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To find out more, or make an appointment, call 844-273-8383 or visit umnhealth.org today.
University of Minnesota Health represents a collaboration between University of Minnesota Physicians and University of Minnesota Medical Center.
W E L C O M E
F R O M
N O R W O O D
W
T E A G U E
e have so much to celebrate as we wrap up our winter seasons, with great successes by both individual Gopher student-athletes and several Gopher teams. The theme that ties together all of these championship performances, as well as many of the features in this issue of Ski-U-Mah, is
seizing the opportunity to achieve greatness. Right here in Gopher Athletics, we’ve seen many instances of this in the past few months. In addition to a strong collection of conference championships, we cheered as Luca Wieland (heptathlon), Kierra Smith (200 breaststroke) and Yu Zhou (three-meter diving) took their opportunities and turned them into individual national titles. Gymnast Ellis Mannon, already a national champion, earned the Nissen-Emery Award, the Heisman of men’s gymnastics. And, in front of a standing room only home crowd at Ridder Arena, our tremendous women’s hockey team claimed its third national title in the past four years. Each of these student-athletes was given a chance to do something great and they made the most of it. Providing opportunities is at the core of intercollegiate athletics. Gopher Athletics provides the opportunity and resources for each of our student-athletes to grow to their full potential and discover their best self. This idea is on full display in this edition of the magazine. It’s brought to life in the stories of Lindsay Mable, a lightly recruited high school athlete who has become the NCAA’s most dominant female gymnast; a collection of under-recruited football players banding together to grow into the conference’s best defensive backfield, or; a walkon rower emerging as one of the leaders in the team’s top boat. These are just three examples. Almost every Gopher program has at least one story of an unlikely star shining brightly. These young men and women come to the University of Minnesota expecting nothing more than a chance to prove their abilities while building a foundation for the rest of their lives. Like many of you, it makes me incredibly proud to see them capitalize on these precious opportunities and realize their dreams. Gopher student-athletes continue to amaze and inspire me every day, and I’m delighted to be able to share a few of those stories with you in this issue of Ski-U-Mah. Until next time, go Gophers!
Norwood Teague, Director of Athletics
MAY 2015 / SKI-U-MAH / 1
MAY the
2015 official
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ISSUE
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magazine
/ of
VOL.
II
Gop he r
Athlet ics
SKI-U-MAH features 12
L I ND SAY M ABLE
20
F OO TB ALL SEC ONDARY
24
C E LI A K UEN STER
30
LI SA W E EKS
34
J OHN ANDER SON & PA U L MOL I TO R
additional content 3
N E WS WOR T HY
4
WO ME N’S HOCKEY NATI ON A L TI TL E
6
CHAMPI ON SHIPS
10
CR ED I TS
16
R. E. P.S. P ROGR AM
18
INS ID E R : ERI CA M EYE R
19
IN S ID E R : LEA NDRO TOLE DO
28
BOB E D DY PROFI LE
38
GOLD E N GOLDY S
40
WH E R E A RE T HEY NOW:
24 34 30
D AW N WI L LOU GHBY 42
BE HIN D THE SCENE S: CHR IS CO RD S
44
PAR T IN G SHOT
for these stories and much more, visit the home of Gopher Sports at gophersports.com.
20 2 / SKI-U-MAH / MAY 2015
12
MINNESOTA DEFEATED NO. 4 MICHIGAN, 9-1, ON APRIL 3 AT JANE SAGE COWLES STADIUM.
Don Lucia became Minnesota’s alltime winningest men’s hockey coach with his 391st career victory on March 6, a 4-2 win over Ohio State. In his 16th season, Lucia pushed ahead of Doug Woog, who recorded 390 wins from 1985-99. Sophomore diver Yu Zhou was named the NCAA and Big Ten Diver of the Year and head diving coach Wenbo Chen was named the NCAA Women’s Diving Coach of the Year. Jenny Hansen was named the head coach of the Gophers’ women’s gymnastics program on April 8. She served as the interim head coach during the 2014-15 season. A former student-athlete at the U of M and an assistant since 2007, she led the Gophers to a regional appearance this season and coached Lindsay Mable to Big Ten Gymnast of the Year honors.
PHOTO BY ERIC MILLER
NEWSWORTHY
Amanda Zahui B. was selected with the No. 2 overall pick by the Tulsa Shock in the 2015 WNBA Draft on April 16. She becomes the third first round pick in school history, joining Janel McCarville (2005, 1st pick) and Lindsay Whalen (2004, 4th pick). Shae Kelley was also selected in the third round by the Minnesota Lynx. Zahui had a record-breaking season and became the first Associated Press All-American in program history and a finalist for the Wade Trophy and Naismith Award as the top player in the nation. The Gopher volleyball team traveled to Japan from March 14-26 where it competed against Japan’s World University team. The Gophers are the only U.S. collegiate team to ever train and compete in their Olympic Village.
The women’s swimming and diving program became the first Minnesota women’s program to ever win four consecutive Big Ten titles. The only other programs to win four straight titles are Men’s Tennis (1992-95) and Men’s Gymnastics (1977-80). Women’s Hockey won four straight WCHA Tournament titles from 2002-05 and Men’s Hockey has an active streak of four straight conference titles (2012-13 WCHA, 2014-15 Big Ten). Five Gopher volleyball players will compete on one of three USA Volleyball Collegiate National Teams this summer, which leads the nation. Paige Tapp will play with Team USA at the World University Games in South Korea while Hannah Tapp and Sarah Wilhite will compete in the China Tour in June. Alyssa Goehner and Molly Lohman will compete in New Orleans.
Ellis Mannon became the fourth Gopher men’s gymnast to earn the Nissen-Emery Award. The award is annually given to the nation’s outstanding senior gymnast. Mannon was the 2014 NCAA champion on the pommel horse and is a two-time Big Ten champion in the event. He joins Guillermo Alvarez (2005), John Roethlisberger (1991) and Tim LaFleur (1978) with the most coveted award in collegiate men’s gymnastics. Head coach Mike Burns was named the CGA Central Region Head Coach of the Year. Target Field and the Minnesota Twins are hosting the Big Ten Baseball Tournament May 20-24.
MAY 2015 / SKI-U-MAH / 3
Champions 2015 NCAA TITLE
PHOTOS: JIM ROSVOLD
3/22/15 / RIDDER ARENA M I N N E S O TA 4 • H A R VA R D 1
4 / SKI-U-MAH / MAY 2015
PHOTOS: ERIC MILLER
PHOTO: BRAD REMPEL
MAY 2015 / SKI-U-MAH / 5
KIERRA SMITH NCAA CHAMPION / 200 BREASTSTROKE
NCAA Champions
p
YU ZHOU
Smith became Minnesota’s third NCAA champion in the breaststroke events under head coach Kelly Kremer, joining Jillian Tyler in the 100 (2011) and Haley Spencer in the 200 (2011). Smith swept the 100 and 200 breaststroke at the Big Ten Championships and was named the Big Ten Swimmer of the Year.
NCAA CHAMPION / 3-METER DIVING
t
Zhou, a sophomore, was also named the NCAA Diver of the Year and Big Ten Diver of the Year. She is head diving coach Wenbo Chen’s second NCAA champion at Minnesota.
P H O T O S : W A LT M I D D L E T O N
Wieland, a sophomore, became Minnesota’s first NCAA champion in the heptathlon and first NCAA indoors champion since 1998.
u
LUCA WIELAND N C A A C H A M P I O N / H E P TAT H L O N
6 / SKI-U-MAH / MAY 2015
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MEN’S TENNIS
p q
PHOTO: CHRIS MITCHELL
Gopher Tennis won its first conference title since 1995 in dramatic fashion, defeating No. 3 Illinois and No. 27 Northwestern in consecutive matches to clinch a share of the Big Ten title with Ohio State and Illinois. Minnesota became the first team other than Ohio State and Illinois to have a piece of the Big Ten championship since 1996. Gopher Women’s Swimming & Diving won its fourth straight Big Ten championship in 2015. In the process, the women’s program became the first in school history to win four straight Big Ten titles. Only two men’s programs have won four straight Big Ten titles (men’s gymnastics 1977-80 and men’s tennis 1992-95).
WOMEN’S SWIMMING & DIVING
8 / SKI-U-MAH / MAY 2015
P H O T O : W A LT M I D D L E T O N
p
PHOTO:ERIC MILLER
In addition to winning the NCAA title for the third time in the last four years, the Gopher women’s hockey team won the WCHA regular season title for the third straight year.
CHAMPIONSHIPS Mi n ne so t a h as w on c onference tea m t it les in 1 7 d i fferen t s po r t s in t he la st deca d e
PHOTO: REBECCA COOK
MEN’S HOCKEY
x
Men’s hockey won its fourth straight regular season conference title overall (2014 and 2015 Big Ten; 2012 and 2013 WCHA). The Gophers also won the Big Ten Tournament with a 4-2 victory over Michigan on March 21. PHOTO: JIM ROSVOLD
MAY 2015 / SKI-U-MAH / 9
SKI-U-MA H Issue
9
DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS Norwood Teague SENIOR ASSOCIATE ATHLETICS DIRECTOR FOR STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS Chris Werle EDITOR-IN-CHIEF / ASSISTANT ATHLETICS DIRECTOR FOR CREATIVE SERVICES Jeff Keiser EDITOR / WRITER Jake Ricker
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Rick Moore, Justine Buerkle, Michael Molde CONTRIBUTING DESIGNER/COVER DESIGN Niko Alexander CONTRIBUTORS Paul Rovnak, Michelle Traen, Jake Ford DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY Eric Miller CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Christopher Mitchell, Courtney Anderson, Brace Hemmelgarn, Craig Lassig, Jim Rosvold, Walt Middleton, Rebecca Cook Advertising: 612.626.2300 GOPHERSPORTS.com Ski-U-Mah is written and designed by University of Minnesota Athletics and is provided as a courtesy to our fans and may be used for personal and editorial purposes only. Any commercial use of this information is prohibited without the consent of University of Minnesota Athletics. for questions about the editorial content in this issue of Ski-U-Mah, please email keiser@umn.edu.
A SELLOUT CROWD PACKED INTO RIDDER ARENA FOR THE NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP GAME BETWEEN MINNESOTA AND HARVARD ON MARCH 22
10 / SKI-U-MAH / MAY 2015
PHOTO BY BRAD REMPEL
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Pursuit of
PERFECTION L AT E - B L O O M I N G G Y M N A S T I C S S TA R L I N D S AY M A B L E H A S M A D E P E O P L E TA K E N O T I C E BY RICK MOORE
It ’s
mid-afternoon on a blustery March day in the dusk of the winter sports season. Rising star Lindsay Mable,
coming off a two-week stint as the nation’s No. 1–ranked all-around gymnast, is asked if more people recog-
nize her now, like they might an Andre Hollins or a Rachel Banham or that star-come-lately, Amanda Zahui B.
Mable starts to laugh as she recalls her big brush with “fame”
Mable may not be the big woman on campus—height
in Dinkytown. “It’s really only happened once,” she said. “I was
notwithstanding—but she’s standing tall in the gymnastics
in Qdoba, like two months ago, and someone came up behind
world, both locally and nationally. You could watch an entire
me and said, ‘Are you a gymnast?’ And I said, ‘Yeah, how did you
floor exercise routine in the time it takes to list all her acco-
know?’ And he’s like, ‘Oh, I watched you this weekend. You’re
lades, but here’s a quick recap just from her recently com-
Lindsay Mable!’ And I said, ‘Ohmigosh, yes. … Thank you!’”
pleted junior season.
The young man asked her to sign a piece of paper “for his lit-
Mable won 31 individual events and claimed 11 all-around
tle sister,” or, at least, that’s the story he came up with. That
titles. She was named the Big Ten’s Gymnast of the Week six
prompted some teasing from Mable’s companions.
times and then the 2015 Big Ten Gymnast of the Year. She
“I was with some friends and they said, ‘You’re famous!’ I’m
added to that by receiving first team All-America honors on
like, ‘I’m not famous.’ ‘Yeah you are, clearly. This guy knows you.’”
both balance beam and in the all-around, while earning sec-
12 / SKI-U-MAH / MAY 2015
ond team All-America recognition on floor exercise and vault. All this for an athlete that was barely on the radar coming out of high school in Colorado. Mable had exactly one scholarship offer before Minnesota made its commitment to her, and vice versa. One year later, she was the Big Ten’s Freshman of the Year and the buzz of collegiate gymnastics. Two years hence and she had climbed her way to the top of the national allaround rankings.
