University of Minnesota Athletics
Richards Named Team MVP at Gophers' Banquet
5/2/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Swimming & Diving
Five-time Big Ten champion Michael Richards was named the men's swimming and diving team's most valuable athlete at the Golden Gophers' annual season-ending banquet. The banquet capped off a season in which Minnesota recorded its 20th straight top-15 finish at the NCAA Championships.
Richards honored as Big Ten Swimmer of the Championships after earning three Big Ten titles this season, repeating as champion in both the 50-yard and 100-yard freestyle races and leading off the Gophers' 200-yard freestyle relay in a Big Ten record-setting split of 19.05. At the NCAA Championships, the senior sprinter brought his career All-America awards total to 12 by placing ninth in the 50 free and swimming on the 200 freestyle, 400 freestyle, and 200 medley relays.
Drew Brown was named Diver of the Year after earning All-America honorable mention honors on both the 3-meter board and the platform at the NCAA Championships. His first All-America honor came on the 1-meter board last season. Brown was runner-up on the 3-meter board and third place on the platform at the Big Ten Championships.
The Jerry McCaul Award is given annually to an athlete who exemplifies the enthusiasm and dedication of Gopher swimmer Jerry McCaul, who died in 1979. This year, senior All-Americans Ivan Gutesa and Kevin Baseheart received that honor.
Freshmen Derek Toomey and Danny Brebrick both received awards for being Most Improved over the season. Toomey was a Big Ten champion in the 200 free relay and earned three All-America awards at the NCAA Championships.
The team's Hardest Worker honors went to senior David Hawker, junior Matt Papenfuss, and sophomore Sean Nesheim. Senior Zach Weis and juniors Mike Vernoia and Papenfuss were honored for their efforts in the weight room, receiving the Iron Fish Award.
Five Gophers earned their fourth varsity letters: Baseheart, Brown, Curt Carlson, Gutesa, and Richards. Eleven Gophers earned their first varsity letters: Turner Eckstrom, Larry Formosa, Philip Greenberg, Ben Griggs, Hawker, Nathan Jobe, Nesheim, Chris Peterson, Toomey, Kyler Van Swol, and Vernoia.
Richards honored as Big Ten Swimmer of the Championships after earning three Big Ten titles this season, repeating as champion in both the 50-yard and 100-yard freestyle races and leading off the Gophers' 200-yard freestyle relay in a Big Ten record-setting split of 19.05. At the NCAA Championships, the senior sprinter brought his career All-America awards total to 12 by placing ninth in the 50 free and swimming on the 200 freestyle, 400 freestyle, and 200 medley relays.
Drew Brown was named Diver of the Year after earning All-America honorable mention honors on both the 3-meter board and the platform at the NCAA Championships. His first All-America honor came on the 1-meter board last season. Brown was runner-up on the 3-meter board and third place on the platform at the Big Ten Championships.
The Jerry McCaul Award is given annually to an athlete who exemplifies the enthusiasm and dedication of Gopher swimmer Jerry McCaul, who died in 1979. This year, senior All-Americans Ivan Gutesa and Kevin Baseheart received that honor.
Freshmen Derek Toomey and Danny Brebrick both received awards for being Most Improved over the season. Toomey was a Big Ten champion in the 200 free relay and earned three All-America awards at the NCAA Championships.
The team's Hardest Worker honors went to senior David Hawker, junior Matt Papenfuss, and sophomore Sean Nesheim. Senior Zach Weis and juniors Mike Vernoia and Papenfuss were honored for their efforts in the weight room, receiving the Iron Fish Award.
Five Gophers earned their fourth varsity letters: Baseheart, Brown, Curt Carlson, Gutesa, and Richards. Eleven Gophers earned their first varsity letters: Turner Eckstrom, Larry Formosa, Philip Greenberg, Ben Griggs, Hawker, Nathan Jobe, Nesheim, Chris Peterson, Toomey, Kyler Van Swol, and Vernoia.
Players Mentioned
Free/Fly
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
Diving
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
Freestyle
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
Free/Fly
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
Free/Fly
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
Sprint Free
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
Breast/IM
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
Dist. Free
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
Freestyle
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
Free/Fly
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
MD Free
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
Sprint Free
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
Breaststroke
/ Men's Swimming & DivingJacob Johnson - B1G Silver Medal
Saturday, March 01
YuTong Wang Wins 2024 Big Ten 1M Title
Monday, March 04
Max McHugh Wins Two B1G Titles
Monday, February 27
Jean K. Freeman Aquatic Center
Saturday, May 21