Zymkowitz is arguably the most complete softball athlete to ever wear a Fighting Illini uniform, excelling at the plate, on the bases, and with the glove. Zymkowitz is the Illini career leader in batting average (.384), stolen bases (91), runs (202) and hits (277). She ranks second in triples with 13 and stolen base percentage (.858, 91-106). Her batting average of .425 in 2011 ranks third in school history, her 59 runs scored in 2010 ranks third, and her 36 stolen bases in 2010 is the school record. She was a two-time Third-Team All-American (2009; 2011), three-time First-Team All-Region selection (2009; 2008; 2011), three-time First-Team All-Big Ten and Academic All-Big Ten honoree (2009, 2010, 2011), Academic All-District selection (2009), and earned the title of Illini captain her final three seasons. Zymkowitz is currently the Associate Head Softball Coach at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, and is in her seventh season playing professionally for the Chicago Bandits of the National Pro Fastpitch League.
|
Jonelle Polk (1984-87), Women’s Basketball
Jonelle Polk began her Illini career as a dominate post player and finished it as the all-time leading scorer and rebounder with 1,984 points and 933 rebounds. Both records stood for more than a decade before being broken. She received many athletic honors including: Second Team All-Big Ten (1985), two-time First-Team All-Big Ten (1986; 1987), two-time Kodak All-District IV (1986; 1987), American Women’s Sports Foundation Fast Break All-American (1986), Big Ten Medal of Honor (1987), and Illinois All-Decade Team (1980s). After her athletic career at Illinois, Polk continued to play professionally overseas for four years in France, Italy, and Germany, and on the U.S. select team in Korea. Concluding her playing career, Polk founded the Journey to Empowerment through Motivation and Self-Esteem (J.E.M.S.) basketball program in 2006, which has produced a number of intercollegiate players. Polk currently resides in Peoria, Illinois, where serves as the Manager for the Proctor Recreation Center. She is also the Big Ten Advisory Commission liaison for the University of Illinois.
|
Leisha Alcia (2001-04) and Tara Hurless (2001-04), Soccer
Leisha Alcia and Tara Hurless led Fighting Illini soccer team to much success in the early 2000s, where the squad won their first Big Ten title in 2003 and advanced to the Elite Eight in 2004. The pair have etched their names as skilled players, respectively. Alcia was a Freshman All-American (2001), All-Big Ten (2003), First-Team All-Region (2003; 2004), First-Team All-American (2003), and Dike Eddleman Female Athlete of the Year (2004). Alcia currently works as an Academic Advisor at Worcester State University. Hurless was a was a two-time Second-Team All-American, Second-Team All-Great Lakes Region (2002), two-time First-Team All-Great Lakes Region (2003; 2004), Second-Team All-Big Ten (2002), two-time First-Team All-Big Ten (2003; 2004), Big Ten All-Tournament Team (2001; 2003; 2004), Big Ten Offensive MVP (2003), and Illinois’ Offensive MVP (2001; 2002; 2003; 2004). Hurless currently lives and works in Champaign-Urbana as a Police Detective at the University of Illinois.
|
|
Paula Smith (1978-2006), Women’s Golf
Paula Smith’s coaching career with the Illini began in the fall of 1978 and has spanned the entire duration of Illinois' participation in Big Ten and NCAA competition, as well as the final six seasons of play under the auspices of the Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW). During her tenure, Smith has twice guided the Illini to the NCAA Regionals in back-to-back appearances in 2002 and 2003 and coached 13 All-Big Ten selections and standouts. She has also been active in golf at the national level, serving on the NCAA Central Region Selection Committee, Midwest Regional Coach of the Year selection committee, and All-America and Academic All-America committees. Smith has enjoyed a fruitful career as both a coach and a competitor, a graduate of Southern Illinois University (1964-68), Smith competed for four years on the Saluki golf team. She participated in the national championships in each of her four seasons and played professional golf following her collegiate career. Smith is honored in the Southern Illinois Golf Association Hall of Fame (1994), National Golf Coaches Association Hall of Fame (1997), and Saluki Hall of Fame (2007).
