University of Minnesota Athletics
Nominations Set for Golden Goldys
5/4/2009 12:00:00 AM | Athletics
University of Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletics will hold its third-annual Golden Goldys, a student-athlete awards gala, at the Radisson University on Monday, May 4, 2009 at 7 p.m.
During the ceremony, the athletics department will recognize student-athletes and their accomplishments throughout the athletic and academic seasons. Awards will also be handed out, including the male and female athlete of the year, the male and female rookie of the year, male and female breakthrough performances, men's team coach of the year and women's team coach of the year. The voting includes spring sports of 2008 (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 2008-09 athletic year. Of Minnesota's 23 sports, 20 are represented in the nominations this year.
Highlighting the awards is the female and male athletes of the year. Nominated for the female athlete of the year are track & field’s Heather Dorniden and Liz Roehrig, hockey’s Gigi Marvin, swimming’s Jenny Shaughnessy, and soccer’s Kelsey Hood. In the male athlete of the year category are football and baseball’s Eric Decker, swimming’s Colin Lee-To, wrestling’s Jayson Ness, track & field’s Hassan Mead and hockey’s Ryan Stoa. 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 6 p.m. Former FSN reporter and current anchor for Fox 47 Rochester News, Ali Lucia, will serve as the Master of Ceremonies for the event.
FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Kelsey Hood (Soccer)
Heather Dorniden (Track & Field)
Liz Roehrig ( Track & Field)
Gigi Marvin (Hockey)
Jenny Shaughnessy (Swimming & Diving)
MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Eric Decker (Football & Baseball)
Colin Lee-To (Swimming)
Jayson Ness (Wrestling)
Hassan Mead (Track & Field)
Ryan Stoa (Hockey)
FEMALE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Tamara Strahota (Soccer)
Malisa Barnes (Softball)
Kiara Buford (Basketball)
Monique Lamoureux (Hockey)
Teresa Puga (Golf)
MALE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Jordan Schroeder (Hockey)
Tobias Wernet (Tennis)
Russell Dabritz (Gymnastics)
Nadav Kochavi (Swimming)
Zach Sanders (Wrestling)
FEMALE BREAKTHROUGH ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Melanie Gagnon (Hockey)
Megan Duwell (CC/Track & Field)
Alexis Russell (Gymnastics)
Kelly Schmidt (Volleyball)
Meredith McCarthy (Swimming)
MALE BREAKTHROUGH ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Jeff DeSmidt (Baseball)
Ben Kuznia (Football)
R.J. McGinnis (Track & Field)
Aaron Studt (Track & Field)
Alex Wold (Swimming)
BEST WOMEN’S TEAM COACH
Matt Bingle (Track & Field)
Mikki Denney Wright (Soccer)
Brad Frost (Hockey)
BEST MEN’S TEAM COACH
Dennis Dale (Swimming & Diving)
Steve Plasencia (Cross Country/ Track & Field)
Tubby Smith (Basketball)
BEST FEMALE TEAM
Hockey
Soccer
Cross Country
Track & Field
BEST MALE TEAM
Basketball
Cross Country
Swimming and Diving
Track & Field
Previous Winners
Female Athlete of the Year
2007-Meredith Nelson (Volleyball)
2008- Heather Dorniden (Track & Field)
Male Athlete of the Year
2007-Cole Konrad (Wrestling)
2008-Jayson Ness (Wrestling)
Female Rookie of the Year
2007-Heather Dorniden (Track & Field)
2008-Jillian Tyler (Swimming & Diving)
Male Rookie of the Year
2007-Kyle Okposo (Hockey)
2008-Hassan Mead (Cross-Country)
Female Team of the Year
2007- Track & Field
2008-Rowing
Male Team of the Year
2007-Wrestling
2008-Track & Field
Female Breakthrough Athlete of the Year*
2008-Leslie Knight (Basketball)
Male Breakthrough Athlete of the Year*
2008-Damian Johnson (Basketball)
Best Women’s Team Coach*
2008-Wendy Davis (Rowing)
Best Men’s Team Coach*
2008-Tubby Smith (Basketball)
*Indicates new awards in 2007-08 season
