By: Jace Frederick

St. Cloud native Nate Wolters was one of three players with Minnesota ties selected in the June 27 NBA draft.

None of those players finished their careers with the Gophers.

Wolters, Roseville native Mike Muscala and former Gophers player Colton Iverson were drafted in the second round. Trevor Mbakwe and Rodney Williams, who both finished their careers with the Gophers this spring, went undrafted.

Wolters was one of the nation’s top scorers at South Dakota State from 2009-13. Muscala starred at Bucknell during the same span. Iverson left the Gophers following his junior year in 2011 for Colorado State, where he made the all-conference first team.

The draft results have fueled criticism that the Gophers failed to effectively recruit in-state talent and develop players under then-head coach Tubby Smith.

But coming out of St. Cloud Technical High School, Wolters, a 6-foot-4-inch point guard, didn’t receive a single scholarship offer from a major conference school, including the University of Minnesota.

Wolters didn’t think he was good enough to compete in the Big Ten after high school, let alone the NBA.

“Four or five years ago I didn’t really think [the NBA] was a possibility,” Wolters said. “It was a dream of mine.”

Four years later, Wolters was the first Minnesotan taken off the board as the 38th pick in the NBA draft.

Wolters will enter the NBA Las Vegas summer league with the Milwaukee Bucks in mid-July.

When Wolters joined SDSU, the Jackrabbits had just become a Division I program and were struggling, said Head Coach Scott Nagy. They knew Wolters would be a good player for them.

“In the end, I wanted to play Division I [basketball],” Wolters said. “I liked coach Nagy a lot, too. I figured I’d have a chance to play right away, too, and they’d give me freedom to play my game.”

Wolters did just that. During his career, he started 109 of the 128 games he played, including every game he played during his final three years.

He increased his scoring average each year, averaging 22.3 points his senior season and earning Summit League Player of the Year honors. He also became the school’s first Associated Press All-American.

Wolters became the third NCAA player since 1983-84 to average more than 20 points, five assists and five rebounds in multiple seasons when he accomplished the feat during his junior and senior years. Nagy compared Wolters to former NBA point guard Jason Kidd because of his strong passing and rebounding ability.

“Nate made things a lot easier for [our players],” Nagy said.

Nagy said Wolters “fell in love with the game” at SDSU. His time in the gym led to improvements in his ball handling, shooting and feel for the game.

Wolters led the Jackrabbits to their first Division I NCAA tournament appearance in 2012 and followed it up with a second appearance in 2013.

“I really enjoyed my time there,” Wolters said, “It went way better than expected.”

Wolters finished his SDSU career as the program’s all-time leader in scoring (2,363 points) and assists (669).

“He’s the best player that’s ever played here,” Nagy said. “That’s clear — and that’s easy to say.”

Questions entering the draft centered around Wolters’ lack of athleticism and the competition he faced at SDSU.

Nagy said Wolters played better when the Jackrabbits faced top-tier competition. Wolters said he considered the possibility of being drafted only after his 34-point, seven-assist performance in an upset win over Washington during his junior year.

Nagy said the NBA is suited for Wolters’ game.

“He’s going to get by people,” Nagy said. “He’s going to create problems for the other defenses, so I think he’s going to be a very good NBA player — way better than what people are projecting.”

Although second-round draft picks are not guaranteed NBA contracts, Wolters said one thing is certain.

“I’m going to be living in the gym,” he said. “That’s all I know.”

By: Jace Frederick

St. Cloud native Nate Wolters was one of three players with Minnesota ties selected in the June 27 NBA draft.

None of those players finished their careers with the Gophers.

Wolters, Roseville native Mike Muscala and former Gophers player Colton Iverson were drafted in the second round. Trevor Mbakwe and Rodney Williams, who both finished their careers with the Gophers this spring, went undrafted.

Wolters was one of the nation’s top scorers at South Dakota State from 2009-13. Muscala starred at Bucknell during the same span. Iverson left the Gophers following his junior year in 2011 for Colorado State, where he made the all-conference first team.

The draft results have fueled criticism that the Gophers failed to effectively recruit in-state talent and develop players under then-head coach Tubby Smith.

