University of Minnesota Athletics
Alumni Spotlight: Rachael Bona
3/21/2018 12:00:00 AM | Women's Hockey
MINNEAPOLIS -- The 2017-18 season marked the 21st season of Gopher women's hockey. Twenty years of student-athletes set the foundation for where the program is today, and it's time to reconnect with them. Up next in our alumni spotlight is Rachael Bona.
Bona played in 164 games for the Gophers from 2011-12 to 2014-15. She recorded 146 career points (60g-86a). A left-handed forward from Coon Rapids, Minn., Bona was a 2014 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award finalist and a two-time All-WCHA honoree. As a junior in 2013-14, Bona ranked third in the nation and second on the team with 61 points. She was part of three NCAA national championship teams as a freshman, sophomore, and senior. Bona was a three-time WCHA All-Academic Team and graduated from the University of Minnesota with a bachelor's degree in child psychology.
GopherSports.com caught up with Bona to find out where life has taken her most recently.
Gopher Sports: Where has life taken you since you graduated from the University of Minnesota?
Rachael Bona: After graduating from the U, I took about 7 months off and then went back to school at St.Catherine's and just recently received my Masters of Science in Nursing from there.
GS: Where do you currently live/work?
RB: I am still living in the Twin Cities. I am scheduled to take my nursing boards exam at the end of April and will hopefully secure a job at the University of Minnesota's Masonic Children's Hospital following that!
GS: What personal or professional accomplishment(s) are you most proud of since you graduated from the University of Minnesota?
RB: I am most proud of getting my Master's in Nursing. It was an extremely hard 26 months, but it has all been worth it. It has always been my goal to become a pediatric nurse and to see that final become a reality is so exciting for me.
GS: What is your favorite memory about your time as a Gopher on the ice? Off the ice?
RB: My favorite on ice memory was when we won the National Championship my senior year. Obviously when your college career is over it is a sad day, but going out with a National Championship made it a little easier to handle. My favorite off ice memories are just all the fun times I had with all of my teammates and the numerous memories we made together.
GS: What are you most proud of from your time as a Gopher?
RB: I would say just all the success that our teams had. To win three national championships in four years and to play in the national championship game each year is an incredible accomplishment.
GS: What advice would you give your college self/current Gophers?
RB: Enjoy it! Never again will you live with or close to all of you best friends and have the opportunity to see them every day. They are the best years of your life!
GS: How did your college hockey career help prepare you for life after college?
RB: It helped me a lot with my time management and my ability to balance many different things. It also taught me a lot about how to work with other people and operate in a team, which is a big part of healthcare and nursing.
GW: Are you still involved with hockey? If so, how?
RB: Yes! I am currently an assistant coach at Wayzata High School with my former teammate Mira Jalosuo, and I love it! Although I'm not playing any more, coaching is such a great way to stay involved and has been such a fun experience.
GS: Who is a Gopher Women's Hockey player you have enjoyed watching play after you graduated and why?
RB: There are so many great players to watch but I would say Sydney Baldwin has been my favorite. She was a great player when I played with her my senior year in college and has just continued to get better!
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