|
Jody Alderson-Braskamp (1951-54) Women’s Swimming
During her athletic career, Chicago-native and Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority member, Jody Alderson, was hailed as one of the best and youngest competitive swimmers in the country. At the age of 17, Alderson represented the U.S. at the 1952 Olympics in Helsinki, winning a bronze medal in the 4x100-meter freestyle and finishing fifth in the 100-meter freestyle, three-tenths of a second behind the winner. According to the official event clock time, Alderson finished in a three-way tie for third, but the judges awarded her fifth place. While attending Illinois, she set the world record in the 100-yard freestyle and was a member of the AAU national championship relay teams in 1952 and 1953. In 1954, Alderson married Lt. Bernard Braskamp Jr., a U.S. Air Force officer, and retired from competitive swimming. Alderson died in 2021 at the age of 85.
|
Heather Singalwitch (1987-90), Women’s Gymnastics
After winning the Big Ten All-Around title and ranking top three in three other events, Heather Singalwitch was honored as the Big Ten Gymnast of the Year and named All-Big Ten selection in 1988. In 1990, Singalwitch returned to win the Big Ten Floor Exercise title, and was subsequently named All-Big Ten selection once more. The llini captured their first-ever officially sanctioned Big Ten Championship title in 1990; a feat in which Singalwitch was a major contributor. For her stellar athletic performance, Singalwitch was named to the Big Ten 1980s All-Decade Team.
|
|
Asuka Kawai (2017-21), Women’s Tennis
All-American, Asuka Kawai concluded the NCAA Singles Championships with a quarterfinalist finish, which is the best finish in program history, surpassing Illinois Athletics Hall of Famer, Lindsey Nimmo. Kawai was only the fourth Illini in program history to earn All-American honors in 2019. She was also a two-time All-Big Ten selection (2019; 2020) and Academic All-Big Ten selection (2019). Kawai currently works as a Clinical Research Associate at the CMIC Group in Nagoya, Japan.
|
Nicole Evans (2014-17), Softball
Nicole Evans is best known as being one of the most dangerous hitters in Illini history. Evans is the career-leader in home runs (53) and RBI (176), second in total bases (419), second in single-season home runs (19) and RBI (58), third in most doubles (50), and holds the team’s career best slugging percentage (.675). In 2017, Evans earned Third-Team All-America honors, the Arthur Ashe Female Sports Scholar of the Year, and the Big Ten Medal of Honor. She currently resides in Dallas, Texas, where she works at the personal health and wellness company, Noom Inc., as a Health Coach Manager.
|
Jessica Aveyard (1999-2002), Women’s Swimming & Diving
Jessica Aveyard is a two-time All-American in 2000 and 2001, and earned an honorable mention in 2002. In 200, Aveyard was the first-ever Illini swimmer to be given the Dike Eddleman Female Athlete of the Year Award. She was Illinois’ most versatile swimmer, competing in a variety of distance freestyle and backstroke events. Aveyard performed particularly well in the 200-meter backstroke, finishing sixth at the NCAA Women’s Swimming Championships in both 2000 and 2001. Aveyard ranks first in 200 backstroke (1:55:62) in 2001, and second in both the 200 freestyle (1:48.41) and 500 freestyle (4:47:71) in 2002, on the all-time Top-10 fastest individuals school record list. Aveyard went on to represent the U.S. team and compete at the FINA World Swimming Championships in 2002. Aveyard is now a Senior Manager at SmartyPants Vitamins in Colorado.
|
|
Jennifer McGaffigan (2000-04), Women’s Tennis
Jennifer McGaffigan is Illinois’ all-time career leader in singles wins (105-58) and doubles wins (104-49). McGaffigan won 30 matches in both 2001 and 2004, and 31 doubles victories in 2003, which is second-most in a season in school history. She was named Illinois Female Newcomer of the Year (2001), Big Ten Freshman of the Year (2001), four-time All-Big Ten (2001; 2002; 2003; 2004), three-time Academic All-Big Ten (2002; 2003; 2004), and Big Ten Medal of Honor recipient (2004). Following her collegiate athletic career, McGaffigan is still involved in competitively with tennis. In 2017, McGaffigan won the USTA Senior Mother/Daughter National Indoor Championships in doubles with her mother, Barb McGaffigan – a tournament that Gaffigan’s sisters Laura, Chrissie, and Katie also compete in with their mother.
