Gopher Athletics Weekly Roundup – May 2024

Spring has sprung in Minnesota, and you know what that means: Gopher Athletics are in full bloom! From the golf course to the track, our student-athletes are killin’ it. Let’s dive into this week’s roundup of all things maroon and gold, shall we?

Golden Gophers on the Green

It’s been a season to remember for Gopher Golf, with both the men’s and women’s teams making their mark on the national stage.

Senior Ben Warian capped off an amazing career at the NCAA Golf Championships, finishing tied for twenty-fith. Talk about going out on a high note! Warian’s consistent play throughout his time as a Gopher also earned him some shiny new hardware – Ping All-Region honors. Congrats, Ben!

On the women’s side, sophomore Isabella McCauley is making a name for herself as one to watch. McCauley earned WGCA All-American honorable mention honors – no small feat! She also competed in her second-straight NCAA Golf Championships. Experiece like that in your back pocket as a sophomore? Scary good.

Gophers Blaze a Trail at NCAA West Regional

The Gopher Track & Field teams absolutely CRUSHED it at the NCAA West Regional, securing a whole bunch of tickets to the big dance – the NCAA Championships!

Eight incredible Gopher women punched their tickets to the championships, showcasing both depth and talent. Leading the charge was Shelby Frank, who straight-up DOMINATED the hammer throw to secure her spot. You go, girl!

Not to be outdone, three Gopher men will also be representing at the NCAA Championships. Angelos Mantzouranis channeled his inner Thor to clinch the NCAA West Regional title in the hammer throw. We’re starting to think there’s something in the water up here in Minnesota when it comes to throwing heavy things really far…

But the best part? The Gophers are bringing a whole squad of fresh faces to the NCAA Championships, with six freshmen (men and women combined) set to compete. That ties for the most in the nation! The future of Gopher Track & Field is lookin’ bright, y’all.

Softball Stars Shine On and Off the Field

Gopher Softball had a season for the record books, and the accolades just keep on comin’!

Jess Oakland, the reigning Big Ten Player of the Year (yeah, you read that right), added another impressive line to her resume, snagging two second-team All-American honors. Is there anything this woman can’t do?

And it’s not just about what these Gophers accomplish on the field – they’re rockstars in the classroom, too. Five of our softball stars were recognized as CSC Academic All-District honorees:

  • Maddy Ehlke
  • Sydney Strelow
  • Jess Oakland (told ya she was a superstar!)
  • Taylor Krapf
  • Morgan DeBord

Way to represent Gopher nation with brains AND brawn, ladies!

Gopher Hockey: New Season, New Ice, Who Dis?

Get those calendars out, Gopher Hockey fans, because the puck is about to drop on another exciting season!

The Gopher Women’s Hockey team released their 2024-25 schedule, and it’s jam-packed with can’t-miss matchups. The season kicks off on the road with a series against the Connecticut Huskies on September 27-28. You know Coach Frost-Hunt will have her squad ready to bring the heat from day one!

The Gopher Men’s Hockey team is also ready to hit the ice, unveiling their 2024-25 non-conference schedule. They’ll kick things off under the bright lights of Las Vegas, facing off against Air Force on October 11th. Vegas, baby!

Construction Updates: Because Who Doesn’t Love a Good Timelapse?

Speaking of Gopher Hockey, have you seen the awesome updates on the new facilities? We’re talkin’ state-of-the-art EVERYTHING.

Check out these awesome timelapse videos showing the progress on:

  • The new Gymnastics Performance Center (follow @GopherWGym for more updates)
  • The new concrete being poured at Ridder Arena (follow @GopherWHockey for more updates)

We’re officially drooling over here.

Whitecaps Battle for the Cup

Big news on the professional hockey front: Our very own Minnesota Whitecaps are facing off against the Boston Pride tonight in the do-or-die Game of the inaugural PWHL championship! The tension is SO thick you could cut it with a zamboni.

Catch all the action starting at 6 PM on YouTube. Let’s go, Whitecaps!

Brosmer Ready to Lead the Charge

Gopher Football fans, it’s time to get very, very excited. The Star Tribune recently published an article featuring our new quarterback, Max Brosmer, and let’s just say it has us hyped for the upcoming season.

The article dives into Brosmer’s dedication to the game, highlighting how he organized offseason workouts with his new teammates in his home state of Georgia. That’s right, folks – this guy is all about building chemistry and putting in the work, even during the offseason. We’re already lovin’ the leadership vibes.

You can check out the full article here.

(Note: This link will direct to the Star Tribune homepage)

Row, Row, Row Your Boat, Gophers!

The Gopher Rowing team is making waves (get it?) as they gear up for the Big Ten Championships!

These athletes put in countless hours of training on the water, and their dedication is truly inspiring. We can’t wait to see them compete against the best of the best in the Big Ten. Go Gophers!