But coming out of St. Cloud Technical High School, Wolters, a 6-foot-4-inch point guard, didn’t receive a single scholarship offer from a major conference school, including the University of Minnesota.

Wolters didn’t think he was good enough to compete in the Big Ten after high school, let alone the NBA.

“Four or five years ago I didn’t really think [the NBA] was a possibility,” Wolters said. “It was a dream of mine.”

Four years later, Wolters was the first Minnesotan taken off the board as the 38th pick in the NBA draft.

Wolters will enter the NBA Las Vegas summer league with the Milwaukee Bucks in mid-July.

When Wolters joined SDSU, the Jackrabbits had just become a Division I program and were struggling, said Head Coach Scott Nagy. They knew Wolters would be a good player for them.

“In the end, I wanted to play Division I [basketball],” Wolters said. “I liked coach Nagy a lot, too. I figured I’d have a chance to play right away, too, and they’d give me freedom to play my game.”

Wolters did just that. During his career, he started 109 of the 128 games he played, including every game he played during his final three years.

He increased his scoring average each year, averaging 22.3 points his senior season and earning Summit League Player of the Year honors. He also became the school’s first Associated Press All-American.

Wolters became the third NCAA player since 1983-84 to average more than 20 points, five assists and five rebounds in multiple seasons when he accomplished the feat during his junior and senior years. Nagy compared Wolters to former NBA point guard Jason Kidd because of his strong passing and rebounding ability.

“Nate made things a lot easier for [our players],” Nagy said.

Nagy said Wolters “fell in love with the game” at SDSU. His time in the gym led to improvements in his ball handling, shooting and feel for the game.

Wolters led the Jackrabbits to their first Division I NCAA tournament appearance in 2012 and followed it up with a second appearance in 2013.

“I really enjoyed my time there,” Wolters said, “It went way better than expected.”

Wolters finished his SDSU career as the program’s all-time leader in scoring (2,363 points) and assists (669).

“He’s the best player that’s ever played here,” Nagy said. “That’s clear — and that’s easy to say.”

Questions entering the draft centered around Wolters’ lack of athleticism and the competition he faced at SDSU.

Nagy said Wolters played better when the Jackrabbits faced top-tier competition. Wolters said he considered the possibility of being drafted only after his 34-point, seven-assist performance in an upset win over Washington during his junior year.

Nagy said the NBA is suited for Wolters’ game.

“He’s going to get by people,” Nagy said. “He’s going to create problems for the other defenses, so I think he’s going to be a very good NBA player — way better than what people are projecting.”

Although second-round draft picks are not guaranteed NBA contracts, Wolters said one thing is certain.

“I’m going to be living in the gym,” he said. “That’s all I know.”

By: Dane Mizutani

Gophers swimmer Kyler Van Swol has used Google Translate a bit in the last few weeks.

Van Swol is trying to learn as much Russian as he can before he and four other former or current Gophers athletes leave for the World University Games, or Universiade, July 6-17 in Kazan, Russia.

“It sounds like it’s going to be pretty hard to pick up,” Van Swol said. “I don’t really know anything about it, but I’m excited.”

Van Swol will make the near 6,000-mile trek with teammate Derek Toomey, women’s athletes Erin Caflisch and Sarah McCrady, Gophers head coach Kelly Kremer and former Gophers swimmer Ashley Steenvoorden.

“This is a whole other level,” Toomey said. “It’s huge to swim in the Big Ten, and the NCAAs are a step up, but swimming for the USA is way bigger.

“I’m ecstatic to be there.”

Kremer will serve as an assistant coach for Team USA. He said it’s a major step for the program to qualify five athletes with ties to the Gophers.

“I would expect that some of our athletes will come home with medals,” Kremer said. “I don’t know what color they’ll be, but we want to come home with gold medals.”

Steenvoorden is the only one in the group who has competed with Team USA before. This will be her third stint with the team against international competition.

She will compete in the 800- and 1,500-meter freestyle races, and she hopes to place in both.

“I’m trying to get best times up there for sure, but this is my third time, and I’ve never placed in the top three of an event,” she said. “I’d love to get a medal of any kind.” 

While Steenvoorden has a bit of experience overseas, the rest of the roster is green to the bright lights of the international stage. 