“WHEN WE SAW THAT SHE
“When we saw that she was ranked number one, it was just so cool, because we’ve never had an athlete ranked number one in the all-around before,” said Jenny Hansen, the head coach of the women’s gymnastics team who’s had the pleasure of watching Mable’s rapid, almost meteoric, devel-
WAS RANKED NUMBER
opment. “She’s just been so consistent. … It’s not much of a surprise when she does well in a meet, because that’s exactly what she does every day.”
ONE, IT WAS JUST SO
But, she noted, “It is pretty rare for someone to be at the level she’s at and not be discovered early.”
COOL, BECAUSE WE’VE
FROM THE SANDLOT TO THE DEEP END
NEVER HAD AN ATHLETE
RANKED NUMBER ONE IN
THE ALL-AROUND BEFORE.
Actually, Mable was “discovered” as a six-year-old at, of all places, the neighborhood baseball field in her hometown of Aurora, Colo., just southeast of
“
Denver. She was hanging out at her brother’s baseball game doing cartwheels, somersaults and handstands when the mother of another little girl asked where she did her gymnastics. The answer was along the lines of “just at baseball games,” so it was suggested she try something organized. She started at a local recreational facility, and a coach there suggested she switch to “a real gym.” “So we went to the real gym,” Mable said. “Before we knew it, it was six hours a week, then eight hours a week, then ten hours a week. And all of a sudden we weren’t dipping our feet in the pool any more, we were all the way in. It gets you fast.” She stayed at the Colorado Gymnastics Institute for the next 12 years, often training for at least 20 hours a week after school in addition to per-
PHOTO: ERIC MILLER
forming at meets. “It’s a lifestyle,” Mable said, but “at the end of the day I’m really glad I stuck with gymnastics. … It teaches you so many life lessons—just the perseverance and the determination you have to have; how you overcome adversity in certain situations, and deal with pain and deal with coaches. There are so many things that you can take from gymnastics and relate to your outside life that I think most people don’t think about until it’s actually over.” When she started looking at colleges, Southern Utah was the only school offering her a scholarship, but she also really liked Auburn, Illinois and, especially, Minnesota. Give Ashley (Stanton) Grover an assist on getting Mable to Minnesota. Grover, a Gophers gymnast from 2005–08, had also trained at the Colorado Gymnastics Institute and knew Mable since “little Lindsay” first walked into the gym. “Lindsay and I were close from the start,” Grover said. “We both had the red hair and a similar body type, and our gymnastics style looked similar. But Lindsay was way better than me.” Grover did all she could to convince the U’s staff at the time to bring in her “gym sister,” telling them that Mable was “a smart, well-rounded student-athlete who will do well in the gym but outside of the gym, as well.” Grover isn’t about to take all the credit, but said, “I definitely did try to get my two cents in there” When Mable told Minnesota of the Southern Utah offer, the Gophers stepped up with an offer of their own. “Minnesota was just a much better fit for me in terms of the team aspect
PHOTOS: ERIC MILLER & CHRIS MITCHELL
MAY 2015 / SKI-U-MAH / 13
PHOTO: CHRIS MITCHELL
and the city it’s located in, how easily accessible everything is here, and just how awesome the school is, in general.”
didn’t give her a chance.” Hansen acknowledges that it’s very unusual that an athlete with Mable’s innate
WHOLESALE UPGRADES AND IMMEDIATE SUCCESS No one at Minnesota knew exactly how much awesomeness they were getting in Lindsay Mable. “She came in the summer before her freshman year really excited and open to learn,” said Hansen, who was an assistant at the time. “And that was great
ability slips past the machinery of modern-day recruiting virtually undetected. It happens so infrequently, she says, because even though you can’t know how an athlete will develop, you can see the talent at an early age. Added Hansen: “I think this is probably the most extreme case.”
THE CONSTANT SEARCH OF ELUSIVE PERFECTION Mable hails from a family of athletes and educators.
because she had a few things that she needed to learn to be at the level we thought she would be capable of competing at in the all-around.” According to Hansen, that meant reimagining her vault, learning a new bar dismount, changing her beam dismount and developing a new tumbling pass. “She upgraded every event when she got here,” Hansen said. “It made a huge difference. It made her competitive in the all-around and that year she was Big Ten Freshman of the Year. It was really fun for us to see her reach the level we thought she could get
and her brother played golf at Wartburg College. Her
idea who Lindsay Mable was,
parents are both middle school teachers with a similar
and that was the really fun part. At the end of her freshman year all the other college coaches
love of sports in their blood. “Sports has always been in the family since I was little,” Mable said. “It was never something required—just something to keep us busy.” Her parents never pressured her to get perfect
were like, ‘Who is this kid? We
grades, just to do her best in school. The results fol-
didn’t know about her.’’’
detail. She recorded a 4.0 or higher GPA during every
– Head Coach Jenny Hansen
to.
Her older sister played softball at Bryant University
“The rest of the country had no
“The rest of the country had no idea who Lindsay Mable was, and that was the really fun part. At the
lowed naturally, aided by Mable’s own attention to year in high school. Last year the elementary education major was named Academic All-Big Ten and a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar.
end of her freshman year all the other college coaches were like, ‘Who is this
She’s a high achiever, for sure, and admits to being a perfectionist. “In the
kid? We didn’t know about her.’ … It was fun for us to see her reach the potential
gym [being a perfectionist] can have its advantages and disadvantages,” said
we knew she had, and even more fun [to see the reaction of] the schools that
Mabel. “We’re a sport about perfection; we’re striving for perfection no matter
14 / SKI-U-MAH / MAY 2015
how really attainable that is.”
talk with her a while.
Fortunately, every so often a gymnast
“She’s very humble,” Hansen said. “She
reaches that holy grail of a perfect score.
doesn’t talk about her accomplishments. If
Mable achieved it last spring at the Big Ten
she has a mistake, she’s devastated for the
Championships when she nailed her vault
team. For her, it’s much more about having
and was able to see a 10.0 flash before her
the team reach its goals. Our goal is to be
teammates and the crowd.
in the national championships and she
“It’s pretty indescribable,” she said with
wants to be there as a team.”
a perfectly huge smile. “I think when it hap-
Grover, a kindergarten teacher herself,
pened, I thought, ‘Sometime, I’ll be able to
seems genuinely excited for the students
put into words how amazing it was.’ It’s like
who Mable will one day be guiding, even
a year later and it still feels surreal.
if they don’t know everything about Miss
“Obviously, [in the vault] you have to
Mable. “She’s just so humble,” she said.
run decently fast down the runway, but I’m
“Nobody’s going to know how amazing
pretty convinced I ran back faster to my
she was in college unless somebody goes
team than I ran down the runway. Every
and tells her students.”
time I watch the video I can still get the
More on Mable
Hometown: Aurora, Colorado High School: Eaglecrest Club Team: Colorado Gymnastics Institute Career Accolades: • 2015 Big Ten Gymnast of the Year • 2015 NACGC/W North Central Region Gymnast of the Year • Became first Minnesota gymnast to be ranked first nationally in the all-around (2015) • Six-time NACGC/W Regular Season All-American • Four-time NCAA First Team All-American • Five-time Big Ten champion Major titles: 2015 Regional champion (vault, floor exercise, all-around) 2015 Big Ten champion (vault, floor exercise, all-around)
For her part, Mable is looking forward
feeling—it just flows over my whole body.
to a career in education and is hoping to
… Ten seconds of a performance and how
instill in her students the values she’s
baker,” she said. “I love to bake. It might not always turn out
much it can bring to your life is kind of
picked up from her parents and other men-
fantastic, but ‘A’ for effort is what I say. I’m getting better.”
mind-boggling.”
tors.
Even though she beams in recounting
“I just want to give [them] that influence
that moment, you won’t get her to talk
that my parents gave me,” she said. “I
much about her accomplishments. Both
think a lot of times we are the hardest crit-
Hansen and Grover point out how incredi-
ics on ourselves and I think we need to help
bly grounded and modest she is. She’s
everyone realize the potential they have in
quick with a thank-you on every compli-
themselves.”
ment, and it’s hard to refrain from dishing
She pauses for a moment.
them out after you watch her perform… or
“But I also think I would love to be a
PHOTO: CHRIS MITCHELL
Is there such a thing as a perfect recipe? For Lindsay Mable, another pursuit has begun.
Rick Moore is a writer and editor in University Relations and a long-time follower of Gopher Athletics. Contact him at moore112@umn.edu.
“
She’s just so humble. Nobody’s going to know how amazing she was in college unless somebody goes and tells her students.
“
PAST MEETS PRESENT WITH AN EYE TO THE FUTURE L A UNC HE D LA ST YEAR, THE R .E .P. S. PR O GR AM H AS CO NN EC TE D GOPH E R FOOTB A L L AL U MNI W ITH CU RRE NT STUD EN T- ATH L E TE S, TO E VE RYON E’ S BE NE FIT
O
ften followed by a contemplative silence, it’s common to hear
built on that.”
someone say “If I had known then what I know now…” as they
“In the world of college sports, [student-athletes] come in and they’re so
look at decisions they’ve made in their professional career.
in-tune with what they’re doing now,” added Jeff Jones, director of player per-
Those behind the Gopher Athletics’ Relationships Empowering
sonnel for football. “So to give them a picture of what life is going to look like
Professionalism and Success (R.E.P.S.) program want to ensure
once they step across that graduation stage and what they need to be pre-
no student-athletes who play football at the University of Min-
pared for that day is really our main objective.”
nesota leave college muttering that old cliché as they blaze their career paths.
Coordinating events to achieve that objective takes a great deal of work. With support from the football staff, Linda Roberts, director of campus and
Started in 2014, the R.E.P.S. program hosts several events
community partnerships for Minnesota’s student-athlete development depart-
each year which bring together Gopher Football alumni and current student-
ment, set about organizing the program’s first event, which was held last July.
athletes to discuss career options and skills needed for life after college foot-
Roberts conducted one-on-one outreach to a network of football alumni and
ball.
invested countless hours ensuring that kickoff event would set the tone for a
“The R.E.P.S. program got started when Coach [Kill] got here. It was impor-
successful, ongoing program. As a former student-athlete herself, Roberts
tant for him to connect with the alumni,” recalled Adam Clark, assistant athlet-
knows firsthand how beneficial these events can be for shaping the future of
ics director for football. “Through those conversations, we knew they wanted
student-athletes.
to get back and get more involved. We came up with the R.E.P.S. program and 16 / SKI-U-MAH / MAY 2015
“There is not a lot of mentoring [alumni] can do from the aspect of compli-
ance and there are rules and regulations we have to follow, but if we can get them back to campus, then they can spend a couple hours working with our current student-athletes,” Roberts said. “It’s a great
“[We’ll] have a voice from the former student-
“AS A STUDENT-ATHLETE,
athletes and see what they want to talk about, [then]
WHEN YOU KNOW THAT NOT
we’ll ask the current student-athletes and see what they want to know about,” said Clark. “We don’t
feeling, to help student-athletes see individuals who
ONLY YOUR COACHES, BUT
want to bring up a topic they have no interest in.
came here to the University of Minnesota and, after
THE ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT,
We want to do it for them. That’s what it’s all about.”
graduating, went on to do bigger and better things in life after sports.” At that first event, Gopher alums separated into groups based on their professional backgrounds and current student-athletes had the chance to talk
HAS THAT TYPE OF INVESTMENT IN YOU, THEY’RE GOING TO WANT TO WORK THAT
Impacting the lives of student-athletes is at the core of the R.E.P.S. program, but the opportunity to keep alums of the football program engaged is another key element. “We wouldn’t be here without the alumni so we
to each group about the details of working in that
MUCH HARDER ACADEMICALLY
field. Through the efforts of Roberts and the football
AND ATHLETICALLY BECAUSE
student-athletes,” said Jones. “What better way to
THEY KNOW WE’RE INVESTED
[make that impression] than by sharing your profes-
staff, more than 60 former football players participated in that kickoff event, providing diverse experiences and perspectives for current players. The
IN THEIR FUTURE AND NOT
effort of those who coordinate these events and the
JUST THEIR CURRENT TIME
alumni who participate is not lost on the young men who now wear the Maroon and Gold. “Our current student-athletes have been very
HERE AS A FOOTBALL PLAYER.” – JEFF JONES
appreciative of the program,” said Jones. “As a stu-
want to make sure they have their imprint on current
sional experience and what you did to get where you’re at?” While R.E.P.S. is a program for football studentathletes and alumni today, Roberts see the possibility of similar programs for other sports in the future. “It would be great if all our student-athletes would have that same opportunity, with former stu-
dent-athlete, when you know that not only your
few weeks ago, focus more on professional and per-
dent-athletes coming in – people who played bas-
coaches, but the athletic department, has that type
sonal development. The most recent seminar dis-
ketball, who ran track, who played hockey – so they
of investment in you, they’re going to want to work
cussed how to use social media as a tool for
could get a feel of what the former student-athletes
that much harder academically and athletically be-
developing professional relationships and building
did after graduating,” said Roberts.
cause they know we’re invested in their future and
a personal brand. Future topics may include life
As Clark observed, that seamless connection be-
not just their current time here as a football player.”
skills such as personal finances, but the focus of up-
tween the past and the present of Gopher Athletics
coming sessions will be a collaborative effort.
is what it’s all about.
