Skokie Tennis Player Named To Academic All-Big Ten Team

SKOKIE, IL — A Skokie native recently completed her college tennis career with a third consecutive inclusion on the Academic All-Big Ten team.

Michelle Bacalla, 22, is a member of the class of 2018 at Niles North High School and a graduate of the University of Iowa with a major in elementary education.

To be eligible to become an Academic All-Big Ten selection, students must be on the official squad list of a varsity team, have been enrolled at their college for at least a year and have earned a cumulative grade-point average of 3.0 or above.

During her time at Niles North, Bacalla received four all-conference awards in the Central Suburban League, won two Baird Cup Championships, qualified for the Illinois State Championships all four years and placed fourth at state in her junior and senior years.

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Bacalla was the first student-athlete recruited by Iowa women's tennis head coach Sasha Schmid after Schmid took over leadership of the program, according to a 2020 profile produced by university staff.

“Michelle is a complete tennis player and balanced off both sides,” Schmidt said in the profile. “She has no weakness; she is fit and quick, so she is also good on defense.”

According to the profile, Bacalla hopes to become a first grade teacher in the future.