Jan. 5, 2013

Blue Jay Jersey Countdown - #34

As we countdown to '13, a season Blue Jay faithful hope will end with a 10 on the 27th, HopkinsSports.com offers its own countdown ... by jersey number ... to the season-opener against Siena on February 8.

Today - #34

Did You Know: Rick Kowalchuk wore #34 from 1972-74. He was the first Johns Hopkins midfielder to earn the Enners Award as the nation's top player (1974).

Player Spotlight - Rick Kowalchuk
A member of the first Johns Hopkins men's lacrosse team to win an NCAA Championship, Kowalchuk was a standout performer for the Johns Hopkins lacrosse and football teams during his career at Homewood.

Kowalchuk earned First Team All-America honors in 1972, 1973, and 1974 and was named to the All-Time Johns Hopkins Team at the conclusion of his career. After guiding Hopkins to its first-ever NCAA title as a senior, he was named the recipient of the Lt. Raymond J. Enners Award as the nation's outstanding player. He was the first Johns Hopkins midfielder to earn the award and remains one of just two Blue Jay midfielders to earn the prestigious honor. He was inducted into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 1991, was a member of the 1995 NCAA Silvery Anniversary Team, and helped lead the United States to the 1974 World Championship.

Kowalchuk totaled 72 goals and added 19 assists during his career. He tallied 19 goals in nine career NCAA Tournament games, which was a then school record.

Kowalchuk also played two seasons for the Johns Hopkins football team, but was a steady performer as a linebacker and a tight end, garnering All Mason Dixon Conference honors. He led the Blue Jays in receptions as a freshman and a sophomore, amassing 46 receptions for 529 yards and four touchdowns in his two seasons on the team. He helped lead JHU to a two-year record of 12-6.

Famous "34s" in Other Sports
Walter Payton -Chicago Bears (NFL)
Considered by many the greatest running back of all time, Walter Payton finished his career as the NFL's all-time leading rusher (16726) and totaled 110 touchdowns in a career that spanned from 1975-87.

Payton helped the Chicago Bears to the 1985 Super Bowl title, earned nine Pro Bowl selections, six First Team All-Pro selections and was named to the NFL's 75th Anniversary All-Time Team. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1993.

Hakeem Olajuwon - Houston Rockets (NBA)
Hakeek Olajuwon starred for the Houston Rockets from 1984-2001 before playing his final season in Toronto. He twice led the Rockets to the NBA title, garnering Finals MVP honors both times. The 12-time All-Star and six-time All-NBA First Team selection scored nearly 27,000 points and pulled down more than 13,500 rebounds in a career that was capped with induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008.

Note: Johns Hopkins men's lacrosse rosters are generally available back to 1950. In many years after 1950, only an alphabetical list is available. The Blue Jay Jersey Countdown is intended to be an enjoyable way to count down to the 2013 season. It is not intended to rank in any way the players who wore a particular number.

HopkinsSports.com Men's Lacrosse

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