Subsequent events, such as the one held just a
story by Jake Ricker
MAY 2015 / SKI-U-MAH / 17
GOPHER INSIDER
ERICA MEYER Year: Senior
Position: Outfield / Infield
Hometown: Arden Hills, Minnesota
High School: Totino-Grace
Major: Supply Chain & Operations Management and Entrepreneurial Management
Senior Erica Meyer has been a key part of Minnesota’s dramatic rise to prominence in college softball. She has helped the Gophers to a Big Ten title in 2014, a first-ever NCAA Super Regional berth and three NCAA berths. As a senior, she is having a career year at the plate, hitting better than .350. She is also one of Q: What has been your favorite class at the University? Favorite professor? A: My favorite class so far has been the Corporate Responsibility and Ethics course I took this past fall with Rand Park, who also happens to be my favorite professor. I think I enjoyed this course so much because of how passionate and enthusiastic Professor Park was about the topics we covered. His class made me think about how businesses today has the power to have a larger impact on society than just providing their customers with a good or service. It made me realize the type of organization I would like to work for in the future because of how important I believe these ethical issues are. Q: What will it mean to you to get your degree this spring? A: I will not actually be receiving my degree this spring. Because I decided to transfer into the Carlson school and double major, I will graduate after my fifth year. Along with finishing up my courses next year, I will be working as an undergraduate assistant for the softball team. I am honored that Coach Allister has given me the opportunity to stick around next year and learn from her and the rest of the coaching staff. I think it will make the transition a lot easier for me. I could not be more thankful for the experiences I have had here at the University of Minnesota. I know they have prepared 18 / SKI-U-MAH / MAY 2015
the most active Gopher student-athletes in the community and was named the October Most Valuable Gopher for her dedication to being an ambassador of the Maroon and Gold through leadership, professional development and commitment to service.
me to be successful at whatever I chose to do in life. Q: You are extremely active in community service work. What drives you to be so involved? A: I try to volunteer as much as I can, but I think there are a lot of student-athletes who give away more of their time than I do. I admire these people. We are only given a limited amount of time, so giving it away to someone else is quite special. I think I like to be involved because I want to make other people happy. I look at what I have been given in this life, and I know that I am so blessed. Volunteering is a way for me to give back and make other people feel blessed as well. Q: What have been your favorite community service events? A: My favorite volunteering event that I have ever been apart of is Camp Odayin, which is a camp for children with heart disease. A group of student-athletes makes a day trip on the M.A.G.I.C. bus to their campsite every summer. When I went this past summer, we got to spend the day with these kids swimming, playing games, and participating in other activities themed around the Disney movie Frozen. Camp Odayin had a powerful impact on me because I got to see how much these kids still enjoy life despite what they are going through. One of my other favorite community service events
is the HopeDay Festival that our student-athletes host every year on the Bierman Track. It is put on for HopeKids, which is an organization that works to provide fun events and activities to families that have a child with cancer or other life-threatening illnesses. This past summer I worked as an intern to help plan the event. It was a rewarding experience to see it all come together and how much everyone in attendance enjoyed it. Q: You have played nearly every position in your Gopher career. Do you take pride in being a true utility player? Do you prefer outfield or infield? A: I think it is pretty neat that I can say that I have gotten to play every position on the field, expect for pitcher and catcher, in my career as a Gopher. I enjoy being a utility player because it gives me the chance to try out many different spots on the field and comfort in knowing that I will be put in the position that best helps the team. Even though I haven't done it here, I would have to say I prefer pitching. Q: Do you have any pre-game or in-game superstitions? A: I do not. I used to have a few, but when I came to college, I realized they did not actually influence my performance, so I stopped doing them.
PHOTO: COURTNEY ANDERSON
GOPHER INSIDER
LEANDRO TOLEDO Year: Senior Height: 6-1
Hometown: Hamburg, Germany
High School: Karthause Gymnasium
Major: Economics with a minor in Management
Senior Leandro Toledo has played a key role in the resurgence of Minnesota men’s tennis. In addition to being named an All-American in 2014 after reaching the third round of the NCAA Singles championship, Toledo became the first fourtime First Team All-Big Ten player in school history in 2015. The Hamburg, Germany native also helped the Gophers to the Big Ten championship in April, giving the Gophers a share of the conference crown for the first time since 1995.
The Gophers are the first team other than Ohio State or Illinois to have their name on the Big Ten trophy since 1996. Toledo has played No. 1 singles the last two years as a Gopher and No. 2 as a freshman and sophomore. He is also a stellar doubles player, teaming with Felix Corwin to run up a 17-1 record in dual meets this year.
Q: What will it mean to you to get your degree this spring? A: It will mean a lot to me. It is a huge priority and is one of the main reasons I came to the U.S. It will be a big accomplishment for me and it’ll help me a get a job after.
Q: If you could play in one tennis tournament, what would it be? A: It would be the French Open. I just like the atmosphere there. I don’t like the surface necessarily, but I really like the atmosphere the tournament has and its obviously a big, prestigious tournament.
Q: Who is your favorite professional tennis player and why? A: It’s definitely Roger Federer. It’s just the elegance he displays on the court. He has a nice style of play— being aggressive, but still playing gracefully. It’s really incredible to watch.
Q: If you had to play a sport instead of tennis, what would it be? What sport could you never compete in? A: It would be basketball. I just enjoy watching it, but I’m not sure how good I would be playing it. Actually, I would play soccer. Soccer has always been one of my biggest passions outside of tennis. I could probably never compete in swimming or diving.
Q: What type of racket do you play with? A: I play with a Babolat.
Q: What do you miss the most from home? A: I really like the food there. I just miss my hometown of Hamburg—it’s a nice place. PHOTO: CRAIG LASSIG
Q: Do you have any pre-match or during match superstitions? A: Pre-match, I just like to listen to some good pumpup music and during a match, a superstition I have is that I try to avoid stepping on lines during a point. I started doing it five or six years ago before I came to the U.S.
tournament—one of the favorites to win it. The secondround match that made me an All-American was something I’ll never forget.
Q: What is your most memorable moment as a Gopher? A: My most memorable moment as a Gopher would have to be playing in the NCAA Singles Tournament last year and upsetting one of the top five guys in the
MAY 2015 / SKI-U-MAH / 19
PHOTO: ERIC MILLER
IMPOSSIBLE TO OVERLOOK SI N C E A RRI V IN G AT TH E U OF M IN 2012, F OUR L IGHT LY R EC R U I TED Y O U N G ME N H AV E GRO WN IN T O ON E OF TH E BES T SE COND AR IE S IN C OL LEGE F OO TB A LL
W
hen Jerry Kill and his staff took over the Gopher Football
Lack of depth forced all of them to play immediately. “They sort of knew the
program for the 2011 season, they immediately realized their
deal when they came here. [Redshirting] wasn’t an option,” recalled Sawvel. That
roster was littered with holes that would need to be filled as
early experience, much of it on special teams, allowed these young men to com-
quickly as possible. Many of those holes were in the defen-
pete for significant playing time early in their careers. They have seized their op-
sive secondary.
portunities and entrenched themselves as starters. In the process, each has
“We had no depth, we had no size, we had no strength, we had no speed,” said Gopher defensive backs and special teams coach Jay Sawvel. “The players that we had that year
worked hard … [but] we were at square one.” The following season, four defensive backs with a combined zero Power 5 conference scholarship offers outside of Minnesota arrived on campus – cornerbacks Eric Murray and Briean Boddy-Calhoun (the latter a junior college transfer) and safeties Antonio Johnson and Damarius Travis. Pieced together from disparate areas around the country, this quartet of the underappreciated and overlooked wouldn’t appear to be the foundation for an exceptional defense based on recruiting rankings. Yet, Minnesota has improved from 77th nationally in total defense in 2011 (the year before their arrival) to 38th last season, with the potential to be even better this season. Looking ahead to the fall, these four seniors may very well be the best starting defensive backfield in the Big Ten. 20 / SKI-U-MAH / MAY 2015
established his identity on the back end of the defense, personas that will be on full display this autumn.
THE LEADER Despite being a standout, three-sport athlete at Delcastle Technical High School in Wilmington, Del., Briean Boddy-Calhoun was prepared to head to an in-state, Division III college after high school. He had no other options – no Division I school had offered him a spot. “Because I was playing very well, I thought [college teams would] just come to me, but it didn’t end up like that,” Boddy-Calhoun recalled. Looking back now with the benefit of age and experience, he openly pondered, “When have you ever heard of a school coming to Delaware to recruit?” His dreams were bigger than the constraining borders of The First State. Within 24 hours of a frank discussion with his coach and mentor, Bo Hunter, he
PHOTO: ERIC MILLER
Pieced together from disparate areas around the country, this quartet of the underappreciated and overlooked wouldn’t appear to be the foundation for an exceptional defense based on recruiting rankings. was committed to Coffeyville Junior College in rural
Calhoun as a prospect. “He’s exceeded what our
Kansas, a place where “when it’s dark at night, there’s
hopes were when we recruited him.”
no street lights.” Less than a year later, he was taking
Even if he had arrived at Minnesota with the ex-
calls from Minnesota Head Coach Jerry Kill and
pectations of a four-star recruit, Boddy-Calhoun
More than stats, his uncanny knack for making big
Boddy-Calhoun was a Gopher. Since donning the
would likely be exceeding them. After suffering a
plays at critical moments back up his playmaking rep-
Maroon and Gold, he’s surpassed expectations.
backs.”
devastating knee injury in 2013, Boddy-Calhoun re-
utation, like a game-saving strip and fumble recovery
“I really liked him on video because you could see
turned last season to pick five passes, which is tied
at the goal line against Nebraska last season. Boddy-
he was just a good player, but you would never be-
for the third-most in a season in Gopher history, force
Calhoun’s leadership becomes clear within two min-
lieve that he would turn into the player he has,” said
two fumbles and earn First Team All-Big Ten honors
utes of a Gopher practice. He shouts instructions and
Sawvel, recalling the first time he saw tape of Boddy-
from the media.
claps his hands enthusiastically from the sidelines as
E R I C M U R R AY P H O T O S : E R I C M I L L E R ( M U R R AY, B O D D Y- C A L H O U N , T R AV I S ) ; B R A C E H E M M E L G A R N ( J O H N S O N )
“Briean is a playmaker, first and foremost,” said Johnson. “He’s also the leader of the defensive
ANTONIO JOHNSON
B R I E A N B O D D Y- C A L H O U N
DAMARIUS TRAVIS
younger DBs run drills, coaching from inside his shoulder pads and helmet. “Briean is a great guy. I like Briean because he’s
picky kind of person,” said Murray. “When Coach
coaches were all about hitting drills and being really
Sawvel said ‘Come over here and play defensive
physical. I carry that with me.”
back,’ I was ready to play.”
