University of Minnesota Athletics
A Look at the 2011 Gopher Recruiting Class
3/4/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Track & Field
The Minnesota women’s track & field team announced its 2011 recruiting class of Alex Beckman, Amanda Beckman, Liz Berkholtz, Sasha Davis, Bria Halama, Jess Herauf, Chidera Obasih, Becci Osterdyk, Hannah Trasser and Kaila Urick, who have signed National Letters of Intent and will join the Golden Gophers in 2011-12.
“Overall this whole class is one of the best we have had in recent years,” said Golden Gopher head coach Matt Bingle. “I am very excited about her future of the program with the addition of the 2011 class. Like always, it is hard to judge a class until they get on campus and get to work, but this class has potential to be one of the best. What makes this class special is that they are great all-around athletes who have the potential to score for us in many different events.”
Twin sisters Alex and Amanda Beckman, of Apple Valley, Minn., are seniors at Eastview High School. Both are expected to focus on the jumps and multi-events in their Golden Gopher careers. They helped Eastview to the 2009 Minnesota Class AA title in the 4x100-meter relay.
Alex is a six-time all-state performer in the sprints, jumps and relays during her high school career. In 2010, her junior season, Alex captured the state title in the triple jump with a leap of 37 feet, 11 1/2 inches. She also placed sixth in the 100 meters with a time of 12.38 seconds. In addition to the relay title as a sophomore in 2009, Alex was third in the triple jump. Her career best in the triple jump is 38-8.
Amanda is a seven-time all-state honoree for the Lightning, earning all-state accolades three times in the long jump. She finished fourth at the state meet in the long jump as both a sophomore (17-10 3/4) and a junior (17-9) and fifth as a freshman. Amanda added state honors in the 100 meters in 2008 and 2009. She owns a career best of 19-1 in the long jump.
“Alex and Amanda are great additions to our program,” said Bingle. “They are all-around athletes excelling in soccer and basketball as well as track. Both are among the top seniors in the state of Minnesota this season. We are very excited about their future with our program.”
Liz Berkholtz is a senior distance runner from Sun Prairie, Wis., and Sun Prairie High School. Berkholtz is a six-time all-state honoree, three in cross country and three on the track. She placed sixth in the 2010 Wisconsin Division 1 Cross Country Championships last fall, eighth as a junior. As a sophomore, Berkholtz was the state runner-up in the 3,200-meter run (11:01.28).
“We are very excited to welcome Liz to the Gopher family,” said Gopher assistant distance coach Sarah Hesser. “She has been one of the top cross country athletes in Wisconsin since her sophomore year and is one of the gutsiest racers we have recruited in a long time. She has a big upside in the distance events on the track and will be better as the distances get longer in collegiate racing.”
Chidera Obasih is a senior from Brookfield, Wis., and Brookfield Central High School Obasih is the defending Wisconsin Division 1 state champion 400 meters (55.18) and the long jump (18-1). As a senior she also added a runner-up finish in the 100 meters (career best 11.81) and a third-place showing in the 200 meters (24.34). Overall, she is an eight-time all-state honoree. Obasih has career bests of 23.82 in the 200 meters, 54.97 in the 400 meters and 19-7 3/4 in the long jump.
“Chidera is a great young woman who we are excited to add to the Gopher family,” said Bingle. “We feel she can make an impact right away in our program in the sprints and relays.”
Sasha Davis is the standout senior sprinter in the state of Minnesota hailing from Brooklyn Center, Minn., and Park Center High School. Davis captured the triple crown of sprint titles at the 2010 Minnesota Class AA Championships winning the 100 meters (12.06), 200 meters (24.81) and the 400 meters (career best 55.09). She was the state runner-up in the 100 meters as a sophomore. She owns career bests of 11.92 in the 100 meters, 24.20 in the 200 meters and 17-4 1/2 in the long jump.
“Sasha is a great addition to Minnesota and has the range to cover all the sprints and relays for us,” said Bingle. “We look for her to be able to help us as a freshman. She is the top sprinter in Minnesota and we look for her to do great things for our program.”
Bria Halama is a two-event state champion from Independence, Wis., and Independence High School Halama won 2010 Wisconsin Division 2 titles with career best performances in the 400 meters (56.56) and the triple jump (37-2). She was also third in the 200 meters (26.45). As a sophomore in 2009, Halama won the triple jump and placed third in the 200 and 400 meters. Her career best in the triple jump is 38-5.
“Bria is an exceptional three-sport athlete who will look to help us in both the sprints and triple jump,” said Bingle. “She has the ability to do a lot of things for this team and I am very excited to have her join our sprint/jump crew.”
Jess Herauf is a senior multi-sport talent from Dickinson, N.D., and Dickinson High School. Herauf captured the 2010 North Dakota Class A javelin title with a throw of 139-6 and is a 14-time state placewinner. She will compete in the javelin and the heptathlon for the Gophers. In addition to winning the javelin, Herauf was third in the 300 hurdles (45.76), fourth in the discus (127-10) and ran on the runner-up 4x400-meter relay. She was named an all-state second team pick in basketball.
