The Gophers women’s cross country team won the University of Minnesota’s 2024 Roy Griak Invitational at Les Bolstad Golf Course Friday morning, while the men’s team finished in third place.

Junior Ali Weimer crossed the finish line first with a time of 21:08.5 in the women’s 6K race while a crowd of spectators chanted her name. Behind her was teammate Emma Atkinson who finished at 21:13.7.

Five Gophers finished among the top 20 in the women’s race while four finished in the top 25 in the men’s race. Both the women’s and men’s teams improved from last year’s finishes when the women’s team placed seventh and the men’s ninth.

Before winning the Griak, the women’s team had not won any meet with more than three teams competing since the NCAA Midwest Regionals in 2021. Weimer said their win at the Griak is what the team needed to take the next step toward success.

Weimer said the win as a dream come true, and she was honored to follow in the footsteps of historic women’s cross-country runners. 

Crowds from Minnesota and other states showed their support for the 38th annual Griak race. Weimer praised the Gophers fans for their support at the Griak. 

“Honestly, this is the best fan base that we could ask for,” Weimer said. “The Gopher fans are the craziest fans in the best way possible.”

At last year’s Griak, Weimer finished 42nd, six spots behind the Gophers’ top finisher, senior Erin Reidy. Weimer said the program’s improvement comes from spending the last two years building toward success after experiencing disappointment.

“It’s been a lot of heartbreak,” Weimer said. “Quite honestly, the past two years have not been everything that we’ve wanted.”

Head coach for the Gophers cross country teams Sarah Hopkins said the older core of the women’s team puts the team in a prime position to win. Sophomore Izzy Roemer was the only underclassman of the women’s team’s top five finishers as graduate Brianne Brewster finished in 11th while Reidy finished 14th place. 

Hopkins said she was glad to see the men’s team developing as most of their top finishers were sophomores and juniors. She added winning the Griak helps the team pinpoint success and build confidence. 

“I think this group, of all the groups I’ve coached in a long time, really needed this day to trust and to believe that what we’ve been telling them about how good they are is real,” Hopkins said.

Emmet Anderson was the top finisher for the Gophers in the men’s 8K race by placing 11th, 25 spots higher than what he placed last year. 

Anderson said seeing his teammates run in packs during the Griak race reassured him that the team can perform well. Three of the five men’s top finishers, sophomore Shane Griepentrog, freshman Aidan Jones and graduate Lucas Florsheim finished between 21st and 25th place.

“That builds a lot of faith,” Anderson said. “Not only coming out here and knowing that I got guys that are gonna run with me but also at practice, knowing that we got packs that can train together.”

Finishing in 12th behind Anderson was his high school teammate and North Dakota State senior Hunter Klimek. Anderson and Klimek both ran cross country for Staples-Motley High School in Staples.

Anderson said the Staples-Motley cross country team usually had fewer than 20 runners and his graduating class was around 70 students. He said the two ran together for a large portion of the race, which helped him feel comfortable.

“I think a critical part of the success I had today was having a buddy out there that I’m pretty comfortable with,” Anderson said. “It gives you a little more motivation to hunt him down and put in that little more work.”

The Gophers men’s golf team started their season with a second-place finish at the Gopher Invitational on Monday. 

Minnesota sat in second place after the tournament’s first two rounds as they scored four over par in the first round and an even par in the second round. In the final round, the Gophers scored six over par, allowing Iowa State to surpass them and win the tournament.

Three of the five members on the Gophers’ starting roster were upperclassmen and two freshmen, Chun-Ta Wu and Jack Crousore, made their Gophers debut while freshman Ryan Stendahl made his collegiate golf debut competing as an individual.

All three upperclassmen in the lineup placed in the top 25, while Wu and Crousore placed 27th and 36th, respectively. Senior Eduardo Galdos led the Gophers as he tied for seventh place, his best finish as a Gopher.

Galdos said he had high expectations coming into the tournament as he was close to finishing in the top ten in the last two Gopher Invitationals. He said one aspect of his game he wants to improve is the confidence behind his shots.