|
Linda Metheny (1964-68), Women’s Gymnastics
Linda Metheny enrolled at the University of Illinois following the 1964 Olympics and competed as the only member of the women’s gymnastics team in the era before AIAW and NCAA competition. She has won seven gold, three silver, and one bronze medal at the Pan American Games in 1967 and 1971 was the flag bearer for the American team in 1971. Metheny represented the U.S. at the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo, 1968 Olympics in Mexico City, and 1972 Olympics in Munich. Metheny became the first American woman to make the finals of a gymnastics event at the Olympics, placing in a tie for fourth on the beam in 1968. Domestically, she has won at least 18 individual national titles. Metheny was a member of the national team from 1964-73. She was inducted into the USA Gymnastics Hall of Fame in 1985. After retiring from competition, Metheny became a gymnastics coach and worked as an international referee. Metheny is known for being one of the highest ranked gymnastics judges in the U.S. Together with her late husband, Dick Mulvihill, she has owned and operated the National Academy of Artistic Gymnastics in Eugene, Oregon, since 1973, producing over 17 Olympians, 64 national champions, and numerous world team members.
|
Jane Fauntz (1930-34), Women’s Swimming & Diving
South Chicago-raised Kappa Alpha Theta sorority member, Jane Fauntz, ranks as one of the most prominent swimming and diving stars of her time. Fauntz was a two-time Olympian who competed for the U.S. at the 1928 Olympics Games in Amsterdam in the 100-meters breaststroke, where she was eliminated in the semifinals; she was still in high school. Fauntz competed at the 1932 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, where she won a bronze medal in the three-meter springboard dive. In both Olympics, she was a star on Chicago’s premier athletic club for women, the Illinois Women’s Athletic Club. After Olympic stints, Fauntz built a considerable professional career as a swimming show entertainer, model, and artist. She is honored in the Class of 1991 International Swimming Hall of Fame.
|
|
Dr. Nell Jackson (1970-1973), Women’s Track & Field
Dr. Nell Jackson was pioneer in women’s track and field in an era pre-dating Title IX legislation. As a student-athlete at Tuskegee Institute (now University), Dr. Jackson set an American record in the 200 meters (24.20) in 1949 and won two national titles in 1950 in the 200-meters and 4x100-meter relay. The former All-American represented the U.S. in the 1948 Olympics in London and also competed in the first Pan American Games in 1951, winning a silver medal in the 200-meter dash. Following her athletic career, Dr. Jackson became a coach at Tuskegee, Illinois State, University of Illinois, and Michigan State. In 1956, she became the first Black coach to be named head coach of the U.S. Olympic team, and later coached the 1972 U.S. Olympic team. At Illinois, Dr. Jackson is renowned as the head coach that led the Illini to the 1970 National Women’s Track and Field Championships; she also coached Illinois standout, Connie Johnson, who won the individual national title in high jump the same year. At Michigan State, Dr. Jackson continued to be a trailblazer for women in athletics, serving as the first Black woman to head an athletics department at a major university in her role as Assistant Director of Athletics for Women from 1973-81 where she also coached the women’s track and field team for six seasons. Dr. Jackson is honored in several Halls of Fame, among them being the USATF Hall of Fame (1989), International Women’s Sports Hall of Fame (Class of 1990), SIAC Hall of Fame (Class of 1996), Black Athletes Hall of Fame, and the USTFCCCA Coaches Hall of Fame as a Special Inductee. In 1988, Dr. Jackson passed away at the age of 58. At the time of her death, she was the secretary of The Athletics Congress (TAC; now USATF, and had previously been a TAC Vice President).