There’s a literal layer to that sentiment, as John-
got a little fire about him, a little swagger,” said Mur-
Murray, who was the lowest-rated recruit of this
son has “Heavy Hitter” tattooed on the inside of his
ray. “When I see Briean turning it up a little bit, I like
bunch coming out of high school, has not missed a
arms, keeping that message with him every day. “I
to turn it up myself.”
game since committing to Minnesota. He’s started
try to live up to that,” Johnson said. His teammates
“I’ve always been outspoken and not shy to say
every game the past two seasons at cornerback and
feel he does.
what’s on my mind or call somebody out, but it’s al-
earned Honorable Mention All-Big Ten from the
ways been in a good way,” said Boddy-Calhoun.
media both years, as well as a Second Team All-Big
“Everybody knows I care about them as a player.”
Ten nod from the coaches last season. He’s credited
“He has tunnel vision,” said Boddy-Calhoun.
with more pass breakups than any other Gophers
“He locks in and he’s extremely physical, especially
over those two seasons.
at the point of attack. He’s looking to take guys’
THE WILD CARD
“He likes to lay the hat on people. He likes to hit,” said Travis.
Eric Murray was primarily a wide receiver at Riverside University High School in Milwaukee. While Murray mentions that Milwaukee has its share of athletic football players, he also admits the level of competition in the City Conference isn’t particularly strong. That reality means his hometown is not an area often visited by college football recruiters. Devoid of any Division I scholarship offers, Murray made the trip to Minneapolis to show his skills at an on-campus evaluation camp following his junior year. “I came to camp as a wide receiver,” said Murray. “I was kind of in love with being a wide receiver. All the flashy things that go along with being a wide receiver, that was me.” After an entire day of running drills with wide receivers, an exhausted Murray heard Coach Sawvel calling for him to come across the field and work as a defensive back. Sawvel saw enough in that impromptu session to invite Murray back to another camp the following week, on the condition that he would work as a defensive back. “I worked the crap out of him” at that second camp, Sawvel remembered with a smile. “As everything went on, he kept doing better. His attention to what he was doing was really good and he competed. It was important to him.” Shortly after that second live evaluation, Murray
For someone who was once in love with being a wide receiver, Murray is relentless in making his former peers miserable. “Eric is a receiver-punisher,” said Johnson. “He
more than a collection of offers from Mid-American Conference schools. He committed to Ball State be-
age.”
fore Minnesota called.
THE HEAVY HITTER
fit what I was looking for in a school,” said Johnson.
Learning the game by playing in the Cleveland
ted Sawvel. “We told him when he was offered a
Muny Football League means physicality. It’s a re-
scholarship that if you even look down at the other
flection of the city, a rust belt metropolis, and it
end of the field [where the wide receivers practice],
forged an identity for Antonio Johnson.
Murray has never looked back. “I’m not really a
22 / SKI-U-MAH / MAY 2015
Despite that physical presence and a strong high school career, Johnson found himself with nothing
just loves to press and he lives to play man cover-
had a Minnesota offer. “We took a chance,” admit-
it’s a no go.”
heads off.”
“All the practices were hard-hitting and intense,” Johnson said of his Muny Football days. “The
“I really liked [Ball State]. Everything pretty much When Minnesota called, Gopher coaches encouraged him to visit campus. His mother agreed. “I came up here and I loved it. It was in a big city, which I liked, being from Cleveland … plus, being in the Big Ten, that’s really always been my dream, to play in the Big Ten.” “I think Antonio sort of felt a chip on his shoulder
because he’s not six-one,” said Sawvel. “I think there were some [Power 5 schools] that really had interest in Antonio but none of those schools ever followed through. For us … he was an upgrade from what we were playing with.” Johnson played in 12 games as a freshman, getting his first career start at the team’s bowl game against Texas Tech. Johnson delivered with six tackles and a pass breakup, by far the best statistical game of his young career. Since then, he’s played in all but one game the past two seasons and added more than 100 tackles, many with the pop that ignites raucous cheers from home crowds at TCF Bank Stadium, as well as multiple interceptions and pass breakups. Johnson has even kept close to his special teams roots from freshman season, returning kicks when called upon.
“As a group, I think we want to be one of the
best in the nation. We
want to take this nationally and start opening
eyes in California, Florida, Texas and Delaware and let people know the de-
fensive back in Minnesota can play some football.” – BRIEAN BODDY-CALHOUN
remembered. “My talent wasn’t just given to me overnight. I’m the type of guy where I have to work for everything I have.” That work paid off when the Minnesota coaches realized he was the best safety they were recruiting. “He had the length, had the skill set, could do a lot of different things,” Sawvel said as he described an epiphany he shared with the coaching staff while recruiting Travis. “Plus, you couldn’t find anybody at Pensacola High School that didn’t love him.” Once in Dinkytown, Travis showed his coaches and his teammates just how many different things he could do. “Trav does it all. He’s kind of like the LeBron of our defense,” said Boddy-Calhoun. “LeBron can play point guard down to center and that’s kind of how Trav is. He’s a very versatile football player.” While he’s played in every game during his career at
THE SMOOTH ONE
Minnesota, last year was a breakout season in the stat sheets, as Travis con-
Before Minnesota came calling, Damarius Travis was weighing in-state options like Florida Atlantic and Florida International. Growing up in Pensacola, at the heart of the recruit-rich Florida panhandle, Travis was overlooked as others in
tributed 61 tackles, as well as tackles-for-loss, pass breakups, interceptions, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Watching Travis play and pile up stats, it’s hard to believe someone who appears to play so effortlessly requires so much hard work to achieve that grace. “He’s a real smooth football player,” said Murray. “He’s just a great football player.”
THE FINAL SEASON When they arrived in Dinkytown, expectations for their careers were relatively
low,
just
like
the
neighborhood’s three-story houses in the foreground of the towering Minneapolis cityscape. As they prepare to leave, however, those expectations have reached upward just like the new developments that dot the area. With a confidence that comes from working relentlessly to earn spots on a Division I roster, as Big Ten starters and as all-conference performers, these four embrace the idea of greatness. “As a group, I think we want to be one of the best in the nation,” said Boddy-Calhoun. “We want to take
Jay Sawvel recruited and coached the group of defensive backs into one of the nation’s top secondary units.
this nationally and start opening eyes in California, Florida, Texas and Delaware and let people know the defensive back in Minnesota can play some
his area received opportunities to play at Power 5 schools. For him, adding the offer from Minnesota was “a big deal,” said Travis. “They’re in the Big Ten, they play big teams and I wanted to play in a big con-
This group of defensive backs would be a rarity among the nation’s leaders, with a starting lineup composed entirely of seniors who came in as part of the
ference. I wanted to play big time football.” PHOTOS: ERIC MILLER
football.”
Big time football was not guaranteed for Travis. While many players from his hometown may have been considered more athletic and more naturally gifted as football players, Travis brought himself to this level through hard work. “I was always the guy who had to work harder than everybody else,” Travis
same recruiting class. That closeness likely contributes to their abilities as a unit, and certainly fuels the desire to win for each other. “It would mean that much more, the fact that we’ve been [together] the whole time,” Johnson added. “We’ve been in the struggle together.”
Jake Ricker is an associate athletic communications director at the U of M. He can be reached at rick0127@umn.edu.
MAY 2015 / SKI-U-MAH / 23
THE ACE STATE AMATEUR TITLES, SCORING RECORDS AND EVEN A HOLE-IN-ONE GIVE TWIN CITIES
PHOTOS: ERIC MILLER
NATIVE CELIA KUENSTER A LEGENDARY GOLF RESUME, ALL BY AGE 19
BY MICHAEL MOLDE
24 / SKI-U-MAH / MAY 2015
C
elia Kuenster could have played collegiate golf at pretty much any school she wanted. She’s that good.
Most people reviewing her decorated prep career in Minnesota might have assumed her college choice would be simple – to select a school located in the southern United States, where her home state’s winter months don’t put a halt to the outdoor golf season. But Kuenster, a 5-foot, 8-inch dynamo who hits booming drives that typically carry 270 yards or more off the tee, has ambitions to play on the LPGA Tour after college. That helped make her college decision easier. She decided to attend a large university that could offer her anything she wanted to pursue academically, along with having a golf program led by a coach who enjoyed a successful 20-year LPGA career. It might be surprising to some, but the school she selected was actually north of her home in Mendota Heights, even if by a mere 20 minutes. That’s Minnesota, of course, where Kuenster is in her first season teeing it up for the Golden Gophers and fourth-year head coach Michele Redman. “I’d love to be able to play on the LPGA Tour, so having a coach who was out there for 20 years is very beneficial in helping me know what I need to do during my four years here in order to get to that level,” Kuenster said. “The environment here is just unbelievable. It's a great place to work on my game, but the academics are also really strong.” As a prep golfer at Cretin-Derham Hall in St. Paul, Minn., Kuenster emerged as a phenomenon on the links. She won back-to-back Minnesota Class 3A state individual titles during her freshman and sophomore seasons at CDH. Her second title came at Bunker Hills Golf Club, where she broke the 36-hole state tournament scoring record with a 5under total of 141 (72-69). Kuenster’s dominance extended beyond high school golf when she became the youngest player ever to win a Minnesota Women’s State Amateur title. Shortly after her freshman year at CDH, she ran away from the 2011 state amateur field at Hastings Country Club and won the championship by seven strokes at just 15 years, four months and 7 days old. One of Kuenster’s favorite golfers, in fact the first one she mentions, is Tiger Woods. When Woods recorded his first-ever major championship win at the 1997 Masters, he dominated the field to post a 12-stroke victory, making a definitive statement about his position in the golf landscape to a world of wide-eyed observers. Kuenster’s decisive victory at the 2011 Minnesota Women’s State Amateur may have been her eye-opening moment. Combined with her state title earlier that year, her presence could be seen on the radar of Minnesota’s golfing scene. "Going into that last round (at Hastings CC), I had no idea that (being the youngest to win) was even a possibility,” Kuenster said. “I was so young, and I had no idea what was going on beyond the game itself. People didn’t really know who I was yet. Even though I was 15 years old,
love to be able “I’d to play on the LPGA Tour, so having a coach who was out there for 20 years is very beneficial in helping me know what I need to do during my four years here in order to get to that level.
“ MAY 2015 / SKI-U-MAH / 25
I was kind of oblivious to everything.”
ically, I’m a great wedge player and
Impressive performances contin-
my short game is extremely impor-
ued for Kuenster. During 2012, after
tant to me. I put a lot of time into
defending her state individual title at
that, so if I’m anywhere from 100
CDH, she added her second consec-
yards and in, I feel confident I can
utive Minnesota Junior Girls champi-
get it up-and-down.”
onship and finished third at the Minnesota Women’s State Open.
As the Gophers work through
In August 2012, her attempt to
the spring portion of their season,
defend her state amateur title fell
Kuenster has the opportunity to se-
short, but she still tied for third after
cure more space in Minnesota’s
struggling on the front nine at Men-
record books. Despite struggling a
dakota Country Club.
bit in back-to-back tournaments last
One year later, though, she cap-
month, Kuenster has the chance to
tured her second state amateur
finish her rookie season with a scor-
crown at the age of 17 by edging out
ing average that ranks among the
her current Gophers teammate, Anna
best in program history.
Laorr, by a single stroke.
“Celia’s scoring average for the
“Winning at Hastings for my first
fall might have been among the
state amateur was pretty cool, be-
lowest ever for a freshman,” Red-
cause I knew I could win, but I didn't
man said. “I try not to look at it so
realize to what extent I could win by
much about scoring as I do about
that week,” Kuenster said. “Four Kuenster (with Redman at the 2014 Gopher Invitational at the Minikahda Club), won the Minnesota State Amateur by years ago, I really didn't have much
seven strokes at age 15.
the person, and she’s just a really good kid. She does everything we
pressure on myself. But then at Dell-
ask her to do. She takes responsibil-
wood, two years ago, I had to really
ity, which a lot of kids in this day and
fight for more, just within myself, to
age don’t do. And she’s a good
really be able to pull through.”
teammate.” Golf is typically an individual
As a freshman for the Gophers
sport, where each player is compet-
this season, Kuenster has transitioned
ing to get their name as high up on
quite well. Her name is already listed
the leaderboard as possible. But
among Minnesota’s top 10 all-time
Kuenster enjoys the team aspect of
for fall scoring average (74.00), 54-
the collegiate game and feels she
hole total (212), 36-hole total (136)
and her Minnesota teammates have
and 18-hole total (68). She also
an opportunity to put Minnesota
recorded her first-ever hole-in-one
golf back on the map.
during the second of consecutive
“I’d love to win a Big Ten cham-
rounds of 68 at the Las Vegas Colle-
pionship, whether it’s as an individ-
giate Showdown.
ual or as a team,” Kuenster said.