Junior Cormac Sharpe, who tied for ninth at the tournament, said he was happy with his own play and that the Gophers can take a lot of confidence from their performance.

“All of us are really good players,” Sharpe said. “We can definitely compete. I mean, you saw the Gopher (Invitational), all of our guys were kind of at the top of the leaderboard.”

Head coach Justin Smith commended the freshmen for their performance in their first college tournament. He said the freshmen promote competitiveness among the team as they fight for roster spots.

Smith said he leans on Sharpe and senior Bennett Swavely’s veteran experience during road tournaments but also sees different forms of leadership everywhere on the roster.

“We don’t just have one leader,” Smith said. “We have seven, eight or nine leaders in different areas.”

Sharpe attested to the balance of leadership on the team and said his version of leadership is to lead on the course by setting an example with his play. He said the team’s captain, Swavely, leads off the course.

Swavely said the Gophers started preparing for the season earlier than in years past with team events beginning over the summer rather than at the start of the school year. 

“We took a trip up to Brainerd as a team. Played a lot of golf,” Swavely said. “Just being around each other a lot more early on.”

Swavely said he had moments his freshman year where he struggled to find his home on the team, so he took it upon himself to change that.

“There was obviously some rough days at the start of my freshman year,” Swavely said. “I just want to make sure that those guys don’t, or at least try to mitigate that as much as we can.”

The Gophers continue their season at the Git R Done Invitational in Lincoln, Nebraska on Sept. 23.

Five familiar faces departed from Gophers women’s golf last season, leaving vacancies for almost an entirely new starting lineup and a head coach.

Three graduate students and one senior from the starting five concluded their college careers, while head coach Rhyll Brinsmead retired. Sophomore Isabella McCauley was the lone starter to remain, and the program named former assistant coach Matt Higgins the team’s head coach in the spring. 

Despite losing lots of old leadership, Higgins said he looks forward to retaining most of the team in the coming years with the new players.

“We have a really strong roster going forward,” Higgins said. “That’s what excites me.”

Four of the five Gophers in the lineup at the season-opening Boilermaker Classic were underclassmen. Reese McCauley, Isabella’s sister, made her Gopher debut alongside freshman Jordana Windhorst-Knudsen.

Even though over half of the team is underclassmen, sophomore Luisamariana Mesones said the team is still very experienced. She added that playing at the Division I level comes with nerves, but once new players get a few rounds under their belt, the nervous energy dissipates.

The young squad placed second at the Boilermaker Classic in West Lafayette, Indiana on Sept. 3. Isabella McCauley and Mesones finished in the top 10. 

The Gophers finished ninth at the ANNIKA Intercollegiate in Lake Elmo on Wednesday, their best in program history at the tournament. Isabella McCauley tied for fourth place while Mesones tied for 16th.

Higgins praised the ANNIKA tournament’s high level of talent and said the team’s finish proves their hard work is paying off.

“I think being a newer team, as far as the new starters, I think they’re really starting to gel and really starting to practice and play well together,” Higgins said. “They’re having fun, which is something that is really making a huge difference”

Isabella said it was strange adjusting to being part of the oldest class on the team, but leadership is not limited to the upperclassmen and younger athletes can demonstrate it as well.

“I think leadership is something that can be, especially in a group this small, exemplified by everyone,” Isabella said. “I think everyone’s doing a really good job playing a leadership role.”

Higgins said the smaller rosters in golf help the athletes build strong relationships with each other. Mesones said long hours of travel, practices and tournaments also help.

The Gophers will fly to their next tournament, the Mary Fossum Invitational, in East Lansing, Michigan.

Off the course, Mesones and Reese McCauley said they spend a lot of time getting their nails done or shopping. Reese McCauley added that most of their conversations are not about golf, and their relationships run deeper than the sport.

Connection is not exclusive to the players. Higgins said the reason he coaches is to build strong relationships and make an impact on student athletes’ lives. 

Higgins has already done that with Resse McCauley, who is still learning how to improve her mental game on the fairway.

“I’ll just get in my own head and then the second he comes out, he just calms me down,” Reese McCauley said.