It will be the first global meet for Toomey and Van Swol, and it will be Van Swol’s first time out of the country.

Toomey will compete in the 50 freestyle and the 400 freestyle relay, and Van Swol will swim the 50 and 100 butterfly and the 400 medley relay.

Toomey and Van Swol are consistent top performers on the Gophers roster, but both realize the competition in Russia will be a different beast.

Still, both men set lofty goals.

“I expect to place top three, and obviously I’m aiming to place first,” Van Swol said, adding this meet could open doors to larger meets in preparation for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. 

Toomey set a concrete time goal with hopes of breaking the 50 freestyle record. He said he tries not to focus on place goals.

“I want to break [former Gophers swimmer] Mike Richards’ 50-meter freestyle record,” Toomey said, “but I just want to get best times up there.”

Toomey’s best time with the Gophers in the 50-yard freestyle, which is about the same distance, is 19.10. Richards’ best time was 19.05.

Kremer said he expects all the athletes to return from the competition with more motivation. He added he is confident in his squad even though Steenvoorden is the only athlete with experience abroad.

Steenvoorden, the leader of the Gophers’ contingent,  said she’ll provide as much insight as she can to help the younger swimmers. That said, she admitted she’s excited to shed the rookie nameplate and ready for a little payback.

“I remember when I was a rookie, I had to go up and sing ‘Bad Romance’ by Lady Gaga,” Steenvoorden laughed. “They all have to do rookie skits, so I’m looking forward to that.  I’ll videotape for sure.”

By: Dane Mizutani

Gophers swimmer Kyler Van Swol has used Google Translate a bit in the last few weeks.

Van Swol is trying to learn as much Russian as he can before he and four other former or current Gophers athletes leave for the World University Games, or Universiade, July 6-17 in Kazan, Russia.

“It sounds like it’s going to be pretty hard to pick up,” Van Swol said. “I don’t really know anything about it, but I’m excited.”

Van Swol will make the near 6,000-mile trek with teammate Derek Toomey, women’s athletes Erin Caflisch and Sarah McCrady, Gophers head coach Kelly Kremer and former Gophers swimmer Ashley Steenvoorden.

“This is a whole other level,” Toomey said. “It’s huge to swim in the Big Ten, and the NCAAs are a step up, but swimming for the USA is way bigger.

“I’m ecstatic to be there.”

Kremer will serve as an assistant coach for Team USA. He said it’s a major step for the program to qualify five athletes with ties to the Gophers.

“I would expect that some of our athletes will come home with medals,” Kremer said. “I don’t know what color they’ll be, but we want to come home with gold medals.”

Steenvoorden is the only one in the group who has competed with Team USA before. This will be her third stint with the team against international competition.

She will compete in the 800- and 1,500-meter freestyle races, and she hopes to place in both.

“I’m trying to get best times up there for sure, but this is my third time, and I’ve never placed in the top three of an event,” she said. “I’d love to get a medal of any kind.” 

While Steenvoorden has a bit of experience overseas, the rest of the roster is green to the bright lights of the international stage. 

It will be the first global meet for Toomey and Van Swol, and it will be Van Swol’s first time out of the country.

Toomey will compete in the 50 freestyle and the 400 freestyle relay, and Van Swol will swim the 50 and 100 butterfly and the 400 medley relay.

Toomey and Van Swol are consistent top performers on the Gophers roster, but both realize the competition in Russia will be a different beast.

Still, both men set lofty goals.

“I expect to place top three, and obviously I’m aiming to place first,” Van Swol said, adding this meet could open doors to larger meets in preparation for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. 

Toomey set a concrete time goal with hopes of breaking the 50 freestyle record. He said he tries not to focus on place goals.

“I want to break [former Gophers swimmer] Mike Richards’ 50-meter freestyle record,” Toomey said, “but I just want to get best times up there.”

Toomey’s best time with the Gophers in the 50-yard freestyle, which is about the same distance, is 19.10. Richards’ best time was 19.05.

Kremer said he expects all the athletes to return from the competition with more motivation. He added he is confident in his squad even though Steenvoorden is the only athlete with experience abroad.

