University of Minnesota Athletics
Meet the Gopher WBB Freshmen - Sari Noga
7/14/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
The basketball season is still several months away, but it’s never too early to look ahead to the upcoming season. The Golden Gophers have a class of four freshmen in 2010-11, three of them (Sari Noga, Kionna Kellogg and Shonte Clay) are already on campus taking classes, working on their games, hitting the weight room and getting used to be a college student.
We will check in with each of our Gopher rookies in the next few weeks to see how they are doing. Our fourth freshman, Micaella Riche’ spent the summer playing for the Canadian Junior National Team and will join her teammates at the U in the fall.
Kicking off our fun website features on the Gopher freshman is Sari Noga, a guard from Parkers Prairie, Minn.
The Noga File: A 2010 graduate of Parkers Prairie High School • played varsity for six years • 2010 McDonald's All-America nominee • selected as Minnesota's Associated Press Player of the Year in 2010 • named 2010 Minnesota Gatorade Player of the Year • Minnesota Miss Basketball finalist • five-time All-State honoree • three-time Little Eight Conference MVP • six-time All-Conference honoree • finished her career as Minnesota's top rebounder with 1,701 rebounds • finished third all-time in scoring with 3,507 career points • averaged 24.5 points and 12.2 rebounds per game as a senior • added 118 assists and 115 steals her senior year • scored 53 points, including a state-record 13 three-pointers, in a game against Rothsay her sophomore year • led the Panthers to a third-place finish in the 2010 Minnesota High School State Tournament • made the 2010 Class 1A State All-Tournament team • also earned All-State honors in volleyball and softball • played AAU ball for Minnesota North Tartan coached by Gerard Coury.
A quick Q&A with Sari:
What were your thoughts when you drove away from home and headed to the Twin Cities for college?
I thought, WOW! Am I really leaving for college? It didn’t seem real to me at all, not until I drove up to Wilken’s
where my teammates were waiting to move me in.
What was the last thing you wanted to do before you left home?
I wanted to make sure I could say as many goodbyes to friends and family as I could. (At least for the summer )
What was the one thing you made sure you brought with you to college, and why?
My stuffed clown, Circo, I have had him since I was just a little girl.
How did moving into the dorms for the summer go?
It went very smoothly! I was greeted by a few teammates and Coach Ted, they made it really easy and fast!
Now that you have been here a few weeks, what do you miss most about home?
My parents cooking for me, instead of me cooking on my own.
How did you feel about the first summer workout?
I was really nervous and didn’t know what to expect.
Who is your roommate and what is the most interesting thing you have learned about her?
Shonte Clay, I have learned how different her lifestyle in the big city of Chicago is compared to my small town living of Parkers Prairie.
Do the four of you freshmen hang out? What type of things do you do?
Yes we do, we hang out kind of whenever..doing homework or just on weekends. I would say Shonte is the loudest/craziest! Kionna is very outgoing, fun, and organized.
What were your first thoughts about campus life and class?
It seemed soo huge to me. I was coming from a high school class of 40 to a huge campus in a big city. They nice thing about the classes is that they are still about the same size.
Which upperclassman has been the biggest help to you, how and why?
All of them, I can’t just pick out one because they have all been very good to us. They are always there and willing to help. They know the experience and what it takes to go through it, so they have been helping us guide through it.
How do you feel now that you’re here, you’re officially a Golden Gopher?
I feel super awesome! I have always wanted to be a Golden Gopher since the age of 8, so it’s nice to be here and finally get to have the title of being a “Golden Gopher!”