Mesones said the Higgins and McCauley families have been welcoming to her and that they helped with her transition back to Minnesota.

Mesones returned to the lineup this fall after taking a gap year. She said even though she was not physically with the team, she remained in contact and stayed updated on their results.

“I created a family relationship my freshman year,” Mesones said. “So I always say that Minnesota is my second home.”

Higgins said everyone adds a unique aspect to the team’s culture. As a new coach, he said he wants to promote positivity and continue to add to the team’s culture. 

Gophers men’s and women’s cross country started the 2024 season with wins at the Oz Memorial on Aug. 30. 

Graduate student Noah Kohut-Jackson won the men’s 5K with a personal best time of 15:56.2, while junior Ali Weimer took first place for the women’s 5K at 18:19.1. 

More importantly, the team prepared its new runners for the coming years.

Kohut-Jackson said he wants to identify this year as a stepping stone toward developing the next generation of Gopher runners. He highlighted redshirt freshmen Aidan Jones and Emmett Gerres as part of the next steps.

“Aidan Jones is a face that’s familiar with people who follow the program,” Kohut-Jackson said. “A phenomenally talented cross country runner at U20s last year and made the world team. So, I think he’s definitely poised to make an impact.”

By the end of the season, Kohut-Jackson wants the graduating members of the team to feel as though they left a solid foundation for Minnesota’s cross country program.

“This was a year where we really started to put the Gophers back on the map and really started building something special,” Kohut-Jackson said.

Kohut-Jackson was named the Big Ten Cross Country Athlete of the Week on Wednesday for his performance at the season-opening race. Alec Basten was the last Gopher to earn this honor in 2019 when he set a program record in the 8K. 

“I’d say my Oz performance and that 8K aren’t exactly apples to apples, but it’s still great to be in the news,” Kohut-Jackson said. 

Redshirt junior Emmet Anderson and redshirt senior Erin Reidy are two other Gophers appearing in headlines. The athletes were named to the Big Ten’s Runners to Watch list before the season started.

Reidy said the recognition motivated her to compete knowing she has a spotlight on her.

“Not only does my program see what I’ve worked on, but other people see it as well,” Reidy said. 

During the outdoor track season this year, Reidy won a silver medal in the 1500-meter at the Big Ten Championships. The second-place finish helped the Gophers win the conference title. 

Reidy finished 10th in the Oz Memorial 5K and said it felt like a solid starting point, but also acknowledged the room for improvement. 

“I know coach has always said that there’s a privilege in pressure,” Reidy said. “So I’m excited to hopefully be the type of person that is worth watching.”

Reidy feels like the younger athletes are settling in, but there are still adjustments to be made, such as race preparation. She said she hopes to foster growth by being compassionate and acting as a role model. 

“I’m helping the legacy by showing them what they can do when they’re older,” Reidy said. “To be bigger sisters for the next group.”

The Gophers’ next competition is on Sept. 20 when Minnesota hosts the Roy Griak Invitational at the Les Bolstad Golf Course.

At North High School in St. Paul, former Gophers quarterback turned head coach Rickey Foggie led his team in training camp on a cold Thursday evening.

Shades away from the maroon he was used to as a Gopher, Foggie now sports a neon orange emblem to represent the Minnesota Myth of the recently revived Arena Football League (AFL). From 1984-87, Foggie was the Gophers’ starting quarterback and is eighth in program history for career passing yards.

In February 2023, head commissioner Lee Hutton announced that the AFL would be returning in 2024 and, in November, announced Minnesota would receive a team. Hutton was a former Gopher as well, playing in the late 1990s. 

Hutton’s wife, Diana, is the president and owner of the Minnesota Myth. Diana attended law school at the University of Minnesota.

Hutton said he admires all the Gophers who played before him and added that Foggie was particularly very active in assisting other Gophers even after graduating.

“One day, I said, ‘Rickey, I’m starting this project, I’m going to need you to coach,’” Hutton said.

Soon after, Foggie was interviewed and hired as the head coach of the Myth.

“He’s been fantastic ever since,” Hutton said.

Foggie said he was coaching high school football for nearly a decade before he received the offer. 

