Portfolio
Beat Reporting: Ryan Field
For the last five months, I’ve reported on everything Ryan Field. The coverage began with my first story on the stadium, a brief on the student section and student amenities. Since that day, I’ve covered everything from local businesses relying on the stadium’s increased crowd to my final story on alumni stories and connections to Ryan Field old and new. Each story has connected me to a different aspect of the stadium, and I’ve appreciated that opportunity.
Pat Ryan Jr. (Kellogg ’97, Pritzker ’97) sat just outside the student section of Northwestern’s new Ryan Field, ready to field yet another batch of reporter questions about his family’s $875 million crown jewel. But the grounds crew was painting incorrect outlines on the field, so he briefly rushed away from the interview to fix it." - Story by Yoni Zacks and Kamran Nia
National media descended on Ryan Field for the opening game and festivities Friday, with the eyes of the entire college football world on Northwestern after narrowly losing to defending national champion Indiana.
Among the crowd was Scott Dochterman, national college football and Big Ten reporter for The Athletic. Dochterman covered around 10 games at the old Ryan Field and said the stadium was clearly showing its age.
"The Great Chicago Food Festival" will debut during the public opening of the new Ryan Field on Oct. 2, New Ryan Field and Northwestern Athletics announced in a press release Wednesday.
The festival, which will occur before every game and concert at the stadium, includes a cookout catered to home and visiting fans, family-friendly activities and more spread across the exterior of the stadium.
At six years old, Dave Revsine (Weinberg ’91) walked into Dyche Stadium with his dad for the first time. He left the stadium with a button, a pennant and countless memories.
"I remember walking in that first day with him and how excited I was," Revsine said.
As the Northwestern community looks toward Ryan Field’s reopening on Oct. 2, the North Shore community will be watching for a later date: Oct. 16.
On that day, Evanston Township High School and New Trier High School will face off at the stadium in the latest battle of their storied rivalry, the University and Ryan Sports Development announced Tuesday in a press conference at Welsh-Ryan Arena.
Some businesses on Noyes Street are counting on the success of Ryan Field as the stadium prepares to enter a new chapter.
Martin Stadium, Northwestern football’s temporary home for the last two seasons, has a capacity of 12,000 fans, 35,000 fewer than the original Ryan Field and 23,000 fewer than the new stadium. Because of this, some business owners say they have lost sales revenue.
Northwestern men’s basketball’s newest preferred walk-on for 2026-27, small forward Elijah Eschmeyer, has always wanted to be a Wildcat.
"Ever since I started watching basketball, I’ve always been a Northwestern fan," he said.
As coach David Braun readied the team for a new era, No. 25 Northwestern brought in the highest-rated transfer portal class in program history in the offseason.
Coming off a 7-6 season, the Wildcats (4-1, 1-1 Big Ten) have placed several transfers in impact roles from the get go.
INDIANAPOLIS – As former Northwestern offensive tackle Caleb Tiernan stood at the interview podium of the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, he couldn’t believe where he was.
"It’s pretty surreal," Tiernan said Saturday. "These (moments) are what you dream of as a kid."
It’s four hours to go until the Zimriyah (song festival) starts, and chaos is brewing.
There are wires everywhere, mics that still need to be leveled, and, worst of all, rain is forecasted.
Lilah Heifetz (Nivo 2024) lives for it.
Multimedia Reporting
My multimedia experience has shaped who I am as a journalist. From postgame standups to halftime analysis to anchoring at the Sportsnight desk, I’ve learned to use my broadcaster’s voice and grown as an on-air reporter. I’ve also worked to create a new style of postgame standup for The Daily Northwestern on social media, utilizing the Instagram stories feature.
NNN Sports Ryan Field Package
The Daily Northwestern Postgame Standup - Northwestern at Indiana
NNN Sports "Wildcat Gameday Preview"
NNN Sports Postgame Standup - Northwestern vs. Ball State
Sportsnight NFL Draft Segment
Ryan Field Food Reel
Game Coverage
Covering games has been a highlight of my time at Northwestern so far. From traveling to Bloomington, Indiana to cover the Wildcats close battle against the Hoosiers to getting to witness an NCAA national championship on campus to a series-winning walk off in baseball, every game has been an adventure.
Senior third baseman Owen McElfatrick stepped up to the plate Saturday, one home run away from tying former outfielder Anthony Wycklendt for third all-time in career home runs.
Northwestern needed a spark, down 9-6 to Michigan State in the bottom of the eighth inning of a high-scoring ballgame, where all but one player who played the full game got a hit.
As Northwestern said goodbye to Martin Stadium and its lakeside field, the new-look offense broke out in a 41-7 victory over Colorado.
The Wildcats (2-0, 0-0 Big Ten), led by new offensive coordinator Chip Kelly and senior quarterback Aidan Chiles, got off to their first 2-0 start in coach David Braun’s four seasons with the team.
North Carolina attacker Chloe Humphrey wound up to take a shot.
The game was tied 11-11, and any goal had the chance to completely shift the momentum of the game.
Humphrey, who was later named the NCAA Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player, had been quiet most of the day. Northwestern’s defense held her to just two goals up to that point, after she averaged more than five per game entering Sunday’s contest.
.jpg)
For Northwestern coach David Braun, there are no moral victories after a 29-23 loss at then-No. 5 and now No. 6 Indiana on Friday.
“We should have won this football game,” Braun said postgame.
The Wildcats (2-1, 0-1 Big Ten) showed flashes of potential on both sides of the ball in a one-score battle with the Hoosiers (4-0, 1-0 Big Ten). While the team was disappointed with the loss, the close result sent a message to the broader college football world — that NU can compete with any team.
Breaking News Reporting
When women’s basketball coach Carla Berube was hired, I was on a spring break trip to Greece. After the announcement was made, I offered to write the article, sprinting with my friend through the streets of Thessaloniki back to our hotel to frantically write the story at around midnight. That’s the dedication I bring to every breaking news story.
The new look-Northwestern has its quarterback.
First reported by ESPN’s Pete Thamel on Tuesday night, former Michigan State junior signal-caller Aidan Chiles announced Wednesday will be joining the ’Cats in Evanston for the upcoming season. - Story by Yoni Zacks and Kamran Nia
The planning continues for Northwestern’s new season.
On Tuesday, the Big Ten released every team’s football schedule, and the ’Cats’ season starts on Sept. 5 with a matchup against South Dakota State. However, fans will have to wait a little longer to find out where the games will be played.
Princeton coach Carla Berube will be the seventh Northwestern women’s basketball coach in program history, NU announced Wednesday.
A 26-year coaching veteran, Berube replaces another longtime coach in Joe McKeown, who retired after the 2025-26 season.
As March Madness comes to a close, the madness is beginning for Northwestern. Three transfers left the Wildcats in the span of two hours Monday, leaving just four players set to return next season.
The day started with junior guard Jordan Clayton, a three-year Wildcat, departing the program, according to Sam Kayser of League Ready. Clayton, a team captain last season, leaves Evanston after more than doubling his time on the court from the 2024-25 season.