Steenvoorden, the leader of the Gophers’ contingent,  said she’ll provide as much insight as she can to help the younger swimmers. That said, she admitted she’s excited to shed the rookie nameplate and ready for a little payback.

“I remember when I was a rookie, I had to go up and sing ‘Bad Romance’ by Lady Gaga,” Steenvoorden laughed. “They all have to do rookie skits, so I’m looking forward to that.  I’ll videotape for sure.”

By: Dane Mizutani

Gophers incoming freshman Tommy Vannelli sat patiently with his family as name after name was called onstage at the 2013 NHL Draft.

Vannelli said his immediate frustration turned to worry, but he tried to stay positive. 

After four excruciating hours at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., last month, he heard four words that changed everything.

“I remember right when they started saying, ‘From Minnetonka High School, Vannelli said. “I got the chills, and then they said my name.”

The St. Louis Blues ended the Vannelli family’s wait by selecting Tommy with the 47th overall pick. He will delay his professional career to play for the Gophers next season — a common practice for amateur hockey players.

Vannelli walked to the St. Louis Blues table after his name was announced.

“I kind of blacked-out walking up there,” the defenseman said. “It’s so surreal, and it takes a little bit to sink in … but just to hear my name was something special.”

His mother, Theresa Vannelli, remembers the moment vividly in her mind as well.

“We had to hear so many different Canadian leagues get called, so I don’t think any of us really expected to hear the words Minnetonka High School,” she said. “It was an unbelievable, overwhelming happiness.”

Vannelli gravitated to the defenseman position after he started to skate at six years old. He always had the skills to dominate but didn’t develop a killer instinct until his senior season.

“He came to us as a quiet kid that never took on a leadership role,” said Brian Urick, former head coach at Minnetonka High School. “He kind of sat back and liked to follow, but as he’s grown up he’s really become a leader and become more confident in his abilities.”

Theresa Vannelli said she’s seen a shift in her son’s confidence in the last year, which has helped her  realize he had a legitimate shot at the next level.

“This last year has been crazy with the amount of opportunities he’s received,” she said.

Tommy Vannelli had his first contact with members of the Gophers coaching staff early last summer.

But that was only the beginning of his ascension up the draft boards.

Vannelli attended the prestigious USA Hockey Player Development Camp in Rochester, N.Y., late last summer and then earned a spot on the U.S. roster at the 2012 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament in the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

He performed well in that tournament and was invited to join the USA National Team Development Program for his senior season. He declined the offer and returned to Minnetonka High School.

Vannelli committed to the Gophers early in his senior year at Minnetonka. He led defensemen on the squad with 31 points in 25 games this season.

“It was a no-brainer,” Vannelli said of his commitment to the Gophers. “It was in my heart the whole time, so I couldn’t go against it.”

Vannelli joined the U.S. development program after the season at Minnetonka ended.

He competed for the U.S. in April at the World U18 Championship for minor players in Sochi, Russia,  where the team placed second.  Vannelli had two goals and one assist in the tournament.

That performance impressed many, including Gophers head coach Don Lucia.

“He’s an outstanding skater who has a very low panic point with the puck on his stick,” Lucia said in a Gophers release. “He has good size and will be able to continue to grow into his frame while he’s here.”

Urick said it’ll be impossible to replace a player like Vannelli. “He has the skills and now has the mentality to succeed at the next level,” he said.

Urick said he’s glad the draft process is over and Vannelli can go back to focusing on the game instead of chatter from scouts.

Vannelli said the entire process was a complete blur. He said it was surreal because less than 12 hours after being drafted, he was on a plane back to the Twin Cities to get to his summer classes on time.

“It’s not a typical summer in terms of a summer vacation,” he said, “but there’s no place I’d rather be than here right now.”  

By: Dane Mizutani

Gophers incoming freshman Tommy Vannelli sat patiently with his family as name after name was called onstage at the 2013 NHL Draft.

Vannelli said his immediate frustration turned to worry, but he tried to stay positive. 

After four excruciating hours at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., last month, he heard four words that changed everything.

“I remember right when they started saying, ‘From Minnetonka High School, Vannelli said. “I got the chills, and then they said my name.”

