Christopher Judd, News Correspondent

Men’s rowing freshman eight earns bronze at IRA National Championships

The Northeastern men’s freshman eight won the bronze medal at the 2012 Intercollegiate Rowing Association National Championships in Camden, N.J., last weekend, finishing with a time of 5:43.629. This marks the first time since 1994 that the freshman eight has won a medal.

The varsity four boat clinched fourth place with a time of 6:26.643, and the Huskies finished third in the open four petite final at 6:34.639.

The freshman eight finished the 2012 season with a 7-1 record, including a silver-medal performance at the Eastern Association of Rowing Colleges Sprints on May 13. The Northeastern varsity boats went 6-2 in the regular regatta season.

Leenhouts, Leroux selected in MLB draft

It may be the offseason, but the Northeastern baseball team is continuing to rack up achievements and accolades.

Senior pitcher Andrew Leenhouts and junior catcher Jon Leroux were selected in the 2012 MLB Draft on Wednesday, just four days before they are set to play in the New England Intercollegiate Baseball Association All-Star Game in Lowell. Leenhouts was selected in the 23rd round by the San Francisco Giants and Leroux in the 32nd round by the New York Mets.

Leenhouts led the Northeastern pitching staff this season with 91.2 innings pitched and 87 strikeouts, putting him second on the school’s all-time strikeout list. He graduated in May with a degree in civil engineering.

Leroux was named to the All-CAA First Team on May 22 after leading the Huskies in home runs (12) and finishing second in the CAA in slugging percentage (.647). Head coach Neil McPhee said last month that Leroux plans to return to Northeastern for his senior season.

Two Husky throwers place at NCAA East Regional

Sophomore thrower Mark Milder and senior thrower Patrick Jablonski each placed at the NCAA East Regional Championship at the University of North Florida on May 24 and 25.

Milder placed 17th in a field of 48 in the hammer throw, which was five spots outside of competing for the national title. His throw landed at 199 feet 5 inches (60.80 meters), which was his second farthest of the season. His personal best is 202 feet 6 inches (61.73 meters).

Jablonski finished his career with the Huskies by placing 40th in the discus with a throw of 157 feet 8 inches (48.06 meters). This was his second NCAA East Regional appearance. Jablonski also won five competitions during the 2012 outdoor season, including the CAA discus title with a throw of 165 feet 10 inches (50.55 meters).

Men’s hockey team gets new recruit

Defenseman Dax Lauwers of the United States Hockey League’s (USHL) Lincoln Stars has committed to play for Northeastern in the 2012-13 season, the USHL announced May 24.

Lauwers, who stands at 6 feet 3 inches and weighs 220 pounds, will bring a big body to the Huskies’ defensive core. He appeared in every game for the Stars during 2011-12, accumulating five assists in the regular season and adding an overtime winner in the playoffs against the Fargo Force.

With Lauwers’ commitment, Northeastern has locked up five USHL recruits for next season. Forwards Cam Darcy (U.S. National Team Development Program) and Ryan Belonger (Youngstown Phantoms), along with defensemen Mike Gunn (Youngstown) and Colton Saucerman (Lincoln), have also committed to play for Northeastern.

Kauri Black to play final year of NCAA eligibility at University of Tulsa

Former men’s basketball forward Kauri Black will play at the University of Tulsa in 2012-13, Tulsa head coach Danny Manning announced May 23.

Black graduated from Northeastern in May with a degree in social science & humanities and a minor in sociology. He will play his final year of NCAA eligibility as a Tulsa graduate student after playing only three full seasons for Northeastern.

In his time as a Husky, Black started 33 games while averaging 4.6 points per game and 3.2 rebounds per game.