“This just fell in my lap,” Foggie said. “So, I’m going to take it, I’m going to run with it.”

Foggie was a part of the original AFL in 1996 and played for the first Minnesota-based team in the AFL, the Fighting Pike. The team folded after just one season.

The Pike played at the Target Center, the same site the Myth will play at when the season begins. Foggie said the team drew crowds of 10,000 to 12,000 fans per game when he played.

Foggie said playing so close to the University allowed his college fans to continue to watch him when he played in the AFL. He wants to see a large college crowd for the Myth in this revival of the AFL.

“We want to draw the crowd that I had when I was in college,” Foggie said.

Hutton said the Metro Transit light rail makes Target Center an accessible venue for University students.

“That’s what’s so great about having a team,” Hutton said. “It’s literally in everybody’s backyard.”

Hutton did not want the Myth to be limited to Minneapolis, so like many other AFL teams, the Myth used the name of their state, Minnesota.

“If you are in Rochester or Mankato, Minnesota Myth is your team,” Hutton said.

Hutton described AFL football as “Iron Man” football since the game is fluid and players play both offensive and defensive positions. 

Foggie said the fast-paced nature of the AFL can be appealing to college students. He added that a game can be completed within two and a half hours.

Foggie said most of the players on the Myth are in their early twenties and are coming out of college.

“What the AFL is doing is giving another avenue for players to play,” Foggie said. “Not everybody can make it in the NFL, not everybody can make it in the CFL.”

One of the more recent former college athletes is Demry Croft, a Gophers quarterback from 2015-17. 

Croft said playing in the AFL gave him an opportunity to advance to a higher level of football.

“It’s a lot of marquee guys in the league,” Croft said. “It’s good film, so it will be a good experience.”

Croft said University students could attend games because the AFL season starts before final exams end. He saw the possibility that current Gophers football players staying in Minnesota over the summer could also attend Myth games.

“It’s something new from Minneapolis,” Croft said.

Hutton has big plans for the future of the AFL, such as creating his own rendition of ESPN’s “College GameDay” to be hosted outside of Target Center to draw more fans.

Hutton said the Myth have partnered with Tom’s Watch Bar in Minneapolis to connect with downtown establishments. He added he does not want to only focus on college fans or just older fans, he wants to appeal to all demographics.

“This does not have to be your father’s game,” Hutton said.

Hutton said he wants to help student-athletes succeed in their post-collegiate careers by sharing his path and mistakes when he was in college. He added he wants to create a sustainable organization that can give back to his community.

“If I had my prayer or blessing, I would love for the Minnesota Myth to be made up of former Gophers,” Hutton said.

Over the last half-decade, Minnesota men’s gymnastics has dealt with its share of adversity while managing to persevere. 

Four years ago, Gopher men’s gymnastics was discontinued as a Division I program along with two other teams due to financial difficulties from the COVID-19 pandemic. A year later, it was revived as a University club. 

In February, the team received a notice from University Services informing them their facility on the third floor of Cooke Hall could be reallocated to another program. Two weeks ago, the team was informed of an approved plan to renovate the facility and allocate it elsewhere.

After nearly 90 years in the historic, chalk-covered facility in Cooke Hall, men’s gymnastics will have to find a new home. All the while, the team has been training to compete in the upcoming national competition in May.

Head coach Mike Burns said he has no timeline for when the team will be removed from Cooke Hall. 

Burns held a meeting with the team to discuss the decision. Instead of having his team concerned for their future, Burns told the athletes to worry about two things: their academics and gymnastics. 

“From that meeting, we’ve had the most amazing training week thus far,” Burns said.

Minnesota men’s gymnastics is the top team in the Gymnastics Association of College Teams (GymACT) and ranks first in every competition event category.

The team’s status as a top program is fostered in a facility Burns described as “probably the smallest and least adequate one in the world.”

“We know we can make it work because we’re good at what we do,” Burns said. 

The team received the news of their relocation around the same time as they were approved to upgrade from a Registered Student Organization to a Campus Life Program. This upgrade allows the team to become a competitive club program under the University’s Recreation and Wellness Center. 

