University of Minnesota Athletics
Alumni Corner: Two-time All-American Mike Thorn
5/6/2019 11:10:00 AM | Wrestling, M Club
Former Gophers 141-pounder Mike Thorn, a two-time All-American, checked-in with GopherSports to see what he's been up to since graduating from the University of Minnesota in 2011.
The Thorn family has become synonymous with the Gophers program after Mike and his brothers David and Tommy all had successful careers in their home state earning All-American status.
Check out the full conversation below!
GS: Since graduating for the University of Minnesota, what have you been up to?
Raising a family with my wife Andrea. My daily activities typically revolve around my professional work as a financial advisor as well as volunteering as an elementary school wrestling coach. I'm lucky that I work in Minnetonka, which happens to be close to where a lot of former Gopher wrestlers live and work. And on top of that, a bunch of my past Gopher teammates bought homes in Saint Michael where I live. This includes David Thorn, Jake Deitchler, Joe Grygelko, and Torrey Line with rumors of two more on their way. We have a lot of fun!
GS: Where do you currently live and work?
I live in Saint Michael and I work at RBC Wealth Management in Minnetonka.
GS: What are your favorite memories of Gopher wrestling that you still look back on?
Broadly speaking, time spent with my teammates and coaches. We had a lot of fun! These are some specific moments that are top of mind as favorite memories:
- The 2007 season where the team won the Big Ten and NCAA Championship.
- The team visiting President George W. Bush at the White House.
- Hanging out at Manny Rivera's house and reading WIN magazine in the fall of 2007. They had Manny ranked #17 in their pre-season rankings. It was only three months later and he was ranked #1 in the country at 141lbs. Then, watching Manny become an All-American.
- Watching Cole Konrad win a National Championship in 2007.
- The road trip during the 2009 season where we defeated Penn State and Ohio State in the same weekend.
- Dustin Schlatter making a world team while still in college.
- Watching Tyler Safratowich become an All-American.
- Watching Jayson Ness win a National Championship.
- Hanging out at the hotel room with Sonny Yohn the night we both became All-Americans for the first time.
- Zach Sanders coming back to All-American after losing first round in 2010.
- Watching Kevin Steinhaus and Tony Nelson become All-Americans for the first time.
- Competing on the same team as my brother David during the 2011 season.
GS: What was it like becoming a two-time All-American?
It was a nice validation for all the sacrifices I made training and all the time the coaches spent working with me. I get to be a part of Gopher Wrestling history forever!
GS: What lessons did you learn as a Gopher wrestler?
Each coach I worked with taught me something different and unique.
1. J Rob taught me what it meant to have high standards. And maybe more importantly, the scope of what it would take in daily efforts to reach that standard.
2. Brandon Eggum taught me that college wrestling could be fun. I always looked forward to road trips with Brandon!
3. Joe Russell taught me the importance of a positive attitude. You just can't help but to love being around this guy.
4. Luke Becker taught me about the meaning of dedication. He really led by example.
5. Marty Morgan taught me how to hand-fight like a D-1 wrestler.
6. Mark Schwab taught me how to train my mind through deliberate daily practices.
7. Bob Rohde taught me to become the strongest 141lber in the country.
GS: What advice would you give current Gopher wrestlers?
1. The surest way to get what you want is to deserve what you want.
2. Work hard to earn the trust of your coaches and teammates.
3. Become a technical expert in one area of wrestling where most others are weak. I was able to find success using leg riding defense, which was a position that scared the hell out of most other wrestlers.
GS: What was it like watching your younger brothers follow in your footsteps as Gopher wrestlers?
It's both exciting and stressful. I'm very proud of both of my brothers.
GS: Are you still involved with wrestling?
Yes and I always will be! As a youth and HS wrestler I had the opportunity to learn from a lot of great coaches including Marty Morgan, Gordy Morgan, Brandon Paulson, Brandon Eggum, Chad Erickson, Ty Friederichs, Jared Lawrence, Tim Krieger, Leroy Vega, Doug Schwab, Jeff Jordan, Jim Jordan, Dan Chandler, Jake Clark, Sam Barber, Nate Baker, Ron Sanders, Pat Zilverberg, Gregg Greeno, Dan Lefebvre, and of course my father John Thorn.
