IOWA CITY, IOWA — The University of Iowa field hockey team hosted its annual awards banquet last weekend, honoring student-athletes on their successes from the historic 2019 season.
Senior Katie Birch earned Iowa’s team MVP award for the third straight year. Senior Sophie Sunderland was named the 2019 Practice Player of the Year, senior Ryley Miller was awarded the Dr. Christine Grant Leadership award, and sophomore Meghan Conroy earned the Nancy McLinden Carr award.
Birch, a native of York, England, MVP honor 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.
Birch became the third Hawkeye in program history to be named a three-time national All-American. Additionally, Birch was a unanimous first-team All-Big Ten selection for her fourth career all-conference honor. As a team captain, Birch tallied 24 points (seven goals, 10 assists) in 22 starts.
Senior Katie Birch earned Iowa’s team MVP award for the third straight year. Senior Sophie Sunderland was named the 2019 Practice Player of the Year, senior Ryley Miller was awarded the Dr. Christine Grant Leadership award, and sophomore Meghan Conroy earned the Nancy McLinden Carr award.
Birch, a native of York, England, MVP honor 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.
Birch became the third Hawkeye in program history to be named a three-time national All-American. Additionally, Birch was a unanimous first-team All-Big Ten selection for her fourth career all-conference honor. As a team captain, Birch tallied 24 points (seven goals, 10 assists) in 22 starts.
From Ipswich, England, Sunderland’s team award 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. As a four-year starter, Sunderland started every game of her career, scoring 20 goals and recording 13 assists.
Miller’s Dr. Christine Grant Leadership Award is presented to the player who demonstrates leadership daily, has the utmost respect of her teammates, coaches, and opponents, and represents the University of Iowa in a first-class manner in the classroom and on the field. These qualities reflect the passion and pioneering Grant had for Iowa field hockey. A native of Edwardsville, Illinois, Miller was also Iowa’s recipient for the Big Ten Sportsmanship award.
Conroy was chosen as this year’s Nancy Mclinden Carr award, which 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.
Full of individual and team accomplishments, Iowa’s 2019 season was one for the record books. Led by Big Ten Coach of the Year Lisa Cellucci, the Hawkeyes became the first team in program history to claim the Big Ten regular season and conference tournament title. Iowa posted a 17-5 overall record, including a trip to the NCAA Tournament’s Elite Eight.
