University of Minnesota Athletics
Nominations Set for Sunday's Golden Goldys
4/29/2008 12:00:00 AM | Athletics
University of Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletics will hold the second-annual Golden Goldys, a student-athlete awards gala, at the Radisson University on Sunday May 4, 2008. Hors d’oeuvres will be available from 4-4:45 p.m., while the awards ceremony will be held from 4:45-7 p.m.
During the ceremony, the athletics department will recognize student-athletes and their accomplishments throughout the athletic season. Awards will also be handed out, including the male and female athlete of the year, the male and female rookie of the year, the male and female team of the year and the male and female community service team of the year. Awards added in its second year are the men's team coach of the year, women's team coach of the year and the male and female breakthrough performances.
The voting includes spring sports of 2007 (baseball, men's and women's golf, rowing, softball, men's and women's outdoor track & field and men's and women's tennis) and the fall and winter sports of the 2007-08 athletic year. Of Minnesota's 25 sports, 19 are represented in the nominations this year. Only three student-athletes garnered their second nomination in the first two years of the Golden Goldys. Hockey’s Gigi Marvin is the only athlete to have been nominated for the Female Athlete of the Year twice, while track's Heather Dorniden and wrestling's Jayson Ness were both up for the rookie of the year award last season. Highlighting the awards is the female and male athletes of the year. Nominated for the female athlete of the year is Dorniden, Marvin, rowing's Jenny Barnes, basketball's Emily Fox and swimming's Jillian Tyler. In the male athlete of the year category is golf's Bronson La'Cassie, gymnastics' Mitchell Mays, Ness, baseball's Matt Nohelty and swimming's David Plummer. A full list of the awards and nominees is listed below.
The event, similar to ESPN’s ESPYS, will feature the U of M student-athletes in formal attire, where they walk down the 'maroon' carpet as early as 4 p.m. Former Gopher football standout Ben Utecht and his wife Karyn (Stordahl) will emcee the event. Utecht finished his collegiate career in 2003 and continued his football career with the Indianapolis Colts and is now with the Cincinnati Bengals. Stordahl was a member of the women's golf team and also finished her Gopher career in 2003. The couple were later married in 2006. The Radisson’s second floor is reserved for the Golden Goldys and will feature NCAA and Big Ten trophies from 2007-08 winning teams.
2008 GOLDEN GOLDYS NOMINEES
FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Jenny Barnes (Rowing)
Heather Dorniden (Track & Field)
Emily Fox (Basketball)
Gigi Marvin (Hockey)
Jillian Tyler (Swimming & Diving)
MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Bronson La’Cassie (Golf)
Mitchell Mays (Gymnastics)
Jayson Ness (Wrestling)
Matt Nohelty (Baseball)
David Plummer (Swimming & Diving)
FEMALE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Katie Bethke (Soccer)
Megan Braun (Swimming & Diving)
Brook Dieter (Volleyball)
Jenny Lura (Hockey)
Jillian Tyler (Swimming & Diving)
MALE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Cade Fairchild (Hockey)
Alex Kangas (Hockey)
Hassan Mead (Cross Country)
Michael Richards (Swimming & Diving)
Adam Weber (Football)
FEMALE BREAKTHROUGH ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Rachael Drazan (Hockey)
Briana Hassett (Softball)
Leslie Knight (Basketball)
Christine Tan (Volleyball)
Castina Wabeke (Swimming & Diving)
MALE BREAKTHROUGH ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Tom Buske (Baseball)
Eric Decker (Football)
Justin Grunewald (Cross Country)
Damian Johnson (Men's Basketball)
Steve Miller (Swimming & Diving)
BEST WOMEN’S TEAM COACH
Matt Bingle (Track & Field)
Wendy Davis (Rowing)
Brad Frost (Hockey)
Kelly Kremer / Terry Nieszner (Swimming & Diving)
BEST MEN’S TEAM COACH
John Anderson (Baseball)
Brad James (Golf)
Steve Plasencia (Cross Country)
Tubby Smith (Basketball)
BEST FEMALE TEAM
Rowing
Swimming & Diving
Track & Field
BEST MALE TEAM
Baseball
Cross Country
Golf
WINNERS FROM 2007
MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Cole Konrad (Wrestling)
FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Meredith Nelson (Volleyball)
MALE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Kyle Okposo (Men's Hockey)
FEMALE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Heather Dorniden (Track & Field)
BEST FEMALE TEAM
Track & Field
BEST MALE TEAM
Wrestling
