LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The Illinois Wesleyan University men's lacrosse team reeled in four academic honors as the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association announced its awards Monday, July 6. The Titans were recognized with the Team Academic Award, while seniors Billy McHugh (Orland Park, Ill.-Mount Carmel), Karsten Nordlie (Roscoe, Ill.-Hononegah), and Michael Rocco (Libertyville, Ill.-Libertyville) were tabbed USILA Scholar All-Americans.
After putting together one of the best defensive seasons in program history, McHugh earned all-region and first team all-conference honors. McHugh led the defense with 41 caused turnovers, an average of 2.41 per game, both of which shattered the program's single-season records. He added 43 ground balls, four goals, and five assists for nine points, and picked up two faceoff wins on four attempts. McHugh also repeated as a College Sports Communicators Academic All-District selection for the second consecutive season. The Orland Park, Ill., native was the recipient of the team's defensive MVP award after a record-setting campaign. He graduated with a degree in economics and a 3.66 GPA.
Nordlie, an all-region pick, saved his best season donning the Green and White for last. The recipient of the team's MVP award, Nordlie finished second on the team in ground balls and caused turnovers, recording 69 and 27, respectively. He scored one goal to go along with six assists for seven points. Nordlie was named a First Team All-College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin honoree for the second season in a row and appeared in all 18 games for IWU. He earned his degree in computer science while maintaining a 3.37 grade point average.
Rounding out the award recipients, Rocco was a Second Team All-CCIW selection. The senior faceoff man led the team with 24 ground balls and 38 faceoff wins during conference contests. Going 38-of-67 at the X, Rocco notched a .567 win percentage, good for ninth in the league. His average of 4.60 ground balls per game ranked sixth in the conference. Rocco graduated with a 3.90 GPA as a finance major.
IWU was one of two CCIW programs to reel in the USILA Team Academic Award. In order to receive the distinction, a team must achieve a grade point average of 3.0 or higher for the academic year. On the individual front, the Titans represented three of the eight CCIW student-athletes honored.
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