University of Minnesota Athletics
Bruggeman Departs 'U' for Full-Time Olympic Training
11/13/2022 12:00:00 PM | Rowing
MINNEAPOLIS - After nearly two seasons working with the Minnesota rowing team, assistant coach Molly Bruggeman is departing the program to focus on training full time for the 2024 Olympic Games.
Bruggeman has spent the last two seasons with the Gophers and spearheaded their recruiting efforts as the program has continued to improve on the water. Now, she'll turn her attention to the U.S. National Team in Princeton, N.J., with the intention of competing and medaling at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
"It will be nice to be back into more of a normal training routine," Bruggeman said. "Right now, I train around coaching and that's hard. Obviously, there are a lot of great things about coaching that have kept me coming back, but it is difficult to balance the two. Ultimately, I had to make the decision to lean towards my dream of making the Olympic team."
She'll be training two or three times a day with a highly competitive group of 10 women at the U.S. facility, mostly on small boats and in pairs, with trips around the country and internationally to help continue the preparation.
Bruggeman got her start rowing for the Dayton Boat Club in her hometown of Dayton, Ohio, but quickly made herself at home on campus and with the Gophers staff and student-athletes.
"The biggest thing for me at Minnesota has been the people," Bruggeman added. "That sounds like a corny answer, but it's actually the most true of all. It was the reason I came here in the first place. The entire coaching staff with Alicea Strodel, Jeff Forrester, Victoria West and Sarah Weyrauch all are dedicated to making this group the best they can be. Then the athletes themselves, have really been some of the best I've ever worked with in their drive, their passion, their attitudes towards training and just going hard together."
Seeing that passion from the Gophers team has given Bruggeman a chance to look inward and gain a fresh perspective as her competitiveness has never wavered.
"It's part of why I want to pursue this again myself because it's been such a cool experience to work with this group and see them progress. I want that for myself as well and it brings me back to competing."
A three-time All-American at Notre Dame, Bruggeman is no stranger to racing at the highest level, whether domestically or on the international stage. She served as an alternate on the 2020 U.S. Olympic Team and previously turned in a gold-medal performance at the 2018 World Rowing Championships. This past September, she was on the U.S. women's eight team that finished fourth at the 2022 World Rowing Championships in Racice, Czech Republic.
"This is the kind of sport where you just have to be tougher than everyone else. When I see our athletes get to that point in their workouts, where we call it the 'hard place' of a workout, and see them confronted with it and then push through it. It's one of those things where I know how that feels, and to see them be able to work through that on their own terms, then see success, is such a cool feeling as a coach."
That impressive resume and experience has been vital for the Maroon and Gold since she stepped on campus. Bruggeman has been able to show the current student-athletes their potential for reaching the next level, while making a lasting impact.
"I've been able to lean into relating with our athletes. It's not easy and being a student-athlete has a lot of challenges, but I felt like all my experiences have really allowed me to be able to have that personal connection with our team. Knowing how awesome it is when it all pays off and to be able to celebrate with them is rewarding."
With the facilities on campus and the chance to be on the waters of the Mississippi River throughout the year, she knows Minnesota is a special place as the program will continue to grow and build momentum.
"There have been so many good and beautiful mornings along the Mississippi River. The fall colors every year have been awesome. Being able to go out and work hard as a group is something that I'll always remember. All the hard stuff we've done with this program has led to a lot of progress and to see the team excited for that growth makes it all special."
A lot of people in Minnesota now will be keeping a close eye on the U.S. rowing team in the coming months, cheering Coach Bruggeman every step of the way as she chases her dreams.
Bruggeman has spent the last two seasons with the Gophers and spearheaded their recruiting efforts as the program has continued to improve on the water. Now, she'll turn her attention to the U.S. National Team in Princeton, N.J., with the intention of competing and medaling at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
"It will be nice to be back into more of a normal training routine," Bruggeman said. "Right now, I train around coaching and that's hard. Obviously, there are a lot of great things about coaching that have kept me coming back, but it is difficult to balance the two. Ultimately, I had to make the decision to lean towards my dream of making the Olympic team."
She'll be training two or three times a day with a highly competitive group of 10 women at the U.S. facility, mostly on small boats and in pairs, with trips around the country and internationally to help continue the preparation.
Bruggeman got her start rowing for the Dayton Boat Club in her hometown of Dayton, Ohio, but quickly made herself at home on campus and with the Gophers staff and student-athletes.
"The biggest thing for me at Minnesota has been the people," Bruggeman added. "That sounds like a corny answer, but it's actually the most true of all. It was the reason I came here in the first place. The entire coaching staff with Alicea Strodel, Jeff Forrester, Victoria West and Sarah Weyrauch all are dedicated to making this group the best they can be. Then the athletes themselves, have really been some of the best I've ever worked with in their drive, their passion, their attitudes towards training and just going hard together."
Seeing that passion from the Gophers team has given Bruggeman a chance to look inward and gain a fresh perspective as her competitiveness has never wavered.
"It's part of why I want to pursue this again myself because it's been such a cool experience to work with this group and see them progress. I want that for myself as well and it brings me back to competing."
A three-time All-American at Notre Dame, Bruggeman is no stranger to racing at the highest level, whether domestically or on the international stage. She served as an alternate on the 2020 U.S. Olympic Team and previously turned in a gold-medal performance at the 2018 World Rowing Championships. This past September, she was on the U.S. women's eight team that finished fourth at the 2022 World Rowing Championships in Racice, Czech Republic.
"This is the kind of sport where you just have to be tougher than everyone else. When I see our athletes get to that point in their workouts, where we call it the 'hard place' of a workout, and see them confronted with it and then push through it. It's one of those things where I know how that feels, and to see them be able to work through that on their own terms, then see success, is such a cool feeling as a coach."
That impressive resume and experience has been vital for the Maroon and Gold since she stepped on campus. Bruggeman has been able to show the current student-athletes their potential for reaching the next level, while making a lasting impact.
"I've been able to lean into relating with our athletes. It's not easy and being a student-athlete has a lot of challenges, but I felt like all my experiences have really allowed me to be able to have that personal connection with our team. Knowing how awesome it is when it all pays off and to be able to celebrate with them is rewarding."
With the facilities on campus and the chance to be on the waters of the Mississippi River throughout the year, she knows Minnesota is a special place as the program will continue to grow and build momentum.
"There have been so many good and beautiful mornings along the Mississippi River. The fall colors every year have been awesome. Being able to go out and work hard as a group is something that I'll always remember. All the hard stuff we've done with this program has led to a lot of progress and to see the team excited for that growth makes it all special."
A lot of people in Minnesota now will be keeping a close eye on the U.S. rowing team in the coming months, cheering Coach Bruggeman every step of the way as she chases her dreams.
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