The St. Louis Blues ended the Vannelli family’s wait by selecting Tommy with the 47th overall pick. He will delay his professional career to play for the Gophers next season — a common practice for amateur hockey players.

Vannelli walked to the St. Louis Blues table after his name was announced.

“I kind of blacked-out walking up there,” the defenseman said. “It’s so surreal, and it takes a little bit to sink in … but just to hear my name was something special.”

His mother, Theresa Vannelli, remembers the moment vividly in her mind as well.

“We had to hear so many different Canadian leagues get called, so I don’t think any of us really expected to hear the words Minnetonka High School,” she said. “It was an unbelievable, overwhelming happiness.”

Vannelli gravitated to the defenseman position after he started to skate at six years old. He always had the skills to dominate but didn’t develop a killer instinct until his senior season.

“He came to us as a quiet kid that never took on a leadership role,” said Brian Urick, former head coach at Minnetonka High School. “He kind of sat back and liked to follow, but as he’s grown up he’s really become a leader and become more confident in his abilities.”

Theresa Vannelli said she’s seen a shift in her son’s confidence in the last year, which has helped her  realize he had a legitimate shot at the next level.

“This last year has been crazy with the amount of opportunities he’s received,” she said.

Tommy Vannelli had his first contact with members of the Gophers coaching staff early last summer.

But that was only the beginning of his ascension up the draft boards.

Vannelli attended the prestigious USA Hockey Player Development Camp in Rochester, N.Y., late last summer and then earned a spot on the U.S. roster at the 2012 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament in the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

He performed well in that tournament and was invited to join the USA National Team Development Program for his senior season. He declined the offer and returned to Minnetonka High School.

Vannelli committed to the Gophers early in his senior year at Minnetonka. He led defensemen on the squad with 31 points in 25 games this season.

“It was a no-brainer,” Vannelli said of his commitment to the Gophers. “It was in my heart the whole time, so I couldn’t go against it.”

Vannelli joined the U.S. development program after the season at Minnetonka ended.

He competed for the U.S. in April at the World U18 Championship for minor players in Sochi, Russia,  where the team placed second.  Vannelli had two goals and one assist in the tournament.

That performance impressed many, including Gophers head coach Don Lucia.

“He’s an outstanding skater who has a very low panic point with the puck on his stick,” Lucia said in a Gophers release. “He has good size and will be able to continue to grow into his frame while he’s here.”

Urick said it’ll be impossible to replace a player like Vannelli. “He has the skills and now has the mentality to succeed at the next level,” he said.

Urick said he’s glad the draft process is over and Vannelli can go back to focusing on the game instead of chatter from scouts.

Vannelli said the entire process was a complete blur. He said it was surreal because less than 12 hours after being drafted, he was on a plane back to the Twin Cities to get to his summer classes on time.

“It’s not a typical summer in terms of a summer vacation,” he said, “but there’s no place I’d rather be than here right now.”  

By: Branden Largent

University of Minnesota researchers are working to bring foreign language classes to more local K-12 students with a program they hope will eventually reach the entire nation.

The University’s College of Education and Human Development is expanding its online language programs to schools in Minnesota starting this fall. CEHD’s Learning Technologies Media Lab signed a 10-year partnership with St. Paul-based EMC Publishing to build EMC Languages, an online learning program for teachers and students in K-12 foreign language classes.

EMC Languages will be available in Spanish and French by early 2014, said University associate professor and lab co-director Charles Miller. The lab’s goal is to reach 250,000 students across the country in the next two years.

The program aims to give students the opportunity to practice speaking and hearing foreign languages, said Eric Cantor, CEO of New Mountain Learning, EMC Publishing’s parent company.

This fall, about five schools in the metro area will implement the program, using existing EMC Publishing content and two platforms the lab created for University classes.

Miller helped develop one of the platforms, called Avenue, in 2004 for University American Sign Language classes. Avenue allows students and instructors to create videos of themselves signing.

The other CEHD platform being used, called Flipgrid, is a webcam-based program for group discussions. The lab launched it in 2012 and has had more than 25,000 users since its inception. It also offers the program to schools and organizations nationwide.

University researchers are redesigning the two programs for K-12 foreign language classes.