Since men’s gymnastics is not a varsity team at the University, they must list a student as president of the club. Junior and team captain Kellen Ryan took that position.

“He’s a leader by example and a leader by what he does in terms of managing his team,” Burns said.

On top of being team captain and president, Ryan is a civil engineering major. He’s ranked first in GymACT in vault and all-around. 

Ryan said every member’s dedication and hard work toward the same goal has helped their team succeed.

“At the beginning of the year, we sat down and we had the goal of winning the national championship,” Ryan said. “I think everybody here wants it so bad that we’re working so hard for it.”

Minnesota men’s gymnastics has no seniors this season, so Ryan is in the oldest class on the team.

Ryan said it can be discouraging to see the difference between their facility and those of other teams in their conference, but he thinks Minnesota uses its limited space well.

“I always compare Cooke Hall to a broom closet,” Ryan said.

To manage the heavy workload of being both a student and an athlete, Ryan said team members eat at the dining halls and complete homework together after practices. 

Burns said the team runs fundraisers and receives support from alumni to keep the program functioning. The athletes physically set up meets and also host meets, which helps Minnesota men’s gymnastics make money to fund their own endeavors including their trip to Florida for nationals. 

Burns himself has sacrificed a lot, as he works as a volunteer coach since the program is not funded by the University. His unpaid coaching led him to take on extra jobs, such as driving for Uber, to support the team.

Owen Frank, a sophomore team captain, said he admires Burns’ fight to keep Minnesota men’s gymnastics functioning.

“The world needs more people who have that sort of tenacity,” Frank said.

Frank said meeting Burns on his recruitment trip helped him decide to attend Minnesota over Iowa.

“The reason I came here was because of Mike Burns,” Frank said. “He’s an amazing person.”

The program nearly doubled in size this year, adding 15 new members over the summer. Frank said the increase has created more competition within the team to improve.

“You can only bring 15 guys to a competition,” Frank said. “Now that our roster exceeds 15 people, there’s people who are fighting for those roster spots.”

Burns said regardless of the outcome with the team’s facility, he will find a way to keep the program running.

“I’ve been here almost 20 years now and this is my home,” Burns said. “No matter who’s trying to make me go away, I ain’t going anywhere.”

Graduate forwards Bryce Brodzinski and Jaxon Nelson and goaltender Justen Close played their final games as a Gopher on March 30 in the regional championship of the men’s NCAA Tournament against Boston University.

The departure of the longtime Gophers opens up roster space and three leadership roles for first-year forwards Oliver Moore and Jimmy Clark and goaltender Nathan Airey.

Brodzinski and Nelson were two of Minnesota’s top scorers this season. Brodzinski was tied for most points on the team with 36. Nelson finished fifth with 31 points.

Close was named a semifinalist for the Mike Richter Award, an honor given to the NCAA’s top goaltender, for the second consecutive year. The veteran netminder recorded 22 wins and a .923 save percentage and is tied for first in program history in career save percentage and shutouts.

Oliver Moore

The Mounds View, Minnesota native played in every game for the Gophers this season. He confirmed his plans to return to Minnesota next season with The Minnesota Daily after the regional championship loss.

Moore was selected with the 19th overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft by the Chicago Blackhawks.

Earlier in the season, Gophers head coach Bob Motzko described Moore as a player with an elite work ethic and skating ability.

The 2024 Big Ten All-Freshman recipient led all first-year Gophers in scoring with 33 points and was tied for second in points among freshmen during conference competition, totaling 20 points in 24 games played.

Moore said watching Nelson and junior forward Aaron Huglen compete as centers on a nightly basis allowed him to improve his own game.

“[They have] a ton of knowledge, for sure,” Moore said.

During the NCAA Tournament, Moore was paired on a line with sophomore forwards Jimmy Snuggerud and Connor Kurth.

Their line was held goalless across both games in the tournament. Moore managed one assist across both the Big Ten and NCAA tournaments.

Motzko said as Moore gets older, his play will improve because the game will “slow down” for him.

Jimmy Clark

Clark had five goals and 11 points in his first season as a Gopher. His only goal during the second half of the season was a game-tying goal in the regional semifinal game against the University of Nebraska-Omaha. 

