The following story first appeared in the May edition of Hawk Talk Monthly, the official online magazine of the University of Iowa Athletics Department. To view the May edition of Hawk Talk Monthly, click HERE.
IOWA CITY, Iowa — Alexa Noel didn’t know the award existed, and in a way she was right.
The University of Iowa women’s tennis record book dates back to the 1977-78 season, but before Noel arrived on campus there was never mention of the Big Ten’s Player of the Year. That changed May 3 when it was announced that the conference coaches voted Noel the best player in the Big Ten, a first for a Hawkeye.
“It’s special and something to be proud of,” Noel said. “I know that (head coach) Sasha (Schmid), (program coordinator) Danny (Leitner) and the team, along with my parents and everyone who has been on this journey with me, are proud. I had goals coming into this season. Obviously, we’re not close to finishing yet but it’s definitely something to keep with me and know that I earned it.”
She earned it and much more. The player of the year award was accompanied by Freshman of the Year honors, first-team All-Big Ten honors and All-Big Ten tournament honors.
That’s a lot of hardware deserving of a memorable presentation. So, who better to break the news than a collection of Hawkeye greats? After all, it takes one to know one, or so thought Schmid. When it became official that Noel was about to join elite company on campus, Schmid called on an Iowa “super team” to welcome her to the club.
Iowa women’s basketball Big Ten Freshman of the Year Caitlin Clark, Iowa women’s gymnastics Big Ten Freshman of the Year Adeline Kenlin and Iowa field hockey Big Ten Player of the Year Anthe Nijziel surprised Noel prior to practice on April 26 with news from the conference office.
“When they first came I thought, ‘what are they doing here?’” Noel said. “I had a little bit of a sense of what was going on, but winning player of the year and freshman of the year wasn’t something that was in my mind. I didn’t even comprehend it was something that I could win. They told me and I thought, ‘what’s going on?’”