University of Minnesota Athletics

Gopher Athletics recognized its athletes and their athletic and academic achievements tonight at the 17th Annual Golden Goldys held at Club Cambria at Huntington Bank Stadium.

The sports awards are athletes of the year, newcomers of the year, breakthrough factors, teams of the year and coach of the year. The vote includes spring 2022 sports (baseball, men’s and women’s golf, rowing, softball, men’s and women’s outdoor track and field, and tennis) and fall and winter sports of the 2022-23 sports year. Voice of the Golden Gophers, Mike Grimm attended the event. The Gopher men’s and women’s hockey won Team of the Year honors, both advancing to the NCAA Frozen Fours.

Listed below are the nominees for each category, with the winner in italics and bold:

Women’s Team Athlete of the Year

Natalie DenHartog, Softball
Taylor Heise, Women’s Hockey

Mya Hooten, Gymnastics
Joy Zhu, Women’s Swimming and Diving

Men’s Team Athlete of the Year
Brock Faber, Men’s Hockey*

Mohamed Ibrahim, Soccer
Max McHughMen’s Swimming and Diving *

Kostas Zaltos, men’s athletics

Women’s Team Rookie of the Year
Mara Braun, women’s basketball

Nyalaam Jok, Women’s Athletics
Ali Weimer, women’s cross country
Mckenna Wucherer, volleyball

Men’s Team Rookie of the Year
Logan Cooley, men’s ice hockey
Drew BennettMen’s swimming and diving
Athan Kaliakmanis, Soccer
Pharrel Payne, Men’s Basketball

Women’s Team Athlete of the Year
Taylor Landfair, Volleyball

Akilah Lewis, women’s athletics
Gianna Gerdes, Gymnastics
Skylar Vetter, Women’s Hockey

Athlete of the year for men’s teams

Michael Blockus, Wrestling
Justen Close, Men’s Hockey #

Jack Kelly, baseball
John Michael Schmitz, Soccer

Women’s Team of the Year

Gymnastics
Women’s ice hockey

Women’s athletics
Volleyball

Men’s Team of the Year

Football
Men’s skiing
men’s hockey #

Men’s athletics

Coach of the year

Brad Frost, Women’s Hockey
Jenny Hansen, Gymnastics
Hugh McCutcheon, Volleyball
Bob Motzko, Men’s Hockey #

*indicates a tie This is the first time in Golden Goldys history that the award resulted in a tie
# won the award in consecutive years

The Big Ten Medal of Honor was also announced during the Golden Goldys, and the award went John Michael Schmitz (football) and Taylor Hayes (women’s ice hockey). Read more about their achievements here. READ MORE

The Richard “Pinky” McNamara Student-Athlete Achievement Award is presented annually to an individual who has inspired everyone by making extraordinary efforts to succeed despite difficult circumstances, persevering in the face of tremendous adversity, and/or overcoming a great challenge. The winner of this year’s award is Katie Borowicz of women’s basketball and baseball Randon Dauman.

For as long as she could remember, Katie Borowicz always had trouble with her legs, a tingling sensation that the ‘U’s early enrollee had finally kicked out after half a season in the 2020-21 basketball season. After her symptoms worsened, Borowicz was tested and diagnosed with Chiari malformation. A condition where the skull is too small and creates pressure that causes part of the brain to push into the spinal canal. The pressure compresses the nerves and can cause a cyst to form in the spine. Borowicz ended up having surgery and missed the entire 2021-22 season. After 607 days away from the court, Borowicz returned to the Gophers as the starting point guard on November 7, 2022. Before returning to the court, Borowicz was named a teammate captain as a redshirt freshman and appeared in the Big. Ten Media Days in 2022. He returned and played 29 games despite continuing symptoms after his successful surgery. At the end of the 2022-23 season, Borowicz made the difficult decision to medically retire, citing his body telling him it was enough.