“Jess is the best female high school athlete in North Dakota,” said Bingle. “She excels in volleyball, basketball and track for Dickinson. She will be throwing the javelin and competing in the multi-events for us. She is a great young woman who really fits into our culture here at Minnesota.”
Becci Osterdyk is a senior thrower from Mora, Minn., and Mora High School. Osterdyk won the Minnesota Class A shot put title in 2009, then finished as the runner-up in 2010. She owns a career best of 43-10 1/4 in the event. Osterdyk is a three-sport standout, earning all-conference and most valuable player honors in basketball tennis.
“I believe we have a gem of an athlete in Becci,” said Minnesota throws coach Lynne Anderson. “She’s never trained specifically in the throws. Becci has such untapped potential.”
Hannah Trasser is a 10-time all-state distance runner from Brookfield, Wis., and a senior at Brookfield Central High School. Trasser competed in four Wisconsin Division 1 Cross Country Championships in her high school career with a third-place finish in 2008 topping the list. On the track, Trasser placed fifth in the 1,600 meters at the state meet with a career-best time of 5:03.
“A coach is getting old when you recruit the daughter of a former athlete. This is the case for Hannah as her dad was a track athlete at UW-LaCrosse under Coach Wilson,” added Hesser. “Hannah has steadily been climbing the ranks in Wisconsin prep distance running throughout her high school career and we could not be more thrilled to have her join our distance group. We have no doubt that she will be a wonderful addition to our roster both as a great developing athlete and a great positive energy for the team.”
Kaila Urick is a senior distance runner from Chaska, Minn., and Chaska High School. Urick competed in four Minnesota Class AA Cross Country Championships in her high school career earning all-state honors with a ninth-place finish as a senior. She also captured all-state honors in the 3,200 meters (10:48) as a junior.
“Kaila has been one of the top distance runners in the state of Minnesota for the past several years,” said Hesser. “We are very excited to keep her in Minnesota and hope that she will follow a long line of successful Minnesota distance preps that have had great success as Gophers! She will bolster a great cross country group that has qualified for the last six NCAA Championships and will be a nice addition to a young distance group on the track.”
Also joining the Gophers having signed Acceptance of Admission agreements are Becca Dyson (Roseville, Minn.), Anne Ferguson (Apple Valley, Minn.), Lauren Domski (Woodbury, Minn.), Megan Bailey (Minnetonka, Minn.), Stacey Swatek (Wisconsin Dells, Wis.) and Rachael Weber (Appleton, Wis.).
“Overall this whole class is one of the best we have had in recent years,” said Golden Gopher head coach Matt Bingle. “I am very excited about her future of the program with the addition of the 2011 class. Like always, it is hard to judge a class until they get on campus and get to work, but this class has potential to be one of the best. What makes this class special is that they are great all-around athletes who have the potential to score for us in many different events.”
Twin sisters Alex and Amanda Beckman, of Apple Valley, Minn., are seniors at Eastview High School. Both are expected to focus on the jumps and multi-events in their Golden Gopher careers. They helped Eastview to the 2009 Minnesota Class AA title in the 4x100-meter relay.
Alex is a six-time all-state performer in the sprints, jumps and relays during her high school career. In 2010, her junior season, Alex captured the state title in the triple jump with a leap of 37 feet, 11 1/2 inches. She also placed sixth in the 100 meters with a time of 12.38 seconds. In addition to the relay title as a sophomore in 2009, Alex was third in the triple jump. Her career best in the triple jump is 38-8.
Amanda is a seven-time all-state honoree for the Lightning, earning all-state accolades three times in the long jump. She finished fourth at the state meet in the long jump as both a sophomore (17-10 3/4) and a junior (17-9) and fifth as a freshman. Amanda added state honors in the 100 meters in 2008 and 2009. She owns a career best of 19-1 in the long jump.
“Alex and Amanda are great additions to our program,” said Bingle. “They are all-around athletes excelling in soccer and basketball as well as track. Both are among the top seniors in the state of Minnesota this season. We are very excited about their future with our program.”
Liz Berkholtz is a senior distance runner from Sun Prairie, Wis., and Sun Prairie High School. Berkholtz is a six-time all-state honoree, three in cross country and three on the track. She placed sixth in the 2010 Wisconsin Division 1 Cross Country Championships last fall, eighth as a junior. As a sophomore, Berkholtz was the state runner-up in the 3,200-meter run (11:01.28).
“We are very excited to welcome Liz to the Gopher family,” said Gopher assistant distance coach Sarah Hesser. “She has been one of the top cross country athletes in Wisconsin since her sophomore year and is one of the gutsiest racers we have recruited in a long time. She has a big upside in the distance events on the track and will be better as the distances get longer in collegiate racing.”
