Purdue Northwest Pride athletics celebrated a historic 2022-23 athletic year with teams accomplishing multiple records, players earning record-breaking seasons and careers, and the Pride seeing their first GLIAC champions in program history.
During Fall 2022 Purdue Northwest Athletics enrolled an all-time high 432 student-athletes and in Spring 2023 recorded a 97% retention rate. The Pride showed their skills in the classroom with 15 consecutive semesters over a 3.0 GPA and an 83% graduation rate.
The PNW Athletics department achieved a record breaking Day of Giving raising over $386,000. Equally impressive, generous donors provided over $180,000 for the John and Betty Friend Athletics Endowed Scholarship. On the facility front, the Pride unveiled the Lalaeff & Fischer Golf Simulator center and opened two Esports arenas.
Now, let's take a look back and see the Pride's historic year:
Three GLIAC Champions (The first for Purdue Northwest Athletics)
Alex Bishop (Men's Golf): 2023 GLIAC Men's Golf Individual Champion
JC Ramirez (Men's Indoor and Outdoor Track & Field): 2022-23 GLIAC Triple Jump Champion in both indoor and outdoor.
Men's Soccer
Defeated #16 Parkside 1-0 (First time defeating a national ranked team)
Earned second-straight season with a First Round win in GLIAC Tournament
Volleyball
Most wins in program history.
ACHA DI Hockey
Earned national ranking for first-time in program history.
Finished the season ranked #20.
Most wins in program history.
Hosted first-ever conference tournament game vs. Roosevelt (W, 5-3).
Craig Herman became first player to eclipse the 100-career point mark.
Cooper Olson earned GLCHL Rookie of the Year.
Women's Cross Country
Christina Shaginaw earned three-straight first-place finishes and now holds the record for the 6K finishing with a time of 21:57.5 at the Warrior Challenge in October.
Christina Shaginaw received Second Team All-GLIAC honors.
Men's Cross Country
Quinton Bock set new 8K all-time record with a 25:17.6 at the Warrior Challenge.
Women's Basketball
Clinched berth in GLIAC Women's Basketball Tournament.
Dash Shaw scored over 500 points in a season, first-time in program history as an NCAA DII school and earned First Team All-GLIAC.
Men's Basketball
Most wins in program history.
Clinched spot in GLIAC Men's Basketball Tournament.
Anthony Barnard becomes 1,000-point career scorer (first in PNW program history).
Mikell Cooper scored over 500 points in a season (first player in PNW program history) and earned First Team All-GLIAC.
Men's Indoor Track & Field
First-ever season competing.
JC Ramirez - GLIAC Indoor Triple Jump Champion and U.S. Track & Field and Cross-Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) NCAA Division II All Region.
Women's Indoor Track & Field
First-ever season competing.
Christina Shaginaw set new PNW 10K record.
Men's Golf
Alex Bishop - GLIAC Men's Individual Champion and earned second-straight birth to NCAA Tournament Regionals.
Advanced to GLIAC Tournament Semi-finals for first time in program history.
Women's Golf
Margo Catafort-Silva - PNW Record Holder for Round of 73.
Women's Tennis
Most wins in a season.
Sienna Lopez advanced to ITA Regional Semifinals.
Sienna Lopez became first PNW Women's Tennis player nationally ranked.
Sienna Lopez and Aarni Reddu Yellu nationally ranked doubles team.
Earned Opening Round win in GLIAC Tournament.
Men's Outdoor Track & Field
First-ever season competing.
JC Ramirez - GLIAC Outdoor Triple Jump Champion.
Lucas Bass - GLIAC Outdoor Triple Jump Second Place finish.
Women's Indoor Track & Field
First-ever season competing.
Kiara Spates placed second in GLIAC Triple Jump Finals.
Baseball
Earned two wins in the GLIAC Baseball Tournament.
Ray Hilbrich became PNW Baseball all-time leader in hits (221), homeruns (12), doubles (39), and batting average (.358).
Ray Hilbrich earned second-straight First Team All-GLIAC honors as well as NCBWA Second Team Midwest All-Region, D2CCA Midwest Second Team All-Region, and ABCA/Rawlings NCAA DII Midwest Second Team All-Region accolades.
Softball
Most wins in a single-season (33).
Finished third in GLIAC.
Clinched spot in GLIAC Softball Tournament and tallied Opening Round win.
Defeated #7 Grand Valley State, 5-1, giving them their first conference loss of season.
Madison Schultz became all-time leader in homeruns (26).
Selena Michko earned All-American honors for second year in a row.
Selena Michko received D2CCA First Team Midwest All-Region and NFCA Midwest Second Team All-Region honors.
Earned program record seven All-GLIAC selections.
Esports
Hosted UNIFIED Gaming Fanfest at Westville Campus.
Purdue Northwest Athletics commends the student-athletes and coaches for their outstanding season and record-breaking performances. The Pride are excited to see what the future holds for the 2023-24 athletic year.
