University of Minnesota Athletics
A Big Ten Dream: Freshman Forward Kerry Wooldridge
1/20/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Kerry Wooldridge is one of those many young boys who would wake up early Saturday morning to watch college basketball. Wooldridge was born in 1985 and grew up in Oakland, California. He remembers his days as a little kid watching Big Ten games on Saturdays. He would look forward to each game and wished that someday he would be on the other side of the TV screen. Ever since then he knew he wanted to play for a Big Ten team, preferably Minnesota.
"I came to Minnesota because I have wanted to play in the Big Ten since I was little kid," Wooldridge said. "Every Saturday morning I remember watching them and I just knew I wanted to play in the Big Ten. There is something about this conference that is just intriguing. There was never a doubt in my mind that Minnesota was the best fit for me."
Wooldridge views the Big Ten as a great league to be a part of. It is bigger and tougher than any other league in the country and that is what interested him. He decided Minnesota would allow him to pursue a quality education and be apart of a solid basketball program. Being a Gopher was his childhood dream and he looks forward to everything to come.
Preparing for college was crucial for Wooldridge to move into the Big Ten. He played basketball throughout high school and in summer leagues as well. Wooldridge attended San Leandro High School for two years where he played basketball for both seasons and was ranked one of the top 200 players in the country by Athlon.
Wooldridge brings a lot to this team and has great potential for the future of this program. He is a wonderful addition and as a freshman he is ready to learn and mature as a basketball player. He is a 6-8, 205-pound forward who is extremely athletic and can shoot the ball very well. He is big and is eager to improve and his versatility makes him an asset to the team.
When Wooldridge arrived in Minneapolis, he had a major decision to make; whether he should redshirt or not. Being a redshirt freshman allows him to practice with the team and improve, but not suit up for games. The following season, he would be allowed to play and have four years of eligibility remaining. Coming into the year, he was uncertain about his role on the team. He was aware of the depth and their talent level, so he was unsure about how much playing time he would receive. Eventually, a week after practice began, Wooldridge decided that it was in the best interest of the team and his individual game to sit out and redshirt. This would give him the opportunity to mold into the program and work on his game to be fully prepared for next season.
"There are a lot of talented, great guys on this team and I knew that I wouldn't see much time on the floor," Wooldridge explained. "I think I would be ready to go out there and play right now. But, it is probably best for me to work on certain areas of my game to better prepare myself. Then I will be adjusted by the time next season rolls around."
It is obviously tough for most competitive athletes who love to play basketball to have to sit out and watch on game day. However, Wooldridge is understating of his situation. He wants to be out there playing but he is all right with it because he is still a part of the team and he is working hard at every practice to help this team in other ways.
"It is not too difficult to have to sit out because I still get to practice and I am learning new things every day," Wooldridge explained. "And I knew it would help the team if I was able to play for four years after this one and I want to do everything I can to help build for the future."
The Golden Gopher basketball team is made up of 12 Minnesotans and five others from out of state. Therefore, most of the guys in the team are used to the area and did not have to adjust to anything different when they first came started school. However, when someone like Wooldridge is coming into the Gopher program from California, it's not an easy adjustment. Especially since he has never lived in a climate like this before. It is quite the transition from high school to college and moving so far away from home would be difficult for most. However, not in Wooldridge's case. He says that it hasn't been too hard and he has grown accustomed to it fairly fast.
"It is not that big of a deal to be away from home," Woolridge said. "I think my transition to college has gone smoothly. I am learning to balance my time. But the toughest part about coming here is the weather. I really like it here besides that. I don't think I will ever really get used to the weather."
Each player on the Gopher basketball team knows that they have a duty to understand their individual role and what they need to do to make this team better. Coach Monson and his staff have instilled the importance of teamwork in this group of guys since day one and Wooldridge has taken that concept and made it his own.
"I understand what my role is as a redshirt freshman," Wooldridge said. "I need to work hard and try and make the starters better. I need to give support on the bench and make sure I put in 100 percent every day in practice."
Individually, Wooldridge knows what he has to work on as well. His childhood dream was to play on a Big Ten team like Minnesota. His hard work and determination has gotten him to that point. However, he knows he has to take advantage of this opportunity and work on some areas of his game that need improving.
"This is an improving year for me," Wooldridge explained. "I need to better myself and my all around game. More specifically, I need to work on my guard skills, ball handling and my shooting. I also think I need to gain some weight."
This basketball team provides these athletes with a learning environment for the game of basketball. It gives each and everyone of these young men a family. A place to seek support and give support. It is a place of comfort and stability which every young man in college needs. Wooldridge is happy they all are friends and says that it helps on the court to be close to your teammates. He is grateful to be welcomed into such a great program with a true family atmosphere.
"I try to be a nice guy," Wooldridge said. "I give respect to those that respect me. And I think the guys on this team do the same." Since Kerry Wooldridge was five years old, his life has revolved around the game of basketball. He has been hoping to be a part of a team that he is now. He has been dreaming, just like many boys, to play for his dream team. Or in Wooldridge's case, the Big Ten Conference, specifically Minnesota. He recalls watching games at young age and knowing that is where he wanted to play.
There are still those young boys out there watching Big Ten games on Saturdays and Sundays imagining themselves out on that court. It is a dream worth dreaming and a daydream that may come reality. It became reality for Kerry Wooldridge and his dream came true.