Kuenster’s ace was made even
“It’s always fun to win as a team, so
more memorable by the fact that
I think that’d be unbelievable. It was
both of her parents were there to wit-
cool to see our men’s team accom-
ness the ball falling into the cup, even
plish that goal last year. We know it’s
though she wasn’t able to.
definitely possible.”
“It was 122 yards, a little downwind, so I hit my 53-degree gap wedge. You always tell yourself to go right at it, and I think the ball wound up hitting a foot
Minnesota’s only Big Ten title in women’s golf came in 1989, when individual
short of the hole,” Kuenster said. “The green was elevated, with a bunker short
medalist Kate Hughes led the Gophers to the conference championship. That
and a ridge short of the pin. I couldn't see anything that happened on the green,
was just two years after Redman won a Big Ten individual title as a senior at In-
but I heard my parents screaming, so I knew what had happened.”
diana. With the still-vivid memory of holding up the Big Ten trophy as a student-ath-
Even though Kuenster has the prowess to drive the ball great distances off
lete, Redman is intent on leading her team to the top of the Big Ten. That goal
the tee, she readily admits that her greatest strength is her short game. That,
relies on her ability to convince talented players like Kuenster that Minnesota is
and her mental approach to conquering courses.
the place for them.
“I think the strongest part of my golf game is my never-give-up attitude. I
“Once we get someone up here for a visit, it changes everything. Recruits
never feel like I’m going to let something slip away,” Kuenster said. “I think, phys-
might think, ‘Oh, it’s freezing, it’s cold.’ But once you start developing a relation-
26 / SKI-U-MAH / MAY 2015
ship with someone, it makes it more difficult for them to say no,” Redman said. “I always tell the kids, just because you might be playing at a school in the south, doesn’t mean that your golf game is going to get better. You have to surround yourself with the right people. All of our kids have gotten better.” “She’s a great coach because she knows what we’re going through, she understands the difficulty of playing, and she understands us so well,” Kuenster said. “It’s about much more than just golf with her. We made a team rule this year – once we’re done playing, we don’t talk about our rounds, or what happened out on the course. I think that has really helped our team become stronger, and I love playing for her.” It’s still too early in her collegiate career to know whether Kuenster’s goal of becoming a professional golfer like her coach will be realized. But Redman, a member of four U.S. Solheim Cup teams during her LPGA career, has no reservations about Kuenster’s potential. “Playing the LPGA Tour is her main goal. That’s why she came here, and she liked the fact that I had that experience and knowledge of having been a successful player on tour,” Redman said. “She definitely has the capability. She works hard enough, she’s patient, and I’d say she has a very good chance at getting to the next level. She has all the right people helping her, she’s willing to listen, and she knows she doesn’t have all the right answers yet.” Kuenster’s mentality might be what sets her apart and allows her to reach her dream in a few years. “I’ve always been someone who has worked extremely hard,” Kuenster said. “People always say, ‘If you’re not working hard, someone else is.’ So I never want someone to outwork me, and I’m always going to find the motivation to continue getting better.” Michael Molde is a freelance writer in the Twin Cities. He can be reached at michaelmolde@hotmail.com.
THE
COACHING PRO
M
ichele Redman was living in the Twin Cities and knew she wanted to become head coach of Minnesota’s women’s golf program when the job was available following the 2001-02 season. But she wasn’t yet ready to retire from the LPGA Tour.
At that time, Redman was at the pinnacle of a successful 20-year LPGA career. As a pro, she recorded two tour victories, registered Top-10 finishes at four of the five LPGA major championships, finished as high as tenth on the money list, and earned spots on four United States Solheim Cup teams. “I remember the coaching position being open, but I wasn’t at a point in my career where I was ready to give up playing,” Redman said. “That’s when I was playing my most consistent and best golf. So I wasn’t ready to be done yet.” When Minnesota’s head coaching position re-opened during the summer of 2011, Redman officially retired from the LPGA Tour and jumped at the opportunity to lead the Gopher program. It’s been a perfect fit. Minnesota is on the rise as Redman approaches the end of her fourth season.
REDMAN’S RESUME COLLEGE CAREER (Indiana University) • 1987 Big Ten champion • Two-time All-American • Four-time All-Big Ten PROFESSIONAL CAREER • 2 LPGA Tour victories • 7 Professional wins • 2000, 2002, 2003, 2005 Solheim Cup
“It’s been awesome. I was really smart and I hired a great assistant (John Cleary), and that’s been super helpful,” Redman said. “John helped me get this program back on track, and to get it to the point where we hope to continuously be ranked among the top 40.” Redman wants to lead the Gophers to new heights, and high on the priority list is helping Minnesota win a Big Ten championship. “We want to be able to qualify for regionals every year, but a big goal is to win the Big Ten,” Redman said. “Minnesota hasn’t won a conference championship since 1989, so we want to win that.” The Gophers’ head coach knows what it takes to accomplish the feat. She played for back-to-back Big Ten championship teams at Indiana, earning individual medalist honors in 1987. “I think for our players, it’s good that I was on a team that won the Big Ten,” Redman said. “I tell them, ‘You’re never going to have a thought that I didn’t have, so tell me about it.’ Once they trust you and they know you’re on their side, it makes a big difference.” “I love the job,” Redman said. “I love the kids and they’ve really bought in.”
Kuenster (with associate head coach John Cleary), set the fall season scoring record for a freshman at Minnesota in her first semester on campus.
MAY 2015 / SKI-U-MAH / 27
Bob Eddy (third from left) was recognized at the Gopher men’s basketball game on February 7 after making a $6 million gift to Gopher Athletics last winter to assist with construction of a new Basketball Development Center. Eddy is pictured with Deputy Athletics Director Beth Goetz, Director of Athletics Norwood Teague, head women’s basketball coach Marlene Stollings and University President Eric Kaler.
HEART OF (MAROON AND) GOLD
Bob Eddy didn’t grow up a diehard Gopher fan, but he grew into one over the past 50 years
S
ome Gopher fans grow up hearing the Rouser sung softly to them in the bassinet. Thousands more forge their passion for Gopher Athletics later in life. BOB EDDY IS THE LATTER. Eddy gushes as he discusses the
After an 18-year, casual relationship with the Go-
current news and events around his
phers, Eddy was in love. This love for his alma
Eddy returned to his home state full-time in
alma mater but growing up in Big
mater’s teams didn’t mean he would become a sta-
1985, when his family asked if he would return to
Lake, Minn., meant more time spent hunting and
ple at games for the next 40 years though. Eddy’s
Big Lake to run the family company in place of his
fishing than keeping up on the latest Gopher news.
job out of college with Westinghouse Electric Cor-
ailing father. The company, originally known as Sher-
etcetera, that’s a good place to do it.”
It wasn’t until Eddy came to the U in the early 70s
poration took him all over the world during the fol-
burne County Rural Telephone Company when
to study engineering that he fell head-over-heels for
lowing decade.
founded in 1905, was owned and operated by dif-
the Maroon and Gold.
“I ended up in South America on a couple trips,
ferent members of Eddy’s family from its first day.
“We knew who the University of Minnesota Go-
up in Alaska on a few trips,” Eddy said, ticking off
The
phers were [growing up]. My parents just weren’t
an eclectic list of locations. His time in Alaska, “the
throughout Sherburne County, starting with just
big into that, so they didn’t take me to any of that
last frontier” as he called it, was his most memo-
three phones, two of which were in the homes and
stuff,” said Eddy. “But when I got [to the U], all the
rable. His assignment had him working on the
businesses of its founders. Evolving with the times,
guys I knew in the dormitories and I never missed a
Alaskan Pipeline, in the North Slope oil fields and
the business provided a full suite of phone and in-
basketball game. We never missed a hockey game.
building a power plant in Anchorage. “I had a ball
ternet services to county residents. Eddy worked for
We never missed a football game.”
up there. If you like being outside, like to hunt, fish,
the company in high school, and his background in
28 / SKI-U-MAH / MAY 2015
company
introduced
telephone
service
engineering and business made him the perfect candidate to continue running the company. Back home in Minnesota, Eddy’s connection to the University of Minnesota – a connection that stretches well beyond athletics – only grew stronger.
People ask why I contribute to the Golden Gopher Fund. If you do the
“
math, 98.5 percent of [student-athletes] are going to have to get what
we could call a regular job if they’re not going to be a pro athlete. …
The sale of his family’s company, the last segment
The only way some of them could get a college education is to play
of which sold in 2009, further fed Eddy’s philan-
sports.The athletics department is a means to get them an education
thropic nature, providing some of the resources for gifts he’s made to the University in recent years.
and make them productive members of society.
Through a mutual business acquaintance, Eddy met
– Bob Eddy
Brian Engel. The two initially sat down to discuss setting up a private family foundation, something with which Eddy had experience and Engel was hoping to start. “We ended up having some discussion about
”
also has pride in how he’s been able to help Gopher
areas. The center is part of the athletics depart-
student-athletes.
ment’s Nothing Short of Greatness campaign to
the University of Minnesota and the [University of
“People ask why I contribute to the Golden Go-
Minnesota] Foundation,” Eddy recalled. “I got in-
pher Fund,” Eddy explained. “If you do the math,
build new development facilities for Gopher student-athletes.
volved with some financial support of the University
98.5 percent of [student-athletes] are going to have
“We need to be excellent in everything we do
through that, which has branched out from cardiac
to get what we could call a regular job if they’re not
at the University of Minnesota. We don’t need to do
research, to athletics, to engineering.”
going to be a pro athlete. … The only way some of
everything. We can’t be all things to all people but,
them could get a college education is to play
what we do, we need to be excellent at it,” said
Eddy’s support of cardiac research comes from his own experiences with cardiac-pulmonary resuscitation as a volunteer firefighter. “I knew the results were never good. Generally
sports. “The athletics department is a means to get them an education and make them productive
Eddy. “The three things you need to be excellent: you have to have attitude, you have to have aptitude and you have to have assets.” Eddy is confident the University has the attitude and the aptitude to be excellent in what it does, whether it’s perfecting better ways to do CPR or winning NCAA Championships. He’s willing to do his part to provide assets, especially when those assets can make an impact on student-athlete academics. “They don’t call them student-athletes for nothing … they have to be excellent students too, and they’ve got twice as hard of a job as anyone else. They not only have to play their sport, they have to go to school, too.”
speaking, it’s a five-percent survival rate,” said Eddy.
members of society,” he added.
“What our guys are doing over there [at the U of M]
In addition to his support of athletics scholar-
… they’ve quadrupled the survival rate. These guys
ships, Eddy made a $6 million gift to Gopher Ath-
know what they’re doing.”
letics last winter to assist with construction of a new
While Eddy oozes pride for the accomplish-
Basketball Development Center. The new facility will
ments of the researchers he’s supported through his
house dedicated practice courts for both the Go-
work on the Heart Advisory Board at the Lillehei
pher men’s and women’s basketball teams, as well
Heart Institute and the Chair he endowed to further
as team locker rooms, coaches’ offices, team meet-
this research, the three-sport season ticket holder
ing rooms and strength training and conditioning story by Jake Ricker
PHOTOS: ERIC MILLER
MAY 2015 / SKI-U-MAH / 29
A PATH TO ROW A LITTLE CURIOSITY AND A BIT OF LUCK SET LISA WEEKS ALONG HER PATH TO THE GOPHER ROWING TEAM, WHICH HAS MADE A MAJOR DIFFERENCE FOR BOTH HER AND HER TEAM BY MICHAEL MOLDE 30 / SKI-U-MAH / MAY 2015
Lisa Weeks is a walk-on member of the University of Minnesota rowing team, quite literally.
