University of Minnesota Athletics
Players Mentioned
INF
/ Softball
Groenewegen Wins Olympic Bronze Medal with Canada
7/27/2021 12:35:00 AM | Softball
MINNEAPOLIS – Minnesota Softball legend Sara Groenewegen made history on Tuesday becoming the first Golden Gopher to win a softball Olympic medal as Canada defeated Mexico 3-2 at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Groenewegen was clutch throughout the entire competition, leading the Canadians in innings pitched (12.1) strikeouts (14).
"We are beyond excited for Sara Groenewegen and the entire Canadian national team for their performance at the Olympics," Minnesota Softball head coach Piper Ritter said. "Sara has been resilient all her life and taking home the bronze is proof of that. She made history time and time again while wearing the Maroon and Gold, and we are proud that she continues to do so as the first Gopher softball player to medal in the Olympics. She represented Canada and the Gophers with pride."
Throughout the 2020 Olympics Groenewegen pitched a total of 12.1 innings, striking out 14 batters while allowing just two runs to hold an ERA of 1.46. She was the winning pitcher for the Canadians in their opening round win over Mexico where she had her longest outing of four innings. Groenewegen started in the circle for Canada four of the six games and also stepped up at the plate during the team's bronze medal run, highlighted by an impressive extra-base hit against Team USA that nearly tied the game late.
Groenewegen's medal makes it two for the Gophers thus far in Tokyo as the Canadian's bronze medal joins Bowe Becker's gold medal as a member of Team USA's 4x100m freestyle relay on Sunday. The University of Minnesota has a total of 14 current or former student-athletes either named to rosters or will participate in Tokyo during the 32nd Olympiad.
"We are beyond excited for Sara Groenewegen and the entire Canadian national team for their performance at the Olympics," Minnesota Softball head coach Piper Ritter said. "Sara has been resilient all her life and taking home the bronze is proof of that. She made history time and time again while wearing the Maroon and Gold, and we are proud that she continues to do so as the first Gopher softball player to medal in the Olympics. She represented Canada and the Gophers with pride."
Throughout the 2020 Olympics Groenewegen pitched a total of 12.1 innings, striking out 14 batters while allowing just two runs to hold an ERA of 1.46. She was the winning pitcher for the Canadians in their opening round win over Mexico where she had her longest outing of four innings. Groenewegen started in the circle for Canada four of the six games and also stepped up at the plate during the team's bronze medal run, highlighted by an impressive extra-base hit against Team USA that nearly tied the game late.
Groenewegen's medal makes it two for the Gophers thus far in Tokyo as the Canadian's bronze medal joins Bowe Becker's gold medal as a member of Team USA's 4x100m freestyle relay on Sunday. The University of Minnesota has a total of 14 current or former student-athletes either named to rosters or will participate in Tokyo during the 32nd Olympiad.
Now a strikeout from Groenewegen
— Devin Heroux (@Devin_Heroux) July 27, 2021
She's feeling it now folks.
Two down.
I should go to bed, but @GopherSoftball alumni @saragroe is pitching for a medal 😅 #sleepcanwait pic.twitter.com/QHPFLYq2Rl
— Sarah Hopkins (she/her) (@MNXCCoachHop) July 27, 2021
🚨#TeamCanada has its first Olympic medal in softball 🚨
— Team Canada (@TeamCanada) July 27, 2021
Team Canada defeats Mexico 3-2 at #Tokyo2020 to win 🥉🙌👏
Details on their win ➡️ https://t.co/AQYRBUjY1u pic.twitter.com/qRqTSwiFZE
Make sure to follow the Gophers on Twitter and Instagram (@GopherSoftball) and on Facebook so you do not miss any content during the offseason.There is nothing like that change-up😍 It was a breeze playing behind her haha!
— MaKenna Partain (@makennapartain2) July 27, 2021
Minnesota (4) - Michigan (0) Highlights
Friday, May 02
Sydney Schwartz Throws No-Hitter
Tuesday, April 29
Gophers (8) - North Dakota (0) Highlights
Sunday, April 27
Gophers (5) - North Dakota (3) Highlights
Saturday, April 26