Sheldon surprises in backup role

Football’s Dan Sheldon wasn’t even expected to play coming into this season.

But the sophomore from Burlington Central made the most of an injury to P.J. Fleck and excelled in his absence.

The 5-foot-11, 175-pound return specialist led the nation in punt return average at 22.7 per return.

-Mark Pickrel

Young gymnastics improved

After winning just seven meets in the last two years, the NIU gymnastics team came in this year with an experienced squad ready to make some noise in the MAC.

Led by MAC Gymnast of the Year Kristina Campos and MAC Freshman of the Year Ashlee Williams, the Huskies did just that. Not only did they go 9-12, they also beat Bowling Green for their first MAC win in 17 meets, finishing with three MAC wins overall.

-Brian Kelley

Knake gets statistical milestone

Kristan Knake didn’t end her career the way she wanted to for the women’s basketball team.

A string of injuries to the team left the Huskies a disappointing 12-16 overall. Despite closing on a bad note, the senior will leave quite a legacy at NIU.

Knake closed her career as one of only four Huskies with 1,000 points, 300 assists and 200 steals over the course of a career.

-Mark Pickrel

Scott best rookie in MAC

Joi Scott entered the season very unassumingly as a quiet freshman. By the time the season was finished, Scott would become NIU women’s basketball team’s first ever MAC Freshman of the Year.

Scott began the season not even getting off the bench in the team’s first game versus Wisconsin. After a number of injuries to NIU’s front line, Scott made her presence felt. Scott averaged 3.5 points before MAC play began in early January, then went on to average 12.9 points and 6.2 rebounds in conference action.

-Chris Jurmann

Smallwood 1st Team All-MAC

Ball State coach Tim Buckley summed up Marcus Smallwood’s First-Team All-MAC performance this year in one sentence. “If you cut him open, I don’t think his heart could fit inside the Convo Center.”

Smallwood became the first Huskie to be named to the conference first team since T.J. Lux did it in 1999-2000.

Smallwood averaged a double-double for the season with 13.3 points and 10.1 rebounds. He finished the year third in the MAC in rebounds and field goal percentage, with a .548 marker.

-Adam Zolmierski