I
n the first week or so of her freshman
wow, I’m worth something and I can really do this.’”
year at Minnesota, Weeks saw some in-
That first season was a learning experience for
formation about the Gophers’ rowing
Weeks and her novice teammates. Although the sport
team written in chalk on the sidewalk. It
of rowing may have looked beautiful when watching
was a recruitment pitch, of sorts, looking
from the shore, it wasn’t even close to as easy as
for students who might have interest in
Weeks had thought.
trying rowing as a collegiate sport. So
“Watching a race, you just see the blades enter
she followed the arrows and simply walked where
the glistening water and the boat seems to just glide
they led.
along, but you don’t really know what’s happening in-
“I knew I wanted to find something to do to keep
side the boat,” Weeks said. “Before I actually started
myself physically fit,” Weeks said. “So I just followed
competing, I kind of thought rowing looked almost
the directions on the sidewalk and ended up at an in-
effortless, because you’re just putting a blade in the
formational meeting at the boathouse.”
water and letting it go. Everything seems so fluid.”
Although Weeks’ mom and dad both rowed for Minnesota’s club teams during their college days, she had no rowing experience at all prior to joining the team. Head Coach Wendy Davis and her assistant
According to Weeks, though, it was a harsh reality to actually get in the boat and compete. “Your muscles literally feel like they’re tearing off of you, and there is so much shearing pain, especially in a 2K,” Weeks said. “Not only do your muscles hurt,
coaches have built quite a legacy at Minnesota, an-
but your mentality slowly gets worse as the race goes
nually developing and utilizing numerous non-re-
on and you’re thinking, ‘I don’t know how much
cruited walk-ons who begin their careers as novice
longer I can keep up with this.’ So it’s definitely a very
rowers. Assistant Coach Peter Morgan is tasked with
tough sport, both mentally and physically.”
coaching the novice teams. Those who are able to
Beyond just the physical pain and mental anguish,
learn the sport, stick with it, and show promise are
there were the additional hurdles of anxiety and
often invited to join the varsity squad. “Historically, rowing does take walk-ons in college.
nerves to deal with during that first season. Imagine the feeling of never having participated in a sport,
It has its own division when we compete and its own
then practicing it for just a few weeks before compet-
coach (Morgan),” Davis said. “Lisa came through that
ing against teams with experienced athletes, some of
system and she’s exactly the type of person we’re
who were recruited to row collegiately.
looking for. She’s a great athlete, a dedicated and hard worker, and very smart.” Davis said the team typically has three cut periods
“We were all very nervous prior to our first race, because we wanted to do so well for Peter (Morgan). I think it went pretty well, but we knew we were going
for walk-ons in which the group is trimmed, first to 60,
up against Wisconsin, and the majority of Wisconsin’s
then to about 40 and, finally, to 24. Those who make
novices were actually recruited rowers,” Weeks said.
that final cut are the ones who will compete that first
“What’s unique to our team is that absolutely none of
season as novices. Among those rowers, typically
our novice rowers had any previous background in the
about eight to 12 are invited back with an opportunity
sport, so we were truly a ‘novice’ team.”
to make varsity if they can pass an ergometer time standard.
After that first season in the water, Weeks took advantage of the rowing experience in her family. Train-
“When I took this job, I realized that this is a really
ing with her mom, Susan, during the summer, Weeks
large campus and there are a lot of athletes walking
was able improve her rowing skills and remain in
around here who didn’t get a chance to play the sport
shape. When she returned for her sophomore year,
of their choice,” Davis said. “So we’ve been able to
she blew away the preseason erg test and was invited
find people like Lisa and give them an opportunity at
to the varsity team, where she has thrived.
rowing.” “Beginning as a novice, you don’t know what to
Two-plus years after her first experience as a member of that novice team, Weeks is one of the team’s
expect. You really don’t know if you’ll be any good at
shining stars. Now closing in on the end of her junior
the sport or where it’s going to take you,” Weeks said.
season, she has advanced to stroke for Minnesota’s
“And then, to get that invite back to the varsity team,
first varsity eight (1V8), which is basically the best po-
it really makes you feel special inside. It’s like, ‘Oh,
sition on the Golden Gophers’ top eight-person crew.
PHOTOS: ERIC MILLER
MAY 2015 / SKI-U-MAH / 31
by 2030,
ON E BIL LION
842 M IL LION
extra tons of grain will be needed to feed a growing population
people are currently undernourished worldwide
FROM A SINGLE ANCIENT GRAIN, WE’RE HARVESTING NEW WAYS
20%
of human calories come from wheat
TO FEED THE WORLD.
98
%
of the world’s hungry live in developing countries
For thousands of years, wild cereal grains helped feed the Middle East in the face of drought and disease. Today, the University of Minnesota is collecting the last remaining samples of those ancient grains to help feed the world. By analyzing their genetic traits, we’re breeding stronger, more productive wheat. Ultimately, we’re growing hope of having a safe, sustainable food supply for the world’s growing population. It’s one more way the future is being Made in Minnesota.
M Crookston
© 2014 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.
IN
Duluth
A
ADE IN
M
N E SO
Morris
T
Rochester
umn.edu
Twin Cities
improved as the season has gone on.” In March, Minnesota’s 1V8 earned Big Ten Boat of the Week accolades by winning a pair of races at the Oak Ridge Cardinal Invite in Knoxville, Tenn. It was the first time since 2013 that Minnesota received a weekly honor from the conference office. “It’s a great accomplishment, and we’re all so proud of ourselves,” Weeks said. “To be able to get some recognition is really good for the team, especially with Big Ten competition coming up.” In spite of the challenges associated with being a collegiate rower, Weeks is quick to point out some aspects of rowing that have hooked her on the sport. “When I’m on the water, and I have all that nature around me, I’m literally at my most peaceful state,” Weeks said. “I’ve had times when I’ve been having a really bad day, and then I get out on the water, and it’s a warm, sunny day, and the water’s so flat and perfect. It’s magical.” She also has enjoyed the opportunity to travel to scenic places all over the United States, from San Diego to Boston, South Carolina to Oregon. This season alone, Minnesota’s rowing team will have competed in nine states. “The majority of the places we’ve been to compete are all gorgeous, but I have really liked making trips to San Diego,” Weeks said. “The warm temperatures and the smell of the tropical air is really nice.” Even when the weather’s not so nice, Weeks can appreciate the beauty of the surroundings she and her teammates compete in.
“YOUR MUSCLES LITERALLY FEEL LIKE THEY’RE TEARING OFF OF YOU, AND THERE IS SO MUCH SHEARING PAIN, ESPECIALLY IN A 2K. NOT ONLY DO YOUR MUSCLES HURT, BUT YOUR MENTALITY SLOWLY GETS WORSE AS THE RACE GOES ON AND YOU’RE THINKING, I DON’T KNOW HOW MUCH LONGER I CAN KEEP UP WITH THIS.”
“One experience that really stands out is a trip we made to Oklahoma during my novice year,” Weeks said. “Even though it was dreadfully cold with miserable conditions, our assistant coach at the time took a picture, and it’s gorgeous to see. It shows the boat cutting through the water, and the trees in the background. It’s amazing.
“As sweet as Lisa is, she’s also very aggressive
ing, especially in an eight, where just a few bad
“I think this sport is really special, because you’re
athletically. That’s why we have her stroking, because
strokes from any member of the team can result in a
not inside too often. We’re outside, on the water,
we know that her eyeballs would shoot out of their
loss of synchronicity which, in rowing, means valu-
and the trees can be different colors,” Weeks said.
sockets before she would back away from any of the
able time. That extra friction in the water could mean
“No matter where we go, it’s beautiful.”
pains associated with racing,” Davis said. “And she
friction within the crew, but Weeks says she and her
The most memorable moments, though, are all
has a nice rhythm, so those two things combined are
Gophers teammates have developed close friend-
the fun times spent with the incredible friends she’s
why she’s stroking the boat.”
ships that allow them to excel.
made as a member of the team.
“This year, a lot of us who were on the novice
“Being good friends is so important to this sport,
“There are times when things are going awful
teams together two years ago are part of the first var-
just knowing that each person has your back, and
with school or life, and my teammates have been
sity eight,” Weeks said. “It’s so amazing to see [our]
each person understands what you’re going through
there for me,” Weeks said. “My college experience
accomplishments.”
and doesn’t hate you if you take a bad stroke,”
definitely would not have been the same without all
“One of the things I enjoy most about Lisa, as
Weeks said. “Having that type of mental acknowl-
the friends I’ve made through the sport of rowing.” A fulfilling college experience and lifelong
well as the others who started out as novices with
edgement – to know that every person in front of you
her, is that they are extremely intelligent,” Davis said.
or behind you believes in you – is essential, whether
friends, all thanks to a little curiosity and some chalk
“So they know how to focus. They figure out how to
in a race or at practice.”
on a sidewalk.
balance classes and rowing and they get things done.” A sport like rowing requires almost perfect tim-
“Everyone’s been giving 100 percent effort this year, and it’s really starting to show,” Weeks said.
Michael Molde is a freelance writer in the Twin Cities. He can be reached at michaelmolde@hotmail.com.
“I’ve been excited about our results, and I feel we’ve
MAY 2015 / SKI-U-MAH / 33
REUNITED
COLLEGE BUDDIES AND LIFE-LONG FRIENDS JOHN ANDERSON AND PAUL MOLITOR NOW MANAGE THE TWO MOST SACRED BASEBALL TEAMS IN MINNESOTA
BY JUSTINE BUERKLE
They may have taken different paths, but University of Minnesota 34-year head coach John Anderson and new Minnesota
son won unanimously the second time, becoming the only nonplayer ever elected Gopher baseball MVP.
Twins manager Paul Molitor have both forged lasting baseball
Molitor, the biggest star on a talented, College World Series-
legacies. Both men are members of multiple halls of fame, in-
bound team, was one of the main advocates for this choice. The
cluding Gopher Athletics’ “M” Club Hall of Fame. Both have
1977 Gophers’ theme was that no one was more important than
won championships. And both have been there for each other
the other, and it didn’t matter who got the credit as long as they
the whole way.
made it to Omaha. If someone had to be MVP, it may as well be,
Anderson and Molitor first met in Minneapolis four decades
as Molitor said, “the guy that kind of held everybody together.”
ago as members of Dick “Chief” Siebert’s Golden Gopher base-
“He earned so much respect from the guys that were playing
ball team. Their friendship grew even when their careers kept
just by his work ethic and the fact that he was willing to do every-
them apart. Now, since Molitor’s hiring in November 2014, the
thing he could to be around the team.”
two are both in charge of baseball teams in the city where it all
3,319 MAJOR LEAGUE HITS MLB HALL OF FAME
O
ne came from the Iron Range of northern Minnesota, the other from the state’s capital city of St. Paul. One was a student manager, the other an All-American. One is a college baseball lifer, the other a veteran of the sport’s professional ranks.
started.
‘THE BEGINNING OF A BEAUTIFUL FRIENDSHIP’ It was the fall of 1974, and Anderson was sitting in Siebert’s office with his friend and Gophers infielder Bob Bolf. Anderson, a pitcher, had earlier spoken with Siebert about walking on to the team. While they were chatting with the Chief, a bearded, shaggyhaired youngster peeked into the office. Siebert’s eyesight wasn’t what it used to be. He asked, more or less, “Who the heck are you?” and the newcomer identified himself as Paul Molitor. Siebert told him to shave the beard and get a haircut. “And that was my first introduction to Paul Molitor,” Anderson said. “I never forgot it.” Soon, Anderson and Molitor joined the Gophers’ other new players on the diamond. Even in the few extra days of first-year practice before the varsity started, Molitor already stood out.
OFTEN OUT OF SIGHT, NEVER OUT OF MIND
to try to pitch in this program and have to get him out in the fall,
Anderson and Molitor shared mutual respect and were always
I’d better get serious about getting a degree and doing some-
friendly to each other in college, but grew closer as their careers
thing else, because it was going to be over with pretty quickly.”
went different directions.
