March 12, 2014
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IOWA CITY, Iowa — The University of Iowa field hockey team has announced its team award winners for the 2013 season. These awards include the Most Valuable Player, Practice Player of the Year, Nancy McLinden Carr Award and Dr. Christine Grant Leadership Award. The awards are voted on by athletes and coaches.
Junior Dani Hemeon was named the Most Valuable Player. This award is presented to the player who demonstrates outstanding skill, character, competitive drive, leadership, and devotion to team goals. These traits are embodied by the individual that the team and coaches deem most valuable to team success.
Hemeon, a native of Gilroy, Calif., finished second on the team in scoring, recording 30 points and 13 goals. She won Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week on Oct. 15 after recording a hat trick against Indiana on Oct. 11. Hemeon was named to NFHCA Division I All-America third team, NFHCA West Region All-America first team, first-team All-Big Ten first team, and to the All-Big Ten Tournament team.
“It’s a huge honor to receive this award, especially knowing the high-caliber players that received it in the past,” said Hemeon. “However, the majority of the credit needs to go to my teammates. Their skill and hard work makes my job 10 times easier.”
Senior Niki Schultheis received the Dr. Christine Grant Leadership Award. This honor is presented to the player who demonstrates leadership on a daily basis, and the utmost respect of her teammates, coaches, and opponents. She represents the University of Iowa in a first-class manner in the classroom and on the field.
Schultheis played in 76 career games as a Hawkeye, starting 69 contests. The Hamburg, Germany, native earned Academic All-Big Ten honors the past three years and is a three-time NFHCA National Academic Squad member. Schultheis helped anchor an Iowa defense this past season and led the Hawkeyes to the Big Ten Championship game.
“I feel honored to receive the award named after Dr. Grant,” said Schultheis. “I am proud of being able to look back at my senior season and knowing the way I tried to lead my teammates every day made them honor me with this award.
“The 2013 Iowa field hockey team had 19 leaders, and all of us shared the responsibility and handled it in our own, personal way. Because there were 19 of us, I feel grateful for receiving this award and being recognized by my teammates and coaches.”
Senior Marike Stribos received the Practice Player of the Year award. This honor goes to the player who maintains the highest level of intensity in practice throughout the year, helping to make her teammates better by always competing and giving everything she has in all training sessions.
Stribos played in 79 career games with 76 starts. Stribos posted eight career goals and 30 points as a midfielder/back. She earned Academic All-Big Ten honors each of the last three seasons. The Brussels, Belgium, native was a three-time NFHCA Academic Squad member.
“I definitely couldn’t have done it without the entire team and staff, which supported and challenged me every single day over that past four years,” said Stribos. “From the first time I set foot on Grant Field I knew I wanted to embrace and represent the program’s core values of hard work, competitiveness, and determination.”
“The past four years, I have focused on coming to practice, every day, with an open and competitive mindset, not only to improve my own game but also, and more importantly, challenge and make my teammates better. Receiving the Practice Player of the Year award embodies what I set out to do four years ago, making it extremely meaningful and valuable to me.”
The Nancy McLinden Carr Award was awarded to sophomore Liz Leh. This honor is presented to the player who consistently exudes enthusiasm, energy, and a positive attitude within the Iowa field hockey program. These attributes were possessed by Nancy in the game of field hockey and life.
The East Stroudsburg, Pa., native saw action in seven contests for the Hawkeyes in 2013 and helped guide the Hawkeyes to their 10th tournament championship game in program history.
“I was truly honored to receive the award,” said Leh. “Nancy McLinden was a player who had skill, but impacted the team greatly with her positive attitude. For my team to view me on that level is an honor to be in the same category as such an inspiring woman.”