Looking back at this list coaches, I'm embarrassed that I didn't go further as a wrestler. Ultimately, I know first-hand the impact that a coach can have on a young man and I hope to do the same for the next generation of Minnesota wrestlers.
The Thorn family has become synonymous with the Gophers program after Mike and his brothers David and Tommy all had successful careers in their home state earning All-American status.
Check out the full conversation below!
GS: Since graduating for the University of Minnesota, what have you been up to?
Raising a family with my wife Andrea. My daily activities typically revolve around my professional work as a financial advisor as well as volunteering as an elementary school wrestling coach. I'm lucky that I work in Minnetonka, which happens to be close to where a lot of former Gopher wrestlers live and work. And on top of that, a bunch of my past Gopher teammates bought homes in Saint Michael where I live. This includes David Thorn, Jake Deitchler, Joe Grygelko, and Torrey Line with rumors of two more on their way. We have a lot of fun!
GS: Where do you currently live and work?
I live in Saint Michael and I work at RBC Wealth Management in Minnetonka.
GS: What are your favorite memories of Gopher wrestling that you still look back on?
Broadly speaking, time spent with my teammates and coaches. We had a lot of fun! These are some specific moments that are top of mind as favorite memories:
- The 2007 season where the team won the Big Ten and NCAA Championship.
- The team visiting President George W. Bush at the White House.
- Hanging out at Manny Rivera's house and reading WIN magazine in the fall of 2007. They had Manny ranked #17 in their pre-season rankings. It was only three months later and he was ranked #1 in the country at 141lbs. Then, watching Manny become an All-American.
- Watching Cole Konrad win a National Championship in 2007.
- The road trip during the 2009 season where we defeated Penn State and Ohio State in the same weekend.
- Dustin Schlatter making a world team while still in college.
- Watching Tyler Safratowich become an All-American.
- Watching Jayson Ness win a National Championship.
- Hanging out at the hotel room with Sonny Yohn the night we both became All-Americans for the first time.
- Zach Sanders coming back to All-American after losing first round in 2010.
- Watching Kevin Steinhaus and Tony Nelson become All-Americans for the first time.
- Competing on the same team as my brother David during the 2011 season.
GS: What was it like becoming a two-time All-American?
It was a nice validation for all the sacrifices I made training and all the time the coaches spent working with me. I get to be a part of Gopher Wrestling history forever!
GS: What lessons did you learn as a Gopher wrestler?
Each coach I worked with taught me something different and unique.
1. J Rob taught me what it meant to have high standards. And maybe more importantly, the scope of what it would take in daily efforts to reach that standard.
2. Brandon Eggum taught me that college wrestling could be fun. I always looked forward to road trips with Brandon!
3. Joe Russell taught me the importance of a positive attitude. You just can't help but to love being around this guy.
4. Luke Becker taught me about the meaning of dedication. He really led by example.
5. Marty Morgan taught me how to hand-fight like a D-1 wrestler.
6. Mark Schwab taught me how to train my mind through deliberate daily practices.
7. Bob Rohde taught me to become the strongest 141lber in the country.
GS: What advice would you give current Gopher wrestlers?
1. The surest way to get what you want is to deserve what you want.
2. Work hard to earn the trust of your coaches and teammates.
3. Become a technical expert in one area of wrestling where most others are weak. I was able to find success using leg riding defense, which was a position that scared the hell out of most other wrestlers.
GS: What was it like watching your younger brothers follow in your footsteps as Gopher wrestlers?
It's both exciting and stressful. I'm very proud of both of my brothers.
GS: Are you still involved with wrestling?
Yes and I always will be! As a youth and HS wrestler I had the opportunity to learn from a lot of great coaches including Marty Morgan, Gordy Morgan, Brandon Paulson, Brandon Eggum, Chad Erickson, Ty Friederichs, Jared Lawrence, Tim Krieger, Leroy Vega, Doug Schwab, Jeff Jordan, Jim Jordan, Dan Chandler, Jake Clark, Sam Barber, Nate Baker, Ron Sanders, Pat Zilverberg, Gregg Greeno, Dan Lefebvre, and of course my father John Thorn.
Looking back at this list coaches, I'm embarrassed that I didn't go further as a wrestler. Ultimately, I know first-hand the impact that a coach can have on a young man and I hope to do the same for the next generation of Minnesota wrestlers.
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