Anderson did pitch a little for the Gophers before becoming
After the Gophers’ 1977 season, Molitor signed with the Mil-
Siebert’s right-hand man as a student manager. Meanwhile, Moli-
waukee Brewers, who chose him third overall in the MLB draft.
tor flourished at shortstop. He collected All-America accolades
He would make his Major League debut the following spring.
in 1976 and ’77. At the time of his departure from the U, he held
Anderson remained on campus as a graduate assistant for what
seven school records and a career batting average of .350. Based on those numbers, the results of the 1977 team MVP voting came as a surprise to outsiders, and even Siebert. After
ended up being Siebert’s final season in 1978. Anderson assisted Siebert’s successor, George Thomas, for three seasons and accepted the head coaching job in the fall of 1981 at age 26.
the Gophers locked up the Big Ten title, the Chief had Anderson
“I reached out to Paul initially when I got hired and asked
pass around paper and pencils on the bus for the players to write
Paul how he felt about it, if he would be kind and gracious to
their MVP choices. On a team with a dozen future draftees, the
help us and support us, and whether he felt like he could support
student manager won the vote. Siebert called for a redo. Ander-
me as the head coach here,” Anderson said. “He told me at that
PHOTOS: ERIC MILLER
1,165 COLLEGIATE COACHING WINS 18 BIG TEN TITLES
“I quickly learned that he was the best baseball player I ever saw in person,” Anderson said. “I then realized that if I was going
MAY 2015 / SKI-U-MAH / 35
IT’S AN UNBELIEVABLE SCENARIO. I’M GOING TO EXCHANGE LINEUP CARDS WITH A FORMER COLLEGE BUDDY OF MINE WHO JUST HAPPENS TO BE ONE OF THE BEST COLLEGE COACHES IN BASEBALL HISTORY. – PAUL MOLITOR time, ‘Absolutely.’ That probably gave me a higher
to see the Gophers play and check on Wilson dur-
level of confidence initially because I had his sup-
ing his freshman season.
port.” During both his playing and coaching careers,
Through the years, Molitor has visited Gophers practices when Anderson has asked, offering help-
Anderson was in Cooperstown to attend Molitor’s induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2004.
telegram encouraging him to keep it up. “I think the next day, the thing ended,” Anderson said. “I still have a copy of the telegram. I told him I’m the one that jinxed the thing.”
ful observations. The ex-
Molitor clearly didn’t hold the telegram against
change goes both ways.
Anderson. After notching his 3,000th career hit,
When Molitor was preparing
Molitor presented his friend with a framed picture
to face former Gophers
from that night. Anderson told Molitor he would
pitcher Denny Neagle, he
go to Cooperstown when Mollitor was inducted
called Anderson for a scout-
Hall of Fame. When it happened in 2004, Molitor
ing report. In order not to
included Anderson and wife, Jan, and daughter,
give away too much about
Erin, in the exclusive festivities and gave John a
one of his own players, An-
special signed print with a personal note on the
derson gave limited advice
back.
(“Just look out for the
One of Anderson’s other lasting memories of
changeup.”), and the two
Molitor’s baseball career was just an ordinary mo-
shared a laugh. Anderson tracked Moli-
ment at the ballpark. When Anderson was coaching USA Baseball in 1993, he was able to visit
Molitor always attended the Gophers’ Pro Alumni
tor’s playing career at the ballpark, on TV or on the
Molitor in Toronto before one of his games with
Games. When alumni were still permitted to assist
radio whenever he could. He saw Molitor play at
the Blue Jays. The eventual World Series MVP and
in recruiting, Molitor contacted future All-Ameri-
Met Stadium in the early days of his career. During
a respected veteran of the game, Molitor probably
can and Seattle Mariners catcher Dan Wilson. He
Molitor’s 39-game hitting streak in 1987, Anderson
could have continued chatting with his friend, but
even went to Arizona State during spring training
kept his distance until sending his friend a
told Anderson he needed to warm up with his
36 / SKI-U-MAH / MAY 2015
teammates so they didn’t get the impres-
state and the MLB community as the
sion he thought he was more important
Twins announced Molitor’s hiring as
than them.
their new manager. When he ad-
“That just told me the teammate and
dressed the media the next day, An-
the person he was and the leader that he
derson was in attendance at Target
was,” Anderson said. “He didn’t want to
Field to support his friend.
be treated differently, and the expecta-
“For him to show up at the press
tion was when it’s time to stretch, every-
conference that day just kind of shows
body’s going to stretch together.”
you,” Molitor said. “He didn’t have to
Molitor and Anderson both admire
be there.”
each other’s knowledge of baseball, ea-
The two had a chance to talk after
gerness to continue learning more and
the press conference, and that’s when
genuine, caring treatment of others.
it sunk in that Molitor’s first time man-
“His integrity has been impeccable in
aging against outside competition Molitor (above) and Anderson photographed during the 1977 season. The Gophers advanced to the College
his role,” Molitor said. “He cares deeply World Series that season. about his players, and he wants not only
would be in an exhibition game be-
to develop their baseball skills. …He
game in Fort Myers, Fla., was sched-
watches them come in as 18-year-old kids
uled before Molitor’s hiring.
tween the Gophers and Twins. The
and he sends them out ready to put them
“It’s an unbelievable scenario,”
out into the world. He develops skills way
Molitor said prior to the game. “I’m
beyond the baseball diamond.”
going to exchange lineup cards with a
While Molitor earned big league
former college buddy of mine who just
fame, Anderson put together an impres-
happens to be one of the best college
sive résumé of his own and was inducted
coaches in baseball history. It’s going
into the American Baseball Coaches As-
to be a nice moment for all Minnesota
sociation Hall of Fame. Under Anderson’s
fans, whether your allegiance is more
guidance, the Gophers have finished at
to the U or the Twins, or maybe both.”
the top of the Big Ten standings nine
On March 4, the unbelievable sce-
times, won nine conference tournaments
nario became reality. Thousands of
and appeared in the NCAA Tournament
spectators filled Hammond Stadium
17 times. Molitor saw Anderson eclipse
on a mild Florida night. Gophers play-
their own mentor’s school record, and the
ers took in the sights as professionals
Big Ten record, for career wins.
in their sport prepared for the game.
“I think people that aren’t aware and
Cameras abounded as Anderson and
stop and look at his accomplishments
Molitor visited at the Twins’ dugout
would be amazed at what he’s been able
and shared an emotional meeting at
to do over there,” Molitor said. “His con-
home plate before first pitch.
sistency, longevity, graduation rate—
The game lasted just 2 hours and
there’s just been so many things that have
18 minutes, but the memories will
made him such an asset to the univer-
stand out even among the remarkable
sity.”
experiences Anderson and Molitor
One of Anderson’s biggest dreams for
have had together. That they would
his program and Minnesota amateur
both end up overseeing major Min-
baseball came true when the new Siebert
nesota baseball teams at the same
Field opened two years ago. Molitor had
time is something neither could have
agreed to serve as chairman of the
imagined that first day they crossed
fundraising campaign, wanting to help
paths in Siebert’s office more than 40 years ago.
perpetuate Siebert’s legacy and to see his friend’s years of hard work raising money come to fruition. He was on campus April
Anderson (top left) and Molitor (top right) in the 1975 Gopher Baseball team photo. Anderson was a sophomore and Molitor a freshman on the team that went 20-11 and 13-4 in the Big Ten.
to get your arms around. But I’m sure
5, 2013, to see Anderson’s team play on its new turf for the first time. “We know we don’t get a chance to see each
“It’s pretty special,” Anderson said. “It’s pretty surreal. It’s sometimes hard
been a very loyal friend. That’s something I’m grateful to have in my life.”
glad that fate works in funny ways sometimes. Fate brought us back together on the baseball field.”
other much, whether it’s family- or job-related, but there’s always a constant awareness of what’s going
A SPECIAL LINEUP EXCHANGE
on in the other person’s life,” Molitor said. “He’s just
On Nov. 3, a buzz of excitement surged through the
Justine Buerkle is an athletic communications assistant at the University of Minnesota. She can be reached at jbuerkle@umn.edu.
MAY 2015 / SKI-U-MAH / 37
APRIL 13
GOLDEN GOLDYS 2015 AWARD WINNERS
Female Athlete of the Year Male Athlete of the Year Female Rookie of the Year Male Rookie of the Year Female Breakthrough Athlete of the Year Male Breakthrough Athlete of the Year Best Female Team Best Male Team Best Women’s Team Coach Best Men’s Team Coach Outstanding Achievement Award in Leadership & Service
Luke McAvoy and Christie Clarke accept the Goldys for Outstanding Achievement in Leadership & Service.
Amanda Zahui B., Basketball David Cobb, Football Sara Groenewegen, Softball Jose Mendez, Golf Paige Tapp, Volleyball Maxx Williams, Football Hockey Football Brad Frost, Hockey Jerry Kill, Football Luke McAvoy, Football Christie Clarke, Swimming Outstanding Student-Athlete Award Ellis Mannon, Gymnastics Kaitlyn Richardson, Softball Richard “Pinky” McNamara Student-Athlete Achievement Award Peter Westerhaus, Football Teammate of the Year Marty Bussman Community Service Award (men’s team) Tennis Community Service Award (women’s team) Cross Country/Track & Field Outstanding Team Academic Award (women’s small team) Golf Outstanding Team Academic Award (women’s large team) Track & Field Outstanding Team Academic Award (men’s small team) Tennis Outstanding Team Academic Award (men’s large team) Swimming & Diving Gladys Books Commitment to Academic Excellence Volleyball Norman Borlaug Commitment to Academic Excellence Men’s Gymnastics Tom H. Swain Campus Recognition Award International Student and Scholar Athlete Services Big Ten Postgraduate Scholarship Jessica Plant, Swimming Left: Sara Groenewegen and Jose Mendez accept the Golden Goldys for Rookie of the Year.
38 / SKI-U-MAH / JANUARY 2015
Peter Westerhaus received the Richard “Pinky” McNamara Student-Athlete Achievement Award
The Golden Goldys featured four musical performances by student-athletes including Sara Scarbro and Mari Sundbo (top), Rebecca Rethwisch (right), Ellen Synder and Brad Woodford (below) and Simone Kolander and Luca Wieland (bottom).
PHOTOS: ERIC MILLER
Above: Kendal Shell and Goaner Deng presented the award for Outstanding Achievement in Leadership & Service. Below: Jeremy Lynn of men’s tennis accepts the team Community Service award.
Women’s Track & Field/Cross Country collected the Golden Goldy for Community Service. David Cobb was named the Male Athlete of the Year.
Ellis Mannon and Kaitlyn Richardson received the prestigious Outstanding Student-Athlete Achievement Awards
MAY 2015 / SKI-U-MAH / 39
where are they now
DAWN WILLOUGHBY
D
volleyball / 1987-90
Former Gopher volleyball standout Dawn Willoughby is a C-suite executive with The Clorox Company. awn Willoughby (then Dawn Thompson) came to Min-
was a three-time Big Ten All-Academic Team honoree
nesota in 1987 from Portage Northern High School
while pursuing a degree in Athletics Administration.
(Mich.), where she played on three state championship
After graduating from the U of M, Willoughby spent
teams and a club team, which won the 1987 AAU Jun-
more than a decade working with Procter and Gamble
ior Olympics tournament. She made an immediate im-
(P&G) and earned her Master’s in Business Administra-
pact in Minneapolis, stepping into the starting lineup
tion from UCLA before joining Clorox in 2001. At
as a freshman and winning the Big Ten Freshman of
Clorox, she has ascended to become the executive
the Year award. During her career, Willoughby put her-
vice president and chief operating office of the com-
self among Minnesota’s all-time leaders in blocks, digs,
pany’s Cleaning, International, and Professional Prod-
kills, hitting percentage and assists. Off the court, she
ucts divisions.
40 / SKI-U-MAH / MAY 2015
Q: How did your volleyball career begin? A: I moved to Portage from Indiana in the middle of my ninth grade year. I was six feet tall when I was a freshman, and when the coach saw me in the hallway; he said ‘Hey, you’re going to try out for the volleyball team.’
Q: How did you choose your major, Athletics Administration? A: At that time, we had a unique setup for the athletic department at the U where there was an athletic director for the women's athletics department, Chris Voelz. Seeing this was an inspiration, and I could see myself being a Division I athletic director. I had a background in athletics and a strong interest in business. Athletics administration combines both. At that time, Minnesota didn’t have an Athletic Administration degree, however, through University College, I was able to design my own degree, which was invaluable.
