- 2024
A History of Excellence
Team National Championships*
44 153 252
Team Conference Championships
1,377 946
Individual & Relay National Championships
All-America Awards National Academic Awards
*6th-most in Division III and 25th-most among all NCAA divisions. North Central is one of just two Division III institutions to win at least one national title in each of the last six decades.
DEAR CARDINAL ATHLETICS ALUMNI, PARENTS, AND FRIENDS,
Cardinal Athletics soared to new heights in 2023-2024! Women’s triathlon won its fifth national team title, football and women’s wrestling finished as national runners-up, and men’s cross country placed third at the national championships. Amani Jones ’25 (women’s wrestling) and Hailey Poe ’25 (women’s triathlon) claimed individual national championships, Luke Lehnen ’24 won the Gagliardi Trophy as the national player of the year in football, Max Svienty ’24 / M ’27 earned Men’s Scholar Athlete of the Year honors in cross country, women’s wrestling ranked first in the Team Scholar All-American rankings, and North Central’s own Joe Norton ’10 / M ’13 received National Coach of the Year recognition in women’s wrestling. In the classroom and while competing, our exemplary student-athletes and coaches make Cardinal Athletics one of the best programs in the county.
We are proud of the academic and athletic accomplishments of our student-athletes. We are equally proud of our continued efforts to create a culture of opportunity and sense of belonging. I encourage you to read more about these efforts, including our UBelong initiative (pg. 7), led by Assistant Athletic Director for DEI Brian Johnson ’95 / M ’15. The challenges faced by most college campuses are many; however, athletics offers student-athletes the opportunity to come together to overcome adversity, learn different perspectives, develop their work ethic, and enjoy competition.
Your support of Cardinal Athletics is vital and provides our student-athletes with supportive athletic, academic, and leadership opportunities. Whether you contribute to the athletics fund, a specific team, or the Women in Sport Fund, which was created to provide resources to newer programs that may not have the established donor base other programs enjoy, your generosity is truly appreciated and greatly benefits our student-athletes.
We are excited to welcome back 800+ student-athletes for the 2024-2025 academic year and prepared to support them in their academic and athletic pursuits. You, our loyal Cardinal fans, are always invited to campus to attend a competition and cheer on our talented teams.
Thank you for your enthusiastic spirit and generosity! GO CARDS!
Sincerely,
JIM MILLER ’86 Senior Director of Athletics North Central College
Student-Athlete Success
Elle Sutter ’24 / M ’27
WOMEN’S SOCCER / WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Elle led the women’s soccer team to a schoolrecord 18 victories and its first CCIW conference championship and NCAA tournament appearance in 2023. She ranked third in the nation in goals scored and earned CCIW Student-Athlete of the Year, First Team All-America, and First Team Academic All-America accolades. North Central’s nominee for the NCAA Woman of the Year Award in 2024, Elle also earned First Team All-Conference honors in basketball to become the first student-athlete in CCIW history to receive All-Conference honors in soccer and basketball in the same academic year.
Robbie Precin ’23
MEN’S WRESTLING
Jarod Thornton ’23 FOOTBALL
Jarod entered the football team’s starting lineup at center as a freshman in the 2019 season opener and stayed there the next four seasons, leading the Cardinals to an overall record of 56-3. North Central advanced to the Division III national championship game—the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl—each of Thornton’s four seasons in uniform, winning national titles in 2019 and 2022. Named a First Team AllAmerican by two organizations in 2023, Jarod won the 2023 Rimington Award, which recognizes the topperforming center in Division III, and was a semifinalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy, presented to the nation’s top scholar-athlete.
Robbie broke new ground for the men’s wrestling program as its first two-time national champion, posting back-to-back undefeated seasons in 20212022 and 2022-2023 to win consecutive national titles at 133 pounds. A five-time All-American and four-time regional champion who led the Cardinals to two CCIW team championships, Robbie enjoyed a 92-match winning streak which ranks third in Division III history.
Coaching Excellence
We are committed to developing people of character and excellence who want to contribute to something greater than themselves. This philosophy produces men and women who will impact those around them well beyond their years as collegiate studentathletes.”
KARI KLUCKHOHN HEAD COACH, WOMEN’S TRACK & FIELD
Cardinal Athletics is deeply rooted with strong relationships between our staff, studentathletes, families, and alumni. Our championship culture provides a concrete foundation for personal and professional development.”
KYLE EXLINE HEAD COACH, MEN’S VOLLEYBALL
Student Impact
NATIONAL GIRLS & WOMEN IN SPORTS DAY
Five Cardinal women student-athletes participated in the College’s celebration of National Girls and Women in Sports Day by serving on a panel to support women in athletics at North Central. Senior woman administrator and Head Softball Coach Venus Taylor moderated the discussion.
CLEO TANNER AWARD
The Cleo Tanner Award is presented annually to an individual or individuals who have positively influenced women’s athletics at North Central College, and is presented in conjunction with the College’s National Girls and Women in Sports Day Celebration.
2024
AWARD WINNER: LIZ ROBINSON-CHAN ’93 / M ’03
Robinson-Chan was a four-year member of the Cardinal track & field team, earning All-American honors in 1990. She began her career as a police officer in the Aurora Police Department (APD) in 1993 and retired in 2023. Over her 30-year career, she made history as the first Black female in the department to be promoted to the rank of sergeant, then lieutenant, and finally commander. She retired as the highest ranking woman of color in the history of the APD.
Being a student as well as an athlete at North Central helped me develop my leadership skills, along with my self-confidence and independence. The education, love, and support I received here is invaluable.”