Written by Media Relations Assistant Jessica Fleischmann. She welcomes comments at gophers@umn.edu
Young boys all over the country dream about playing basketball when they get older. They watch college games on Saturdays and Sundays and watch every move that their favorite athletes make in hopes that they will reach that level some day. They day dream for hours and can imagine playing for their "dream" team. They picture making the game-winning shot, or winning the NCAA championship. Many young boys have this dream; some realistic and some out of reach. But in the end, each boy lives a fairy tale in hopes that someday it will come true and they will be right where they imagined themselves on that Saturday or Sunday morning.
Kerry Wooldridge is one of those many young boys who would wake up early Saturday morning to watch college basketball. Wooldridge was born in 1985 and grew up in Oakland, California. He remembers his days as a little kid watching Big Ten games on Saturdays. He would look forward to each game and wished that someday he would be on the other side of the TV screen. Ever since then he knew he wanted to play for a Big Ten team, preferably Minnesota.
"I came to Minnesota because I have wanted to play in the Big Ten since I was little kid," Wooldridge said. "Every Saturday morning I remember watching them and I just knew I wanted to play in the Big Ten. There is something about this conference that is just intriguing. There was never a doubt in my mind that Minnesota was the best fit for me."
Wooldridge views the Big Ten as a great league to be a part of. It is bigger and tougher than any other league in the country and that is what interested him. He decided Minnesota would allow him to pursue a quality education and be apart of a solid basketball program. Being a Gopher was his childhood dream and he looks forward to everything to come.
Preparing for college was crucial for Wooldridge to move into the Big Ten. He played basketball throughout high school and in summer leagues as well. Wooldridge attended San Leandro High School for two years where he played basketball for both seasons and was ranked one of the top 200 players in the country by Athlon.
Wooldridge brings a lot to this team and has great potential for the future of this program. He is a wonderful addition and as a freshman he is ready to learn and mature as a basketball player. He is a 6-8, 205-pound forward who is extremely athletic and can shoot the ball very well. He is big and is eager to improve and his versatility makes him an asset to the team.
When Wooldridge arrived in Minneapolis, he had a major decision to make; whether he should redshirt or not. Being a redshirt freshman allows him to practice with the team and improve, but not suit up for games. The following season, he would be allowed to play and have four years of eligibility remaining. Coming into the year, he was uncertain about his role on the team. He was aware of the depth and their talent level, so he was unsure about how much playing time he would receive. Eventually, a week after practice began, Wooldridge decided that it was in the best interest of the team and his individual game to sit out and redshirt. This would give him the opportunity to mold into the program and work on his game to be fully prepared for next season.
"There are a lot of talented, great guys on this team and I knew that I wouldn't see much time on the floor," Wooldridge explained. "I think I would be ready to go out there and play right now. But, it is probably best for me to work on certain areas of my game to better prepare myself. Then I will be adjusted by the time next season rolls around."
It is obviously tough for most competitive athletes who love to play basketball to have to sit out and watch on game day. However, Wooldridge is understating of his situation. He wants to be out there playing but he is all right with it because he is still a part of the team and he is working hard at every practice to help this team in other ways.
"It is not too difficult to have to sit out because I still get to practice and I am learning new things every day," Wooldridge explained. "And I knew it would help the team if I was able to play for four years after this one and I want to do everything I can to help build for the future."
The Golden Gopher basketball team is made up of 12 Minnesotans and five others from out of state. Therefore, most of the guys in the team are used to the area and did not have to adjust to anything different when they first came started school. However, when someone like Wooldridge is coming into the Gopher program from California, it's not an easy adjustment. Especially since he has never lived in a climate like this before. It is quite the transition from high school to college and moving so far away from home would be difficult for most. However, not in Wooldridge's case. He says that it hasn't been too hard and he has grown accustomed to it fairly fast.
"It is not that big of a deal to be away from home," Woolridge said. "I think my transition to college has gone smoothly. I am learning to balance my time. But the toughest part about coming here is the weather. I really like it here besides that. I don't think I will ever really get used to the weather."
Each player on the Gopher basketball team knows that they have a duty to understand their individual role and what they need to do to make this team better. Coach Monson and his staff have instilled the importance of teamwork in this group of guys since day one and Wooldridge has taken that concept and made it his own.
"I understand what my role is as a redshirt freshman," Wooldridge said. "I need to work hard and try and make the starters better. I need to give support on the bench and make sure I put in 100 percent every day in practice."
Individually, Wooldridge knows what he has to work on as well. His childhood dream was to play on a Big Ten team like Minnesota. His hard work and determination has gotten him to that point. However, he knows he has to take advantage of this opportunity and work on some areas of his game that need improving.
"This is an improving year for me," Wooldridge explained. "I need to better myself and my all around game. More specifically, I need to work on my guard skills, ball handling and my shooting. I also think I need to gain some weight."
This basketball team provides these athletes with a learning environment for the game of basketball. It gives each and everyone of these young men a family. A place to seek support and give support. It is a place of comfort and stability which every young man in college needs. Wooldridge is happy they all are friends and says that it helps on the court to be close to your teammates. He is grateful to be welcomed into such a great program with a true family atmosphere.
"I try to be a nice guy," Wooldridge said. "I give respect to those that respect me. And I think the guys on this team do the same." Since Kerry Wooldridge was five years old, his life has revolved around the game of basketball. He has been hoping to be a part of a team that he is now. He has been dreaming, just like many boys, to play for his dream team. Or in Wooldridge's case, the Big Ten Conference, specifically Minnesota. He recalls watching games at young age and knowing that is where he wanted to play.
There are still those young boys out there watching Big Ten games on Saturdays and Sundays imagining themselves out on that court. It is a dream worth dreaming and a daydream that may come reality. It became reality for Kerry Wooldridge and his dream came true.
Written by Media Relations Assistant Jessica Fleischmann. She welcomes comments at gophers@umn.edu