Students will be able to use lab time during foreign language classes to make video responses or answer webcam discussion questions. Teachers will then be able to evaluate responses after class.

“That type of time efficiency is a good use of technology,” Miller said. “Technology for technology’s sake is never a good use of technology.”

In the pilot program this fall, the CEHD media lab will work with teachers to assess their needs and make any necessary changes, Miller said.

Brad Hosack, one of the lab’s lead designers, said the program’s developers try to make it as user-friendly as possible so students and teachers can focus on improvement instead of learning how to use the technology.

University ASL teaching specialist Alex Zeibot, who has used Avenue in his classroom, said the program helps ASL instructors provide immediate and relevant feedback for students.

“It’s the way it should be,” he said. “It’s simplistic.”

After using the program — particularly after it was modified based on instructor feedback — Zeibot said he noticed significant student improvement.

University linguistics senior Madeleine Ibes said she liked using Avenue in her ASL class after it was revamped and thinks it would’ve been useful when she was learning other spoken languages.

Madison Graves, who graduated in May with a bachelor’s degree in speech-language-hearing sciences, said using Avenue ASL last semester was “frustrating” because it had a lot of technical issues that prevented students from fully using it.

“I think if they sorted out the technical issues, it could be a great learning device and help engage students more,” she said.

EMC Publishing will provide 24/7 customer support and help expand the program to schools in other states.

The program doesn’t currently have a set price, so costs can be adjusted based on what schools can afford, Miller said. He added that the lab will reinvest any profit it makes to improve the technology and build a larger research team.

“We don’t really care about sales,” he said. “If you want to use it, we’ll make sure you can afford it.”

Cantor said researchers hope the program will increase students’ confidence in speaking foreign languages and their interest in other cultures.

“We think it’ll make a difference in terms of how world languages are taught in the [U.S.] today,” he said.

By: Branden Largent

University of Minnesota researchers are working to bring foreign language classes to more local K-12 students with a program they hope will eventually reach the entire nation.

The University’s College of Education and Human Development is expanding its online language programs to schools in Minnesota starting this fall. CEHD’s Learning Technologies Media Lab signed a 10-year partnership with St. Paul-based EMC Publishing to build EMC Languages, an online learning program for teachers and students in K-12 foreign language classes.

EMC Languages will be available in Spanish and French by early 2014, said University associate professor and lab co-director Charles Miller. The lab’s goal is to reach 250,000 students across the country in the next two years.

The program aims to give students the opportunity to practice speaking and hearing foreign languages, said Eric Cantor, CEO of New Mountain Learning, EMC Publishing’s parent company.

This fall, about five schools in the metro area will implement the program, using existing EMC Publishing content and two platforms the lab created for University classes.

Miller helped develop one of the platforms, called Avenue, in 2004 for University American Sign Language classes. Avenue allows students and instructors to create videos of themselves signing.

The other CEHD platform being used, called Flipgrid, is a webcam-based program for group discussions. The lab launched it in 2012 and has had more than 25,000 users since its inception. It also offers the program to schools and organizations nationwide.

University researchers are redesigning the two programs for K-12 foreign language classes.

Students will be able to use lab time during foreign language classes to make video responses or answer webcam discussion questions. Teachers will then be able to evaluate responses after class.

“That type of time efficiency is a good use of technology,” Miller said. “Technology for technology’s sake is never a good use of technology.”

In the pilot program this fall, the CEHD media lab will work with teachers to assess their needs and make any necessary changes, Miller said.

Brad Hosack, one of the lab’s lead designers, said the program’s developers try to make it as user-friendly as possible so students and teachers can focus on improvement instead of learning how to use the technology.

University ASL teaching specialist Alex Zeibot, who has used Avenue in his classroom, said the program helps ASL instructors provide immediate and relevant feedback for students.

“It’s the way it should be,” he said. “It’s simplistic.”

After using the program — particularly after it was modified based on instructor feedback — Zeibot said he noticed significant student improvement.

University linguistics senior Madeleine Ibes said she liked using Avenue in her ASL class after it was revamped and thinks it would’ve been useful when she was learning other spoken languages.

Madison Graves, who graduated in May with a bachelor’s degree in speech-language-hearing sciences, said using Avenue ASL last semester was “frustrating” because it had a lot of technical issues that prevented students from fully using it.