LIZ ROBINSON-CHAN ’93 / M ’03
North Central College offers a unique blend of academic excellence and a supportive community. The College provides ample opportunities for real-world experience, and the faculty and staff are truly invested in your personal and professional growth. It’s a place where you can thrive both in and out of the classroom.”
JOCELYN TROTTER ’27
BASKETBALL / TRACK & FIELD
UBelong
The UBelong social media series features first-person perspectives from student-athletes about their experience as a Cardinal. It accompanies a schedule of large- and small-group events throughout each academic year to promote understanding, empathy and belonging among student-athletes.
EVENTS
The Athletic Department’s Inclusion Team (IT) held five Critical Conversations throughout the 2023-2024 academic year, and three RISE to Win sessions for student-athletes and coaches. In total, more than 800 Cardinals attended events around the central theme of their “Journey to Belonging.”
• IT, led by Assistant Athletic Director for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Brian Johnson ’95 / M ’15, is a group of athletic-minded staff members who serve as the foundation of the Cardinals’ athletics diversity, equity, and inclusion initiative at North Central College.
SOCIAL MEDIA
IT produced seven UBelong videos with North Central student-athletes which were posted on the NCC Athletics Instagram and X accounts. Additionally, NCC Athletics posted content throughout the year to highlight a wide variety of heritages, backgrounds, and experiences within Cardinal athletics. These social media initiatives received more than 150,000 interactions between Instagram and X.
UBELO G
UBelong to me means finding community and safety in not just those who share the same walks of life as you, but also in those who don’t.”
AUSTIN SCOTT ’25 MEN’S VOLLEYBALL
Ben Wong ’21 FOOTBALL
Beyond NC
Olivia Hurt ’23 SOCCER
Olivia Hurt ’23, a two-time Academic All-Conference selection for the women’s soccer team, has taken her passion for the beautiful game to the highest levels of the sport. The graphic design major landed her “dream job” as a graphic design coordinator for the U.S. Soccer Federation. After just a few months on the job, she was creating social media graphics for the U.S. squad during the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. It’s a job she was well prepared for after working with the College’s sports information department.
After his career as a prolific linebacker on the Cardinal’s football team, Ben Wong ’21 has continued to tackle new challenges. During the 2023-24 academic year, he was one of 126 student-athletes across all divisions selected for the prestigious NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship. A double major in neuroscience and psychology, Wong is in his third year of medical school at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.
LEVELING UP THE COMPETITION
AMANI JONES ’25, WOMEN’S WRESTLING: Jones won the 123-pound title at the collegiate national championship and the United States Under-23 National Championship in 2024 (photo right).
LUKE WINDER ’18, MEN’S TRACK & FIELD: Winder took part in the 2024 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials in the pole vault at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, placing sixth out of 24 competitors. The winner of seven Division III national titles in the pole vault (an NCAA all-divisions record), Winder took part in the 2022 World Track & Field Championships, placing 17th out of 32 qualifiers from 20 different nations.
JULIAN BELL ’24 & ETHAN GREENFIELD ’22, FOOTBALL: After leading the football program to national titles in 2019 and 2022, Bell and Greenfield extended their careers to the professional ranks in summer 2024 with the Helsinki Roosters in Finland. Greenfield and Bell are the leading rusher and tackler, respectively, for a team which won six of its first seven games in 2024.
Donor Support
We give to North Central College because it is an investment in the successful futures of the studentathletes. The support the College and coaching staff have provided to our son has been an integral part of his academic and athletic success.”
Proud parents and members of the Presidents Club, Karl and Cindy Fujii made the trip from Hawaii to cheer on the Cardinals and son, Kolby ’25, during the baseball team’s annual spring break trip in Port Charlotte, Florida. The Fujii family, including Kolby’s sister, Nikki, are seen here enjoying the postgame BBQ.
KARL AND CINDY FUJII
(L-R) Nikki Fujii, Cindy Fujii, Karl Fujii, Kolby Fujii ’25
How your gift makes a difference
Women’s Basketball Locker Room Renovation
The Cardinals’ women’s basketball locker room was relocated and renovated in fall 2023 with funding from North Central’s Women in Sports Fund. Established in 2021, the fund addresses capital and programming needs for its women’s sports programs.
Help Support North Central College Athletics
Gifts in support of Cardinal Athletics are crucial to providing our student-athletes with the opportunity to excel both academically and athletically. Generosity from donors empowers our student-athletes to reach their full potential, enables the development of resources to enhance the overall student experience, and fosters a sense of North Central pride. Whether you support a specific athletic program, the Women in Sports Fund or the general Athletics fund, your gift serves as a constant reminder that it is always a GREAT day to be a Cardinal!
3 WAYS TO GIVE:
JARED BOGAN M ’10 Senior Associate Director of Philanthropy for Athletic Giving
Athletics Administrative Team
Jared Bogan M ’10
Senior Associate Director of Philanthropy for Athletic Giving jbogan@noctrl.edu
Dr. Brittney James ’10 / M ’15
Assistant Director of Athletics for Heath Care; Director of Sports Medicine bajames@noctrl.edu
Brian Johnson ’95 / M ’15
Assistant Athletic Director for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion bkjohnson@noctrl.edu
James Kluckhohn
Associate Athletic Director for Compliance and Internal Operations jckluckhohn@noctrl.edu
Eileen McBrien Administrative Assistant for the Athletic Department emmcbrien@noctrl.edu
Jim Miller ’86 Senior Director of Athletics jlmiller@noctrl.edu
Kate Perry M ’20 Athletic Events and Facilities Coordinator; Assistant Women’s Soccer Coach kmperry@noctrl.edu
Venus Taylor Head Softball Coach, Senior Woman Administrator vtaylor@noctrl.edu