After suffering chest pains and temporary blindness, Randon Dauman has overcome tremendous adversity to play baseball in Minnesota. Dauman began his collegiate baseball career at Ohio University, leaving college for a year only to return to play in junior college. When Dauman finally landed at his dream school in Minnesota, Dauman’s health took its toll. After realizing heart failure and thyroid complications were the cause of his medical concerns, Dauman was able to return to playing through the care of Gopher doctors. Through it all, Dauman also founded the non-profit Next of Can in April 2020. Having lived in three major cities, he saw many of the difficulties faced by disadvantaged communities and understood the need for change. Based in Minneapolis, Dauman helps youth sports and arts programs with monetary or equipment donations in addition to mentoring when time permits. His non-profit organization has collected over $92,000 worth of gear for youth teams and organizations since its inception.

The Lindahl Outstanding Student-Athlete Achievement Award is presented to male and female student-athletes in recognition of their success in both the classroom and athletics. This year’s recipients are Natalie DenHartog (softball) and Caleb Siekmeier (men’s athletics). DenHartog is a leader not only on the field but also in the classroom. Earned various awards including Academic All-Big Ten, CoSIDA Academic All-District, Big Ten All-Freshman Team and NFCA Freshman of the Year Finalist (Top 3). DenHartog graduated in three years with a degree in communication studies (3.829 GPA) with a minor in business law and then went on to earn a master’s degree in non-organizational leadership, policy and development – evaluation studies (4.00 GPA). She plans to attend Michigan Law School in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the fall to pursue her dream of practicing civil litigation. Siekmeier currently has a bachelor’s degree in aeronautical engineering with a minor in astrophysics, after which he is working towards a master’s degree in aerospace engineering. He was a four-time Academic All-Big Ten selection, named USTFCCCA All-Academic, and a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar. Along with a successful classroom career, Kaleb was a two-time All American in the weight throw, including one first team selection, and will retire from competing this spring in track and field.

Me Messer (rowing) and Jaydon Antoine (men’s track and field) received the Land O’ Lakes Outstanding Achievement Award for leadership and service. This award recognizes one male and one female student-athlete who has excelled in leadership and community service. Thus far, while at Minnesota, Messer has served as a team representative on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, an active member of the Executive Council and a two-time recipient of the Leadership U Certificate of Excellence, and has volunteered many hours in community service. Antoine is also an active member of the leadership council and has dedicated many hours to community service. In addition, Antione is the director of the Black Student-Athlete Association and advocates for the black experience in Golden Gopher Athletics.

Several student-athletes received the Leadership U Certificate of Excellence. To earn the certificate, individuals must complete the following: participate in and participate in Leadership U programming with other student-athletes, complete behavioral and emotional intelligence assessments, reflect on the views of professional guest speakers on the Speaker Series, and actively engage with Leadership U staff. and fellow student-athletes. This year’s recipients are Katie Borowicz (women’s basketball), Delanie Cox (softball), Maddy Ehlke (softball), Mallory Garfield (rowing), Ava Hill (cross-country skiing), Cady Large (rowing), Taylor Kreitinger (cross-country skiing), Carly Kremer (athletics), Sydney Kretlow (cross-country skiing), Madeline Lange (rowing), Grace Loescher (rowing), Me Messer (rowing), Erin Reidy (athletics), Tiarre sale (gymnastics), Zeyneb Sarioglan (tennis) and Ella Saunders (rowing).

The Gladys Brooks and Norman Borlaug Commitment to Academic Excellence Awards are presented annually to recognize the women’s and men’s athletic team that has demonstrated the highest level of commitment to academic excellence. Tennis received the Gladys Brooks Commitment to Academic Excellence Award, while Wrestling received the Norman Borlaug Commitment to Academic Excellence Award. Softball Natalie DenHartog and Men’s Cross Country/Athlete John Quigley have been honored as recipients of the 2023 Big Ten Graduate Scholarship.

The Tom H. Swain Campus Recognition Award is presented annually to an office or member of the university community who has had a positive impact on our student-athletes and who has supported the Lindahl Academic Center’s mission to assist students in their academic endeavors. . Emilee Hemme This year’s Tom H. Swain Campus Recognition Award is presented by the Admissions Office. Emilee works with Lindahl Academic Center academic advisors and the Athletic Compliance Office to streamline the admissions process for all incoming freshman and transfer students.

This year’s Teammate of the Year award goes to the University of Minnesota Athletics Business office.