University of Minnesota Athletics
Curtin, Darwitz and Wendell Earn All-America Honors
3/21/2003 12:00:00 AM | Athletics
Curtin, now a two-time All-American, holds 36 points for the Golden Gophers in her senior season. Curtin, this year's team captain has 166 career points, ranking her third in school history. Curtin, a two- time WCHA Defensive Player of the Year, earned All-American honors last year when she was a top three finalist for the Patty Kazmaier award and led the team in points with 48.
Darwitz is one the only freshman earning first-team All-American status. In her first career as a Gopher, Darwitz leads the team with 67 points, 32 of which were goals. Darwitz was named a top 10 candidate for the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award. Darwitz was named the WCHA Rookie of the Year and earned the WCHA Rookie of the Week award six times. She is the first person since the 1999-2000 season to tally over 60 points in a season.
Wendell gained second-team All-American honors when she scored 53 points in 24 games played. Wendell was second on the team in points scored, second in goals scored and leads the team in plus/minus rating. Missing eight games for the Gophers with a broken clavicle, Wendell was a top 10 finalist for the Patty Kazmaier award.
Halldorson is one of eight coaches to be named finalists for the national coach of the year. To be a finalist for this award, you must either be voted Coach of the Year in their conference or take the team to the Frozen Four. Halldorson won the award last year, her second in five seasons. She is the only head coach to win the award twice.
First Team Jen Huggon, SR, Goalie, New Hampshire (Plymouth, MA) Ronda Curtin, SR, Defense, Minnesota!(Roseville, MN) Angela Ruggiero, JR, Defense, Harvard**(Harper Woods, MI) Jennifer Botterill, SR, Forward, Harvard*(Winnepeg, MB) Natalie Darwitz, FR, Forward, Minnesota(Eagan, MN) Jenny Potter, JR, Forward, Minnesota-Duluth@@(Edina, MN) Second Team Rachel Barrie, JR, Goalie, St. Lawrence@(Arnprior, ON) Correne Bredin, SR, Defense Dartmouth#(Warburg, AB) Kelli Halcisak, JR, Defense, Providence(Grosse Ils, MI) Julie Chu, FR, Forward, Harvard (Fairfield, CT) Maria Rooth, SR, Forward, Minnesota-Duluth*** (Angelholm, Sweden) Krissy Wendell, FR, Forward, Minnesota(Brooklyn Park, MN) * Fourth First Team Selection ** Third First Team Selection *** First Team in 2001-01 and 2001-02 # First Team in 2000-01 ! First Team in 2001-02 @ Second Team in 2000-01 @@ Second Team in 1998-99
