Leister Named to StarHawk Squad

Oct. 24, 2003

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Tammy Leister, a junior from Oley, PA, and a member of the University of Iowa’s field hockey team, has been named to the McLeodUSA StarHawks team this week.

Although Leister saw limited action as a freshman in 2001, she has earned a starting spot in the Hawkeyes’ tough defense, which has given up only 14 goals so far this season.

“As with many other sports,” said Tracey Griesbaum, head coach of Iowa’s nationally ranked field hockey team. “The defense in field hockey doesn’t get the glory. But as we all know, the best offense is a good defense, and Tammy is a role player in a defense we’re very proud of.”

“Tammy plays hard,” Griesbaum continued. “She’s a steady force in our defensive unit, and she brings effort and leadership to the field every day, whether it’s practice or a game. She is diligent, focused, thorough and extremely coachable, She brings the same diligence, thoroughness and focus to her academic pursuits.”

Leister is a member of an Iowa defense that has allowed only 14 goals this season.

Leister is majoring in elementary education and is a Dean’s List student. She is also a member of the Iowa Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, a group of student athletes from each of the UI’s varsity sports programs who help to shape departmental policies and procedures and to initiate department-wide outreach programs.

“Tammy is an amazing student-athlete who exemplifies everything it means to be a Hawkeye,” Griesbaum concluded. “And she definitely deserves the recognition attached to her selection to the StarHawks team.”

The StarHawks program is an initiative funded in part by McLeodUSA, a leading telecommunications company with corporate headquarters in Cedar Rapids and a long-time member of the UI’s Partners in Excellence corporate sponsorship program. The StarHawks team is a collection of student-athletes at the University of Iowa who truly represent the very best the intercollegiate athletics program at the UI has to offer. StarHawks typically excel athletically and academically, and also are active in community or leadership activities.