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Know the Newcomers: Noah Rasinski
10/16/2018 1:38:00 PM | Men's Golf
The Minnesota men's golf team welcomes four newcomers to the team for the 2018-19 season. GopherSports.com will sit down with each of them to get to know them better as they compete in their first season in the Maroon and Gold.
Up next, it's Noah Rasinski. A native of Credit River, Minn., and graduate of Lakeville South High School, Rasinski transferred to Minnesota this summer after spending the first two seasons of his college career at Concordia University, St. Paul. He had been the Golden Bears' top scorer in each of the past two seasons with an average of 75.64 as a freshman and 73.15 as a sophomore for a two-year average of 74.35.
Previously: Lincoln Johnson
Gopher Sports: How long have you been playing golf?
Noah Rasinski: "Basically my whole life. I think my dad put a golf club in my hand at 2 or 3 years old, and I've been doing it ever since. I've been playing really competitively since probably halfway through middle school, sixth or seventh grade. I started getting more serious about it then."
GS: So you started out at Concordia in St. Paul, what led you to them initially?
NR: "I really liked being in the cities and closer to home, and that's really what pulled me here, too, after two years. Family is really important to me and I'm from Lakeville, so it's not too far away. Concordia was a good spot for me to start my career. The plan was to start there, develop my game and see where it could get me. It turned out to be a good decision looking back on it now."
GS: What went into your decision to transfer?
NR: "I just wanted the bigger school and more competition. I really wanted to test my game against the best players in the country, and this is a good spot to do it because we play a great schedule. We're in the Big Ten, a Power Five conference, and you get to play against the best players in the world."
GS: So was that the intention all along, to hopefully end up here at Minnesota?
NR: "Yeah, it really was. I wanted to in high school, but I probably wasn't good enough then... But it's exciting to be here now."
GS: Once you made the decision to transfer, what stood out about Minnesota specifically that made you want to come here?
NR: "Well really a lot of the guys, I knew a lot of the guys already and the team atmosphere is great. And then also the coaches. Justin (Smith) has won a national championship and he's been there, and that's what we want to do. It's great to have leaders like John (Carlson) and Justin that have been there and can show us the path."
GS: Have you noticed a difference in playing level between Concordia and here at the Division I level?
NR: "Yeah for sure, everyone here takes it more seriously and they're looking to take their game to the next level after college, especially. At Concordia, it's more like you're playing your college rounds and having fun, but here it's a lot more serious and I like that atmosphere more.
GS: When you were at Concordia you had success and a conference championship, how do you feel that set you up to compete at this level?
NR: "It really prepared me and gave me a lot of opportunities. I stepped in there and was one of the better players on the team right away as a freshman, so I had a lot of weight of the team's success on my shoulders. It really prepared me to step in here and play on big stages like the Gopher Invite and not be too nervous like some newcomers might be. A lot of college tournament experience, because no matter where you go and play for college it's a lot different than high school, so to have two years under my belt already is huge."
GS: So what was that like for you, playing in your first Division I tournament?
NR: "It was great. So cool and to have all the fans out there, it's such a great tournament at the Gopher Invite. All of our parents were there, and it's a great atmosphere. It was a lot of fun."
GS: Was there anything as the rounds were going on, or maybe after when you had a chance to reflect, where you came to some realizations about your game, positively or negatively?
NR: "Yeah, definitely. That's a tough golf course, and I think we all learned a few things we have to work on, whether it be driving the ball or putting. That's what's so fun about a college season like this where we go every weekend. Now we get to come out here and work on what we've got to work on and get back out there."
GS: Was there anything in particular that you noticed that you really feel like you needed to hone in for the rest of the season?
NR: "Definitely driving the ball. I didn't drive it too well in the first round, and then kind of hit more irons and woods off the tees in the second round. If I can get my driver going a little better and take advantage of some of the holes out there, it'll definitely help me."
Off the Course with Noah
Favorite course to play: Wolf Creek in Mesquite, Nev.
