University of Minnesota Athletics
Karl Erickson in Twilight of Successful Gopher Throwing Career
5/21/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Track & Field
Erickson started his freshman year at Minnesota and his performances made it clear that he was going to make a difference for the Golden Gopher men’s track and field team. By the end of his rookie season, he stood atop the awards stand as a Big Ten champion in the discus.
Successes continued as his sophomore year he became a two-time All-American in the shot put by placing fifth at indoor and outdoor NCAA Championships. He also defended his Big Ten discus title. Karl’s junior year proved to show more strong performances and set the stage for a decision to take a year off from competition to concentrate on intense technique and strength training. The 2004 season marked Erickson’s third consecutive Big Ten discus title and All-America citations in both the shot put and the discus. Taking advantage of the Olympic year, Karl qualified and competed in the 2004 Olympic Trials placing 13th in the shot and 17th in the discus.
It was quite an impressive list of accomplishments to build in three years and for Karl expectations were set high for the future. However, aspirations of farther throws and more championships, and even a tryout for the Golden Gopher football team, had to be put on hold as a decision was made for Karl to have knee surgery.
A year off from competing and practicing was the most frustrating and challenging times in Karl’s collegiate career. He commented, “My redshirt season was definitely a setback. I decided that I was going to use that time as a developmental year to come back and explode my fifth year and that just didn’t happen. I had a lot to gain back, technique and strength wise.”
“The decision for the surgery to occur was based on the fact that it would allow Karl to go back to squatting heavier weights,” explained Gopher throws coach Scott Bennett. “It is a necessity for throwers to have strong legs, especially in the shot put.”
More frustration occurred for coach and athlete as the surgery was unsuccessful, and Karl was still unable to squat as heavy of weights as he needs to. “It just shows what a phenomenal athlete Karl is, and that he can throw as far as he can without developing the leg strength that his competitors can,” said Bennett.
It is obvious that Karl has an athletic body and that he has worked hard in the weight room, but Karl’s mental toughness has proven that he also has the mind of an athlete.
“When I was injured, I began to doubt myself as a track & field athlete, I thought about whether to stay with it or not. It was a trying time and I had to dig deep within myself and reflect on everything in my life and see what was important to me, and I realized how much I really love track & field,” Karl said.
Bennett knew it was a tough time for Karl, but he said, “One of the greatest tests of character for an athlete is having an injury. Some people feel sorry for themselves and get depressed, but I didn’t see that in Karl. He just continued to work hard and remained a great competitor.”
After working through disappointment Karl endured to have experience plenty of success in his fifth year for the Gophers. He concluded his final indoor season with a Big Ten shot put title and All-America honors in the event. Erickson opened his outdoor season by setting the school record in the discus. He then went on to post a personal best in winning the Big Ten outdoor shot put crown. Karl said his Golden Gopher track experience he has taught him, “to dedicate yourself to something, work hard toward goals and to accomplish them. I am the only person pushing myself and I am the only person that can make myself succeed.”
The realization that Karl is coming to the end of his collegiate career has hit him, but he remains to have a positive attitude and outlook. “I’ve realized it’s all a stepping stone towards something greater and another phase to go through, so I have enjoyed everything in my college experiences.”
Karl hopes that the end of this season provides another stepping stone has he will continue to train, with aspirations of future Olympic Trials and Olympic Games.
As Karl heads into NCAA Midwest Region Championships and hopefully further he said he is, “focusing on doing my best and improving my marks, especially in the shot put because I feel like I made a step at Big Ten Championships with an outdoor personal best. I feel healthy, I feel good, and I am excited to go down to Texas and do the best that I can do.”
Written by Emily Hennen, Athletic Communictions Assistant