|
Janet Rayfield (2002-22), Soccer
Long-time coach, Janet Rayfield, is Illinois’ winningest head soccer coach in her 20-year tenure. Rayfield has guided Illinois to 213 overall victories and 100 wins in conference play. Her teams have earned 10 victories in NCAA Tournament play. Rayfield has coached six players to seven Big Ten Player of the Year honors, and her student-athletes have garnered 50 All-Big Ten nods. Five individuals were recognized with the Big Ten Medal of Honor under Rayfield’s guidance, and seven of her players earned nine NSCAA All-American laurels. Rayfield has seen eight of her players play professional soccer, either selected in the NWSL draft or Olympic Games. Rayfield served as President of the NSCAA, an organization that includes over 16,000 members, in 2003-04. In addition, she continues to assist at the youth national team level whenever possible. Rayfield also received the National Soccer Coaches Association of America Award of Excellence in 2015. In her playing days, Rayfield was one of the best. She played soccer at the University of North Carolina from 1979-82 and helped build the program from the ground up, being a member of the first women’s soccer team in school history. She led the Tar Heels to the 1981 AIAW National Championship, finishing with an undefeated record in only their third year. That season, Rayfield took home the Nike Player of the Year award, All-American honors, and was named one of the top 10 soccer players in America (male or female). The following year, Rayfield would go on to lead the Tar Heels to their first-ever NCAA Women’s Soccer Championship title. That championship would be the first of 21 NCAA national titles in the storied history of the North Carolina soccer program. Now, Rayfield looks to continue to bolster her legacy as she heads into her 21st season as the Head Women’s Soccer Coach for the Illini.
|
Terry Hite David (1975-76), Volleyball
Terry Hite David came to the University of Illinois as a sophomore in 1968 as part of the Project 500 group, which was established at Illinois in 1968 in response to the glaring lack of diversity at the university. As a student, she played for the women’s club volleyball team before Title IX legislation existed. She graduated in 1972 with a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education, left the university for two years to play volleyball for the Virgin Islands’ national team, and then returned to complete a master’s degree in 1975 in administration. While completing her master’s work, Hite David became the second-ever head coach of the women’s volleyball team and first Black head coach at Illinois in any sport. The year she started as coach was the first year the women’s volleyball team was affiliated with the Big Ten conference, allowing for the team to receive uniforms. In two seasons, Hite David would compile a 40-28 record in the program’s first two years in the Big Ten. After receiving her master’s degree, she would go on to a career as an educator and school administrator back in the Virgin Islands. She also served as a volleyball official. In 2000, she retired as a principal. Hite David was honored with the Merit Award from the Varsity “I” Association in 2012.
|
|
Marianne Dickerson (1979-83), Women’s Track & Field & Women’s Cross Country
University of Michigan transfer, Marianne Dickerson, is herald as one of the greatest female distance runners to ever don the Orange and Blue, twice earning All-American honors in track and field and once in cross country. Dickerson was the first track and field or cross country athlete, and only the second ever athlete, to be the recipient of the Dike Eddleman Female Athlete for the Year Award. She finished third in the 10,000-meter run at the 1982 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. The distance pioneer remains top five on the outdoor 10,000-meter run, and indoor 1,500-meter run, 2-mile run, and 3-mile run school record lists. Following her collegiate athletic career, Dickerson represented the U.S. team and went on to compete in the first women’s World Marathon Championships in 1983 in Helsinki, where she finished second. In 2015, Dickerson became an Assistant Track and Field Coach at her alma mater, St. Joseph-Ogden High School, in St. Joseph, Illinois, before passing away at the age of 54, later the same year.
|
Terri Sullivan (2000-15), Softball
Former Loyola University Chicago (1998-92) softball player, Terri Sullivan experienced much athletic success, voted District IV Academic All-American in 1992 and to the All-Midwestern Collegiate All-Conference team in both 1991 and 1992. In 2000, the University of Illinois established the school’s first softball program, naming Sullivan the first and only head coach of the team's first 16 years of existence. Under her leadership, the Illini burst onto the scene in 2001, setting the record for most Big Ten wins by a first-year conference program while taking down four ranked opponents – with a team comprised almost entirely of freshmen. Sullivan posted a 488-369-2 record with four trips to the NCAA Softball Tournament (2003; 2004; 2009; 2010) and a pair of runner-up finishes in the Big Ten standings in 2004 and 2010. Sullivan was awarded Big Ten Coach of the Year in 2010, the first honor for the Illini in program history. After 16 seasons leading the Illini, Sullivan announced her retirement from coaching. She currently works as the Assistant Director of Athletics for Academic Advising at DePaul University in Chicago, IL.
|
|