Q: Had you ever played volleyball before moving to Michigan? A: Yes, I played in middle school but I was terrible. In ninth grade I was still serving underhand. Compare that with my niece who plays today, the girls are now jump serving by that age. Q: Who took you from terrible to nationally recognized recruit? A: My high school coach, Jack Magelssen, who was also my club coach. He created a great environment where raw talent could develop into great players. He was a great communicator when it came to teaching the fundamentals and was always looking for ways to improve the players' skills. He would see what drills the Olympic team was doing and incorporate them into our practices and training. In the summer, during club season, I worked with him teaching summer volleyball camps for the younger players. When you teach others, you also learn a lot yourself. Q: That first year at Minnesota you came in and started as a freshman, then went on to win the Big Ten’s Freshman of the Year award. What do you remember from that season? A: When I was getting recruited, the starting middle hitter for the Gophers was a senior and was about to graduate. I knew that if I worked hard over the summer I would have a chance to compete for the starting spot. There were some great players on the team that year and to be able to play right away was an incredible experience. I didn’t expect to win Freshman of the Year. As a matter of fact, I didn’t even know there was such an award. It was a nice recognition, but, more importantly, the team had a strong season. Q: Fast forward to your senior season and you were named a captain. What did that mean to you? A: It was a responsibility that I was eager to take on but knew it would be challenging. We had graduated five seniors my junior year, so it was really a brand-new lineup. It was a tough year to end my career from a win-loss perspective, but it was also building a foundation for the program moving forward. I was proud that I could be part of building that younger team.
Q: Your initial aspirations were to get into athletic administration, but now you’re a C-suite executive at Clorox. What was the first step out the University that sent you on that career path? A: P&G recruited on the Minnesota campus in program areas where they saw strong leadership, and athletics was one of them. Judd Haney, a former athletic academic advisor, encouraged me to apply for the P&G internship between my junior and senior year. After working for P&G that summer they offered me a full-time job. I may never have had that opportunity had I not been a student-athlete at Minnesota. Dawn Thompson, the 1987 Big Ten Freshman of the Year, started for four years as a middle blocker for the Gophers. She finished her career as the second all-time leading blocker in school history.
Q: How did you end up making the move from P&G to Clorox? A: I had worked in Los Angeles for about four years, and then moved to Cincinnati, which is the world headquarters of P&G. I hadn’t realized how much my husband, Steve, and I were in love with California. Clorox is based in Oakland, California. The company’s values and how it operates with really topnotch people is very similar to what I valued, so I made the move from P&G to Clorox. Q: How did your experience as a student-athlete help you succeed in your professional career? A: It made a big difference. One of the things student-athletes learn is to balance a number of priorities. There are a lot of demands on the athletic side – practices, travel and conditioning – all those things that go into having a strong team. But academics is the core of college experience, and it takes a lot of time to do well in school. Balancing those two things is something that has carried through my whole life. Another lesson I've taken away is a strong sense of team and ensuring I’m playing my part in the broad success of an organization. Back then, it was the volleyball team and how I could play my role in a way that contributed to the success of the team. Now that I’m here in the business world, it’s about those people I work with collectively achieving our goals. What I learned when I was a student-athlete at Minnesota has carried through my entire career. interview by Jake Ricker MAY 2015 / SKI-U-MAH / 41
Academic counselor Chris Cords with a senior student-athlete from each of the sports with which he works. From the left: Julia Courter (tennis), Chris Johnson (swimming), Jessica Plant (swimming), Leandro Toledo (tennis) and Kyle Rau (hockey).
BEHIND THE SCENES a ca dem ic c ounse lor Chr is Co rd s
In his 12th year at the U of M, Chris Cords is the elder statesman of the staff at the McNamara Academic Center for Student-Athletes. Although he has worked with nearly all of Minnesota’s 25 teams at some point in his career, Cords currently focuses on the academic needs of the men’s hockey, men’s and women’s swimming and diving and men’s and women’s tennis teams. Known for his approachable, gregarious and fun-loving personality, Cords is one of the most rec-
Q: What do you love the most about your job? A: The relationships that I have with the studentathletes and my co-workers. I feel like I make I can make a difference in the lives of our student-athletes, even if it is a small one, and that keeps me coming back each day. I also love the people I work with; I have met a lot of great people over the last twelve years and truly enjoy who I work with.
Q: What, ultimately, do you feel makes a great academic counselor? A: You have to be relaxed and roll with the punches. It is important to be a calming influence in the lives of your student-athletes. With all the stresses of college life and being a student-athlete we are usually a constant in their lives and it is important that they can trust us, and be themselves around us.
42 / SKI-U-MAH / MAY 2015
ognizable and well-liked Athletics support staff members. Ski-U-Mah sat down with Cords and some of his student-athletes to discuss the role and importance of a good academic counselor. Cords also oversees the Gopher Grad program, an initiative of Gopher Athletics to help former student-athletes return to the U of M to complete their undergraduate degree. He is also the main advising contact with the Office of International Student Scholar Services.
Q: How would you describe the top three duties of an academic counselor? A: Picking only three duties is practically impossible. As an academic counselor I would be with my student-athletes from the moment they are being recruited until they graduate, and in many cases I am a reference and an advocate after they graduate. I help students with the admission process, picking a major, selecting classes that fit there athletic practice and travel schedule. I make sure they have tutoring, make arrangements for them to take exams on the road, etc. All the while working with coaches, admissions, the registrars office, campus advisers, International Student and Scholar Services, and other constituents. All to ensure that our student-athletes will be guided to graduation, eligibility, and have a positive academic and athletic experience and be prepared for life after college athletics.
Q: What are the greatest challenges of being a successful academic counselor?
A: Every day can be different and a different challenge, so the greatest challenge is balancing everything. You can have a full schedule one day and an issue comes up and you spend your whole day on that issue, and at the end of the day you realize you didn’t get to any of what you wanted to accomplish.
Q: In some senses, you are an extension of the
coaching staff. Do you feel like a coach at times seeing that academic performance is just as important as athletic performance? A: In my time at Minnesota all of my coaches have done a great job making me feel a part of their coaching team. However, I don’t feel like a coach because I have nothing to do with athletic performance. I feel like I have the respect of the coaches and student-athletes as if I was part of the coaching
PHOTOS: COURTNEY ANDERSON
MORE ON CORDS Hometown: St. Clair, Minnesota High School: Mankato Loyola Bachelor’s Degree:
B.A., Minnesota- Duluth, 2000 (Psychology) Masters Degree: Springfield College (Mass.), 2002 (Education, Counseling Psychology with an Athletic Counseling emphasis) Family: Wife, Lyndsey; Son, Isaiah; Dog: Layla First Year at Minnesota: 2003
Hobbies: Spending time with my family and occasionally attempting to be successful at recreational sports such as Hockey, Running and Slow Pitch Softball.
staff. That respect is imperative for me to be able to be effective and work well with my student-athletes.
Q: Do you feel a great sense of accomplishment
when one of your student-athlete gets his or her degree? A: Absolutely, and on the reverse side I feel very sad when a student doesn’t graduate and wonder what I could have done differently to help that student. I am very proud of my students, especially when they graduate. Recently I had a former student-athlete that signed a very lucrative multi-million dollar professional contract, and I was more proud of him for fast tracking his education and getting his degree than signing the contract.
Q: You have a very outgoing and welcoming per-
sonality. How do you think that helps you in your job? A: In this business I think it definitely helps. I have worked with almost a thousand different student-athletes over the past 13 years and I think it has benefited me that talking to people and building relationships comes naturally to me. It has been harder to learn when I need to be quiet and listen, but I am slowly getting the hang of that.
interview by Jeff Keiser
stu den t-at hle tes
SPEAK
Seniors JULIA COURTER (women’s tennis), JESSICA PLANT (women’s swimming), KYLE RAU (men’s hockey) and CHRIS JOHNSON (men’s swimming) speak about the importance of an academic counselor and their relationship with Chris Cords. Q: How important is an academic counselor in your success as a student-athlete? JC: An academic counselor is highly important in my success as a student-athlete. [Chris Cords] helped me decide which courses would be most beneficial to me in deciding my major and interests. He makes sure I take the classes I need in order to graduate. [He] is there for tutoring needs when I am struggling in a class and is always there for any school-related problems. CJ: Having an academic counselor is critical for student-athlete success as it allows us to get more personal attention with figuring out which classes suit our schedule and assists us in navigating through all the requirements that we need to fulfill. And not just the ones required by the NCAA in respect to number of credits completed per year or semester but also the requirements of the institution. That includes the taking a course to complete the technical, writing intensive, and liberal arts requirements. KR: An academic counselor is very helpful to having a successful academic experience. They know the classes that you should take and make sure you are on track to graduating. They also know how past students have done in the classes you're about to take and make sure that your semester is manageable. Academic counselors also help you make arrangements with your professors if you have to miss class for travel. Q: What do you think are the qualities that make a great academic counselor? JC: I think the qualities that make Chris Cords so great is that he is a very open person with an open door policy. He is warm and inviting, which as a freshman made me not afraid to ask for help but excited to ask him for help. He is organized and on top of tasks that need to be completed. Chris is supportive, he pays attention to school and sports, and he is there at matches to support my team and me. He is a great overall person. JP: It is great to have an academic counselor who is personal and invested in individual athlete's success and Chris has both of these qualities! He has approached me on his own initiative throughout the years and helped me look into scholarship opportunities beyond my undergraduate degree. CJ: A great academic counselor has to be approachable, friendly, great at what they do and knowledgeable, Chris is all four of these. Whenever I have a question about my schedule or class issues I can always text, call, email, or just walk in and Chris will answer my question promptly and very accurately. Not only is Chris great at what he does but also he is very knowledgeable about certain classes in terms of which are interesting and which are rather bland. For students it is always helpful to have a interesting class with a great professor. KR: A great academic counselor has to be able to get to know their students. They need to know what classes each individual will be able to succeed and put them in classes that will help them to successful while pushing them to their potential. Academic counselors also
need to be flexible. Sometimes students change their minds on their majors or classes and academic counselors need to be able to work around this. Cords is great at both of these things. Q: It seems like most athletes that work with Chris Cords seem to really enjoy the experience. If so, why is that the case? Do you have a specific story involving Chris that you would like to share? JC: Yes, I really enjoy the experience. I would say most of my stories come from freshman year when I was a bit lost and did not really know my major or the path that I wanted to take. Chris was always there to calm me down and help me out. He has always been there when I need a tutor for a class, or I am stressed out about a class, reassuring me that everything is okay. My favorite story of Chris Cords is when he traveled with us to NCAAs my freshman year to administer our final exams. He came to dinner with us, played games and made silly tasks for the non-winners to do. Chris just made this trip a lot more enjoyable with his silly personality. KR: I had a great experience working with Cords. He was extremely helpful and without him, my experience at the U would not have been the same. I used to stop by Cords’ office just to chat. The guys love playing pranks on Cords. Sometimes he is not in his office, but his door is open. We would re-adjust his chair height or unplug his computer while he was gone. Cords was great to work with. CJ: I have truly enjoyed my experience working with Chris. He is such a great person. I came in as a freshmen with a dream of becoming a cardiac surgeon. Sadly, I realized I wasn't ready to spend the next 16 years in school and residency. The funniest story coming from that experience was my second semester of freshman year. Most medical schools have a requirement of an upper level writing intensive social science course. Chris and I sat down and looked at classes I wanted to take, including an English in modern politics class. However, coming from Germany, it was probably not the best fit. So Chris came back with an Art History class that’s description seemed much more on my level of studies. This class was probably one of the best courses I have ever taken, but halfway through the year I was freaking out because it was rather challenging and I asked Chris if I could drop the class. He told me absolutely not. I wanted to argue and emphasize that I was really struggling in the class. All Chris did was sit me down and show me the previous few years’ grade distribution and it really calmed me down and on the next exam I made a high enough grade to receive an A in the class. In retrospect, if Chris's had allowed me to drop, there’s little chance I would be where I am today academically. He showed me to never freak out based on one exam but rather just go with the flow and everything will be alright. Now that I am heading to graduate school next year this is a lesson I will take with me. MAY 2015 / SKI-U-MAH / 43
Parting Shot
THE GOPHER BASEBALL TEAM PLAYED THE MINNESOTA TWINS AT HAMMOND STADIUM IN FORT MYERS ON MARCH 4. PHOTO BY ERIC MILLER
44 / SKI-U-MAH / MAY 2015
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