Favorite food: Anything Italian
Favorite TV show: How I Met Your Mother
Favorite movie: Inception
Favorite music artist: Drake
Favorite sport other than golf: Hockey
Favorite golfer: Tiger Woods or Rory McIlroy
Up next, it's Noah Rasinski. A native of Credit River, Minn., and graduate of Lakeville South High School, Rasinski transferred to Minnesota this summer after spending the first two seasons of his college career at Concordia University, St. Paul. He had been the Golden Bears' top scorer in each of the past two seasons with an average of 75.64 as a freshman and 73.15 as a sophomore for a two-year average of 74.35.
Previously: Lincoln Johnson
Gopher Sports: How long have you been playing golf?
Noah Rasinski: "Basically my whole life. I think my dad put a golf club in my hand at 2 or 3 years old, and I've been doing it ever since. I've been playing really competitively since probably halfway through middle school, sixth or seventh grade. I started getting more serious about it then."
GS: So you started out at Concordia in St. Paul, what led you to them initially?
NR: "I really liked being in the cities and closer to home, and that's really what pulled me here, too, after two years. Family is really important to me and I'm from Lakeville, so it's not too far away. Concordia was a good spot for me to start my career. The plan was to start there, develop my game and see where it could get me. It turned out to be a good decision looking back on it now."
GS: What went into your decision to transfer?
NR: "I just wanted the bigger school and more competition. I really wanted to test my game against the best players in the country, and this is a good spot to do it because we play a great schedule. We're in the Big Ten, a Power Five conference, and you get to play against the best players in the world."
GS: So was that the intention all along, to hopefully end up here at Minnesota?
NR: "Yeah, it really was. I wanted to in high school, but I probably wasn't good enough then... But it's exciting to be here now."
GS: Once you made the decision to transfer, what stood out about Minnesota specifically that made you want to come here?
NR: "Well really a lot of the guys, I knew a lot of the guys already and the team atmosphere is great. And then also the coaches. Justin (Smith) has won a national championship and he's been there, and that's what we want to do. It's great to have leaders like John (Carlson) and Justin that have been there and can show us the path."
GS: Have you noticed a difference in playing level between Concordia and here at the Division I level?
NR: "Yeah for sure, everyone here takes it more seriously and they're looking to take their game to the next level after college, especially. At Concordia, it's more like you're playing your college rounds and having fun, but here it's a lot more serious and I like that atmosphere more.
GS: When you were at Concordia you had success and a conference championship, how do you feel that set you up to compete at this level?
NR: "It really prepared me and gave me a lot of opportunities. I stepped in there and was one of the better players on the team right away as a freshman, so I had a lot of weight of the team's success on my shoulders. It really prepared me to step in here and play on big stages like the Gopher Invite and not be too nervous like some newcomers might be. A lot of college tournament experience, because no matter where you go and play for college it's a lot different than high school, so to have two years under my belt already is huge."
GS: So what was that like for you, playing in your first Division I tournament?
NR: "It was great. So cool and to have all the fans out there, it's such a great tournament at the Gopher Invite. All of our parents were there, and it's a great atmosphere. It was a lot of fun."
GS: Was there anything as the rounds were going on, or maybe after when you had a chance to reflect, where you came to some realizations about your game, positively or negatively?
NR: "Yeah, definitely. That's a tough golf course, and I think we all learned a few things we have to work on, whether it be driving the ball or putting. That's what's so fun about a college season like this where we go every weekend. Now we get to come out here and work on what we've got to work on and get back out there."
GS: Was there anything in particular that you noticed that you really feel like you needed to hone in for the rest of the season?
NR: "Definitely driving the ball. I didn't drive it too well in the first round, and then kind of hit more irons and woods off the tees in the second round. If I can get my driver going a little better and take advantage of some of the holes out there, it'll definitely help me."
Off the Course with Noah
Favorite course to play: Wolf Creek in Mesquite, Nev.
Favorite food: Anything Italian
Favorite TV show: How I Met Your Mother
Favorite movie: Inception
Favorite music artist: Drake
Favorite sport other than golf: Hockey
Favorite golfer: Tiger Woods or Rory McIlroy
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