“I think if they sorted out the technical issues, it could be a great learning device and help engage students more,” she said.

EMC Publishing will provide 24/7 customer support and help expand the program to schools in other states.

The program doesn’t currently have a set price, so costs can be adjusted based on what schools can afford, Miller said. He added that the lab will reinvest any profit it makes to improve the technology and build a larger research team.

“We don’t really care about sales,” he said. “If you want to use it, we’ll make sure you can afford it.”

Cantor said researchers hope the program will increase students’ confidence in speaking foreign languages and their interest in other cultures.

“We think it’ll make a difference in terms of how world languages are taught in the [U.S.] today,” he said.

By: Charlie Armitz

The University of Minnesota’s plan for a privately funded renovation to Les Bolstad Golf Course will adopt an academic  focus this summer.

The University has hired a third party to conduct a feasibility study for the renovation, which was included in the University’s recent Six-Year Capital Plan with a $7.5 million budget.

The study will help refine proposed changes to the course. Horticulture professor and project consultant Brian Horgan said he envisions a sustainable course that can serve a variety of purposes.

“This golf course will have a laboratory feel,” Horgan said. “It will have a multifunctional feel where athletics and research and teaching and outreach of information all kind of work together.”

Les Bolstad, which opened in the late 1920s, has been multifunctional for many years, but it needs repair. A University task force recommended several upgrades last December, including installing a new irrigation system and resurfacing all tees, fairways and greens.

The feasibility study should gauge how the golf industry feels about the project.

“I think it’s pretty common for any time you’re going to go out and do a private fundraising campaign to go and make sure that the public agrees with the direction the University is going,” Horgan said.

His vision right now is focused on incorporating the University’s academic mission into the course. He has emphasized using the course for agricultural research.

But Horgan added that the facility will function first as a golf course.

“We can’t create something where it goes beyond what a golf course is,” he said.

Alumni and the broader University community have given wide support to renovating Les Bolstad, according to the Six-Year Capital Plan. The University won’t receive state money for the project, so it will rely heavily on that community for funding.

About $4 million of the $7.5 million allotted for the renovation would fund course repairs, and about $2 million would be used to renovate the first floor of the clubhouse and enable the use of its second floor. Another $655,000 would fund the construction of a new maintenance and storage facility.

Gophers women’s golf coach Michele Redman said she’s most interested in the addition of an indoor hitting facility. The task force recommended in December that this facility be excluded from the $7.5 million budget but considered part of the overall plan for the property.

“Things are moving along OK on that side of it,” Redman said. “It’s something that’s on the top of our priority list as far as the men’s and women’s golf teams.”

By: Dane Mizutani

Lauren Gibbemeyer stands at 6 feet 2 inches and certainly looks the part as an intimidating force on the volleyball court.

Then she opens her mouth.

 “I was terrified of her at first,” middle blocker Tori Dixon said, referring to her former Gophers teammate’s vocality. “She was super intimidating on the court because she was so intense out there.”

Gibbemeyer said she’s heard that a lot throughout her career, but that raw emotion stems from her passion for the game.

“I’m not trying to be scary on the court,” the middle blocker chuckled. “I’m really passionate, so sometimes, maybe I’m not as sensitive to the newbies.”

Now, Gibbemeyer hopes to carry her passion and recent success into the next three years as she vies for a spot on her country’s squad for the 2016 Rio Olympics.

She was one of the last players cut on the 2012 London Olympics team, but she said that has fueled her fire for the upcoming years.

“I’m even more ready this time around,” she said.

Gibbemeyer helped the U.S. repeat as champions at the Pan-American Cup on June 16.

A natural talent

This is a position the child version of Gibbemeyer never imagined she’d be in.

She grew up a basketball player and never considered volleyball until her freshman year at Cretin-Derham Hall High School.

“I always had people tell me that I was super tall and should try out for volleyball,” she said. “I did, and it came pretty natural to me.”

That natural talent attracted the Gophers from an early stage in her high school career.

Gibbemeyer played her first season of club volleyball as a high school sophomore and signed with the Gophers that year. She said her college choice was easy.