Clark’s goals were crucial to the outcome of a couple of games in November, recording two goals in a tight win at Michigan and a game-winning goal in overtime versus Michigan State.

Throughout the season, Motzko said the Edina, Minnesota native can play anywhere in the lineup and sees his future as a successful college hockey player.

“He’s a heck of a player,” Motzko said.

After the Gophers’ final game against Boston University, Clark said the departing graduates were “unbelievable” and helped guide him in his first year.

“They gave everything to this program,” Clark said. “I want to make sure that it stays the way it is.”

Nathan Airey

Airey, a native of Cochrane, Alberta, started in one game for the Gophers this season as Close drew most of the team’s starting minutes.

In his only official start, a non-conference game over Robert Morris, Airey made 19 saves en route to a 4-2 win.

Airey played in two other games in the regular season, receiving credit for a loss against Michigan on March 2 and moving his record to 1-1-0 for the season.

Motzko praised Airey’s work ethic and said his injury at the beginning of the season limited his playing time.

“We have a world of faith in him,” Motzko said. “He’s our goalie of the future.”

Airey said playing behind Close has been enjoyable and has allowed him to develop. He called attention to Close’s “cool and calm game” as an attribute he wants to replicate next season.

“When my time comes next year, I’ll be ready to go,” Airey said.

Minnesota forward Jimmy Snuggerud announced he will be returning to the Gophers for his junior season, according to a University of Minnesota press release sent out Tuesday

“I am excited to announce I’m coming back to the University of Minnesota next season,” Snuggerud said in the release. “It was a tough ending to this season, and I feel like we have some unfinished business to accomplish.” 

The St. Louis Blues drafted Snuggerud with the 23rd overall pick in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft and currently hold his signing rights.

The Chaska, Minnesota native had 21 goals and 34 points for the Gophers this season and earned an All-Big Ten First Team honor.

“I am committed to this team and excited for the opportunity next year with the Gophers,” Snuggerud said in the release. “I watched Brock Faber come back for his junior year and I feel like I can take the same path as Brock to the NHL, and help the Gophers win a national championship.”

The Gophers season ended on Saturday after they lost 6-3 to Boston University in the regional championship of the NCAA Tournament.

Minnesota was in a similar situation last year when Gophers star forward Logan Cooley announced a return to the program following the season’s conclusion. Two months after his announcement, Cooley opted to sign an entry-level contract with the Arizona Coyotes.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The crowd of Gophers fans at Denny Sanford Premier Center fell silent as No. 7 Minnesota was defeated by the No. 2 Boston University Terriers 6-3 on Saturday.

Prior to the final buzzer, Boston University’s crowd was outnumbered and their cheers were often drowned out by Gophers supporters throughout the game.

The two teams met for the second consecutive year in the NCAA tournament as last season the Gophers claimed a 6-2 win over the Terriers to advance to the national championship game.

Graduate forward Jaxon Nelson opened the scoring in the first period for the Gophers, sniping a far-side shot past Terriers goaltender Mathieu Caron. Nelson’s goal was his third of the regional tournament after a two-goal outing in Minnesota’s 3-2 win over Omaha on Thursday.

Nelson’s performance in the final two games of his collegiate career earned him a spot on the Sioux Falls Regional All-Tournament Team. The remaining five players on the all-tournament team were all members of Boston University.

In the late stages of the first period, graduate forward Bryce Brodzinski added to the Gophers’ lead with a shot past the glove of Caron after the Terriers failed to clear their defensive zone.

The Gophers’ two-goal lead did not last long as Boston forward Quinn Hutson’s shot trickled through goaltender Justen Close to put Boston University on the board. 

The Terriers came out flying in the second period. Four minutes after forward Shane Lachance tied the game, Boston University freshman Jack Harvey beat Close with a top-shelf shot to claim a 3-2 lead.

Similar to the opening 10 minutes of the game, Boston University controlled much of the play early in the middle frame as the Gophers did not record a shot on goal during the second period until the 11-minute mark.