Chidera Obasih is a senior from Brookfield, Wis., and Brookfield Central High School Obasih is the defending Wisconsin Division 1 state champion 400 meters (55.18) and the long jump (18-1). As a senior she also added a runner-up finish in the 100 meters (career best 11.81) and a third-place showing in the 200 meters (24.34). Overall, she is an eight-time all-state honoree. Obasih has career bests of 23.82 in the 200 meters, 54.97 in the 400 meters and 19-7 3/4 in the long jump.
“Chidera is a great young woman who we are excited to add to the Gopher family,” said Bingle. “We feel she can make an impact right away in our program in the sprints and relays.”
Sasha Davis is the standout senior sprinter in the state of Minnesota hailing from Brooklyn Center, Minn., and Park Center High School. Davis captured the triple crown of sprint titles at the 2010 Minnesota Class AA Championships winning the 100 meters (12.06), 200 meters (24.81) and the 400 meters (career best 55.09). She was the state runner-up in the 100 meters as a sophomore. She owns career bests of 11.92 in the 100 meters, 24.20 in the 200 meters and 17-4 1/2 in the long jump.
“Sasha is a great addition to Minnesota and has the range to cover all the sprints and relays for us,” said Bingle. “We look for her to be able to help us as a freshman. She is the top sprinter in Minnesota and we look for her to do great things for our program.”
Bria Halama is a two-event state champion from Independence, Wis., and Independence High School Halama won 2010 Wisconsin Division 2 titles with career best performances in the 400 meters (56.56) and the triple jump (37-2). She was also third in the 200 meters (26.45). As a sophomore in 2009, Halama won the triple jump and placed third in the 200 and 400 meters. Her career best in the triple jump is 38-5.
“Bria is an exceptional three-sport athlete who will look to help us in both the sprints and triple jump,” said Bingle. “She has the ability to do a lot of things for this team and I am very excited to have her join our sprint/jump crew.”
Jess Herauf is a senior multi-sport talent from Dickinson, N.D., and Dickinson High School. Herauf captured the 2010 North Dakota Class A javelin title with a throw of 139-6 and is a 14-time state placewinner. She will compete in the javelin and the heptathlon for the Gophers. In addition to winning the javelin, Herauf was third in the 300 hurdles (45.76), fourth in the discus (127-10) and ran on the runner-up 4x400-meter relay. She was named an all-state second team pick in basketball.
“Jess is the best female high school athlete in North Dakota,” said Bingle. “She excels in volleyball, basketball and track for Dickinson. She will be throwing the javelin and competing in the multi-events for us. She is a great young woman who really fits into our culture here at Minnesota.”
Becci Osterdyk is a senior thrower from Mora, Minn., and Mora High School. Osterdyk won the Minnesota Class A shot put title in 2009, then finished as the runner-up in 2010. She owns a career best of 43-10 1/4 in the event. Osterdyk is a three-sport standout, earning all-conference and most valuable player honors in basketball tennis.
“I believe we have a gem of an athlete in Becci,” said Minnesota throws coach Lynne Anderson. “She’s never trained specifically in the throws. Becci has such untapped potential.”
Hannah Trasser is a 10-time all-state distance runner from Brookfield, Wis., and a senior at Brookfield Central High School. Trasser competed in four Wisconsin Division 1 Cross Country Championships in her high school career with a third-place finish in 2008 topping the list. On the track, Trasser placed fifth in the 1,600 meters at the state meet with a career-best time of 5:03.
“A coach is getting old when you recruit the daughter of a former athlete. This is the case for Hannah as her dad was a track athlete at UW-LaCrosse under Coach Wilson,” added Hesser. “Hannah has steadily been climbing the ranks in Wisconsin prep distance running throughout her high school career and we could not be more thrilled to have her join our distance group. We have no doubt that she will be a wonderful addition to our roster both as a great developing athlete and a great positive energy for the team.”
Kaila Urick is a senior distance runner from Chaska, Minn., and Chaska High School. Urick competed in four Minnesota Class AA Cross Country Championships in her high school career earning all-state honors with a ninth-place finish as a senior. She also captured all-state honors in the 3,200 meters (10:48) as a junior.
“Kaila has been one of the top distance runners in the state of Minnesota for the past several years,” said Hesser. “We are very excited to keep her in Minnesota and hope that she will follow a long line of successful Minnesota distance preps that have had great success as Gophers! She will bolster a great cross country group that has qualified for the last six NCAA Championships and will be a nice addition to a young distance group on the track.”
Also joining the Gophers having signed Acceptance of Admission agreements are Becca Dyson (Roseville, Minn.), Anne Ferguson (Apple Valley, Minn.), Lauren Domski (Woodbury, Minn.), Megan Bailey (Minnetonka, Minn.), Stacey Swatek (Wisconsin Dells, Wis.) and Rachael Weber (Appleton, Wis.).
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