“I grew up 10 minutes from campus and went to University of Minnesota volleyball games,” she said. “So in my head, from a young age, I wanted to go to the University of Minnesota.”

Gibbemeyer wasn’t a stand-out with the Gophers her first couple of years on campus. She was a consistent player but didn’t always dominate at the level that she did in her final two seasons.

“She showed up with some great blocking instincts,” former Gophers head volleyball coach Mike Hebert said. “She was one of the best blockers I’ve ever coached.”

Hebert said Gibbemeyer needed help with her technique and ability to read attacks, but as she grasped those two concepts, she started to flourish.

The Gophers faced adversity in Gibbemeyer’s junior season when All-American outside hitter Brook Dieter quit the team.

Gibbemeyer said that was a pivotal moment in her career.

“It was for all of us,” she said, “but we didn’t really know whether to let it spiral out of control … or stand together and try to reach our goals without her.”

The Gophers chose the latter and surprised people with an impressive run to the Final Four, where they lost to Texas.

Gibbemeyer said that success excited her for the team’s potential in her senior season.

That sense of excitement turned to heartbreak when Gibbemeyer broke her wrist two weeks before the Big Ten season started.

It was a significant blow to the team’s morale, similar to the loss of Dieter a year earlier.

“[Gibbemeyer] was the heartbeat of our team her senior season,” Hebert said. “She missed about a month and our team played well, but it wasn’t the same.”

Dixon, a freshman at the time, said there was an initial sense of panic on the team, but Gibbemeyer was able to keep the team calm.

“She still led the team even though she wasn’t playing,” Dixon said, “and that was really surprising to me, because if it was everyone else, that wouldn’t be the case.”

Gibbemeyer missed 12 matches with the wrist injury, but said she felt 100 percent by the end of the season. She still led the team with 116 blocks but narrowly missed All-America honors because she didn’t play in enough matches.

“There’s no question Lauren would have been named an All-American, but she was short by one or two sets,” Hebert said. “It was a quirky season.”

The Gophers returned to the NCAA tournament in Gibbemeyer’s senior year but lost in the Sweet 16 to California.

That loss ended Gibbemeyer’s amateur career, but it ignited her professional one. She finished with a school-record 593 total blocks.

An Olympic battle

Soon after the loss, then-USA national team head coach Hugh McCutcheon invited her to try out for the team.

“It was a chance of a lifetime, so I had to go,” Gibbemeyer said. “I knew I could always go back and finish school, but chances to play for Team USA don’t always come around.”

Gibbemeyer made the first cut and worked out with Team USA in the summers of 2011 and 2012 in preparation for the London Olympics. McCutcheon said he was impressed with her skills, but she didn’t get as serious of a look as some of the other middle blockers since some had more Team USA experience.

“She was certainly in the mix as we cut it down to the final 25 or so,” McCutcheon said.

Gibbemeyer has played as a professional in Japan and Italy and recently signed a contract to play in Azerbaijan this upcoming season. She said playing in a different country was a culture shock at first, but she adapted over time.

“I went to school basically in my backyard … so making that transition was a challenge for me and kind of a lonely experience,” she said. “It’s made me grow as a person.”

Gibbemeyer hopes that growth will help her earn a spot on Team USA for the 2016 Olympics.

McCutcheon, who now coaches Gophers and won’t return to head the national squad in 2016, said Gibbemeyer has the raw skills to make it, but it’s tough to speculate three years down the road.

“In that Olympic realm, players have to be good at everything and great at one or two things,” McCutcheon said. “She’s good at everything right now, but it’s what she chooses to focus on and what ends up being her ultimate strength that will be the defining factor.”

McCutcheon said the team generally carries three middle blockers, and two middle blockers that started in the 2012 London Olympics — Foluke Akinradewo and Christa Harmotto — are likely to return for 2016.

“If they come back, that makes the competition very, very tough,” McCutcheon said. “It’s going to be a battle for anyone to make that team.”

Gibbemeyer said other players’ experience levels aren’t on her mind now. She said her hunger from being cut in 2012 will feed her fire until the Olympics.

“I know that if I work as hard as I can … I can make that spot,” Gibbemeyer said. “It’s a mental thing for me.

“I just have to keep working at it.”