The momentum continued to fluctuate until Minnesota’s first offensive burst of the second period resulted in junior forward Aaron Huglen slamming in the game-tying goal midway through the period.

The Terriers refused to sit back as sophomore Lane Hutson found the back of the net in the final five minutes to reclaim a 4-3 lead for Boston University to enter the third period.

Boston University played a passive game to open the third period to maintain their lead, limiting the Gophers’ offensive zone chances.

The Gophers had an opportunity to tie the game late in the third period with Nelson and Brodzinski in a two-on-one, streaking toward Boston University’s net. The arena went silent as the suspense built and fans rose to their feet, but the graduates did not convert.

With the season on the line, the Gophers vacated their net with two minutes remaining in the third period.

Terriers defender Case McCarthy’s clearing attempt found its way into the Gophers’ empty net to give Boston University an insurance goal.

The Terriers added another empty-net goal and ended Minnesota’s season by a final score of 6-3.

Gophers head coach Bob Motzko said the Terriers’ top players fulfilled their roles to win the game and he was content with how Minnesota competed.

“I know they’re going to get on the bus and wish we played just a tad better for a few moments,” Motzko said.

Graduate players Brodzinski, Nelson and Close all played their final games as Gophers on Saturday.

After the game, Brodzinski said playing with Nelson and senior Mason Nevers was a central reason he enjoyed playing hockey.

“They’re the reason that you love coming to the rink every day,” Brodzinski said.

Sophomore defender Luke Mittelstadt was emotional when talking about the departing class of players.

“They’re unreal guys,” Mittelstadt said while tearing up. “I’m going to miss them like hell.”

Close, who finished his collegiate career with 62 wins, said it was an honor and privilege to play for the Gophers.

“I hope this program got a fraction of what I got out of it because it’s given me a lot,” Close said.

In their first two outdoor meets of the season, several Gophers track and field athletes finished at the top of their events while some had history-making performances.

Starting in Miami, Florida for the Miami Hurricanes Invitational, Minnesota saw successful performances from freshmen Charles Godfred, Angelos Mantzouranis and Diarra Sow. 

In the long jump, Godfred recorded a distance of 7.74m, earning second place in the event. Last weekend at the Clyde Hart Classic in Waco, Texas, Godfred jumped 7.96m to win the event, the best long jump for a Gopher in 29 years.

Godfred, who joined the Gophers in January, said his life changed during his transition from Nigeria to Minnesota and the encouragement from his coach is helping him succeed.

Godfred added that seeing such an accomplishment early into the outdoor season is an indication “something big is coming.”

“My dream is to represent my country in the Olympics and become a record holder,” Godfred said. 

Gophers assistant coach Ibrahim Kabia said Godfred is handling the quick transition well. Kabia said in their short time together, the two were able to work together and build trust.

“He’s very outgoing, he’s super respectful and he’s a hard worker,” Kabia said. “He’s able to galvanize people.”

Kabia said he could not predict a limit of Godfred’s potential but added he knows has not reached it.

Sow, a redshirt freshman, finished second in the women’s triple jump at the Miami meet after recording a mark of 12.88m. In Waco, Sow finished at the top of the event with 13.10m, placing her fourth in Gophers history.

Sow said the season has gone well for her, but she knows she can do more. She said not being able to qualify for nationals for the indoor season has motivated her to qualify for the outdoor season.

“In these two competitions we had, I know that my mark can be higher,” Sow said.

Competing against professional athletes in Miami, junior Devin Augustine managed to finish third in the men’s 100m dash with a time of 10.16 seconds. Augustine’s time was a personal best and is second in the Gophers’ history.

A familiar face in the Gophers’ record books, senior Shelby Frank threw a record-setting discus toss in Waco at 59.69m. The throw sits atop the Gophers’ all-time leaders in the discus category.

Mantzouranis won both the Miami and Waco men’s hammer throw events. His winning throw in Miami was 70.27m but he went further a week later in Waco, recording a distance of 73.85m and placing him third in Gophers history.

Mantzouranis and Frank both won the Big Ten’s Field Athlete of the Week honor on Thursday after their performances in Waco.