SESP’s Elite Athletes Shine
From Olympic competition to record-breaking performances on campus, Northwestern University School of Education and Social Policy athletes balanced academics and elite competition during the 2024-25 school year.
Meet some of our standout athletes whose stories inspire both their teammates and the broader university community.
Baseball: First baseman Trent Liolios broke the 37-year-old Northwestern baseball single-season home run record with 16 homers; twice he hit three per game. (The record later fell again to sophomore Ryan Kucherak, who finished with 18 homers.) Being a student-athlete has been “the most rewarding experience” of his life,” he said. Liolios, who graduates in June, has entered the transfer portal as a graduate student. He'll be missed. “Liolios, at his best, brought that comfort for NU players and fans, who knew the team would likely be scoring at least a few runs with him in the lineup,” Gabe Shumay wrote in InsideNU.
Baseball and Football: In his debut against Eastern Illinois University, Jack Lausch threw for 227 yards and two touchdowns, adding 62 rushing yards, securing his place as Northwestern’s starting quarterback. He passed for more than 200 yards in five separate games over the season. A rare Division I dual-sport athlete, he made a notable return to baseball in 2025 after focusing on football for his first three years. His performance included standout moments such as a 4-for-4 game with a home run and double against Valparaiso.
Fencing: First year Daphne Chan made history over the summer after she reached the round of 16 in foil fencing in the 2024 Paris Olympics, the farthest a Hong Kong fencer has ever made it in the event. Her 10th place finish at the NCAA Championships earned an Honorable Mention All-America selection by the United States Fencing Coaches Association. The Northwestern fencing team’s unity has enhanced her school experience so far, she said. "Throughout the year, I have witnessed extraordinary levels of support and encouragement among teammates during practices and competitions.”
Field Hockey: After competing in the 2024 Paris Olympics for Team USA, senior midfielder Maddie Zimmer led Northwestern to its second national championship in four years. She was named the Honda Sport Award Winner for Field Hockey – which goes to the “best of the best” in college athletics, making her a finalist for the Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year and the prestigious 2025 Honda Cup, which will be presented during a live telecast on CBS Sports Network on June 30, at 7 p.m. ET in New York City. Among her many accolades, Zimmer is the 2024 National Field Hockey Coaches Player of the Year, a four-time All-American and was twice voted the NCAA Tournament’s most outstanding player. Academically, she is a 4 time Academic All-Big Ten selection and a 2-time Big Ten Distinguished Scholar. This summer, she will be training with the US team and then returning for her fifth and final season at Northwestern, while earning her Master’s in Sports Administration. “Maddie shines on and off the field every day, said head coach Tracy Fuchs. “She is a focused and dominant player, a great leader and most of all an amazing person. We are incredibly proud to call Maddie a Wildcat, as she continually exemplifies Northwestern values and represents the very best of the student-athlete experience.”
Football: Marshall Lang, who signed with the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent, ended his Northwestern career with some incredible stats, including 48 receptions, 491 receiving yards, and four touchdowns over five seasons. “Thank you to all who have supported me—this is just the beginning,” he wrote on Instagram.
Lacrosse: Madison Taylor, the Big Ten Attacker of the Year and Tewaaraton Award Finalist, broke the NCAA record for most goals in a game (10), the NCAA's single-season goals record (104), and led the team to their third straight Big Ten championship win. She was also named first team all-American by USA Lacrosse and the Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association. Looking ahead to next year, the junior said she “wouldn’t want to change anything” and looks forward to a potential Final Four appearance next year – especially since it will be hosted by Northwestern in Evanston. “This is a huge stepping-stone for the growth of the sport of women’s lacrosse, which is traditionally an East Coast sport,” she said.
Swimming: Brett Farmer, who is pursuing a master’s in higher education administration and policy, won a $10,000 scholarship from the NCAA as part of its Postgraduate Scholarship program. Farmer competed for the men’s swimming and diving team at the University of Wisconsin Au-Claire.
Wrestling: Graduate student Trevor Chumbley had a stellar run at the 2025 NCAA Championships, finishing fourth in his division and earning All-American honors. He upset four higher-seeded opponents, including the No. 4 seed, marking Northwestern’s best individual finish since 2022. “I'm most proud of the relationships I have built and the legacy I’ve left on Northwestern Wrestling and the broader community,” he said. “Capping off my career by becoming an NCAA All-American was a dream come true and sharing that moment with my family, friends, coaches, and teammates made it even sweeter." After graduation, he plans to pursue a career in finance, while also giving back to the sport of wrestling through coaching, mentoring or community involvement. “I'm excited for the opportunities and life outside of wrestling that the next chapter of my life will bring,” he said.
Maxx Mayfield was a three-time NCAA qualifier and three-time Academic All-Big Ten athlete. In 2025 he qualified for the NCAA Championships after three wins at the Big Ten Championships. At the national meet, he achieved notable upsets, including a sudden victory over No. 18 Connor Brady of Virginia Tech. He’ll spending his final year of eligibility wrestling at the University of Missouri. “Forever grateful for the experiences and relationships built at Northwestern," he posted on Instagram.
Lacrosse: Hannah Johnson won the Elite 90 Award for Women’s Lacrosse from the NCAA, which honors the student athlete with the highest GPA in a national championship.