University of Minnesota Athletics

Team Awards

Richard "Chief" Siebert Most Valuable Player

Year Player Pos.
1985 Jon Beckman OF
1986 Tim McIntosh OF
1987 Mike Halloran C
1988 Paul Weinberg 1B
1989 Brent Gates SS
1990 Dan Wilson C
1991 Brent Gates SS
1992 George Behr 1B
1993 Ryan Lefebvre OF
1994 Mark Merila 2B
1995 Shane Gunderson C
1996 Steve Huls SS
1997 Robb Quinlan LF
1998 Robb Quinlan 1B
1999 Robb Quinlan 1B
2000 Jack Hannahan 3B
2001 Jack Hannahan 3B
2002 Luke Appert 2B
2003 Luke Appert 2B
2004 Sam Steidl OF
2005 Jake Elder C
2006 Andy Peters P
2007 Mike Mee OF
2008  Jeff DeSmidt
2009 Derek McCallum 2B
2010 Nick O'Shea 1B
2011 AJ Pettersen SS
2012 Andy Henkemeyer OF
2013 Andy Henkemeyer OF
Kurt Schlangen C/OF
2014 Tony Skjefte 3B
2015 Michael Handel SS
2016 Matt Fiedler P/OF
2017 Jordan Kozicky  OF/INF
2018 Terrin Vavra SS
2019 Eli Wilson C
2020 N/A
2021 Zack Raabe 2B
2022 Jack Kelly UTL
2023 Brett Bateman CF
2024 Josh Fitzgerald OF
2025 Drew Berkland OF

Dugout Club / Dianne Olson-Ficenko Player of the Year

Year Player Pos.
1985 Pat Pohl OF
1986 Mark Hess SS
1987 Steve Fregin P
1988 Jeff Georgen 3B
1989 Shane Kangas P
1990 Brent Gates SS
1991 Jeff Monson 1B
1992 Mark Merila 2B
1993 Charlie Nelson OF
1994 Bill Mobilia SS
1995 Tony Bender 3B
1996 Ryan Beers C
1997 Bryan Guse C
1998 Mark Groebner OF
1999 Matt Scanlon IF
2000 Josh Holthaus 1B
2001 Josh Holthaus 1B
2002 Scott Howard OF
2003 Scott Welch SS
2004 Jake Elder C
2005 David Hrncirik 3B
2006 Dan Lyons SS
2007 Kevin Carlson C
2008  Kevin Criter Mgr.
2009 Chauncy Handran P
2010 Kyle Knudson C
2011 Nick O'Shea 1B
2012 Austin Lubinsky P
2013 DJ Snelten P
2014 Ben Meyer P
2015 Matt Fiedler RF/P
2016 Connor Schaefbauer 2B
2017  Jordan Smith OF
2018 Luke Pettersen 2B
2019 Brett Schulze P
2020 N/A
2021 N/A
2022 Tom Skoro P
2023 Connor Wietgrefe P
2024 Jake Perry 3B

Paul Molitor Batting Champion

Year Player Pos.
1985 Jon Beckman OF
1986 Tim McIntosh OF
1987 Jay Kvasnicka OF
1988 Paul Weinberg 1B
1989 Jay Anderson OF
1990 Dan Wilson C
1991 Brent Gates SS
1992 George Behr 1B
1993 Mark Merila 2B
1994 Mark Merila 2B
1995 Shane Gunderson C
1996 Rob Smith 3B
1997 Eric Welter 2B
1998 Robb Quinlan 1B
1999 Robb Quinlan 1B
2000 Jack Hannahan 3B
2001 Sam Steidl OF
2002 Luke Appert 2B
2003 Luke Appert 2B
2004 Sam Steidl OF
2005 Matt Fornasiere SS
2006 Matt Nohelty OF
2007 Mike Mee OF
2008  Matt Nohelty OF
2009 Derek McCallum 2B
2010 Mike Kvasnicka OF
2011 AJ Pettersen SS
2012 Dan Olinger IF
2013 Kurt Schlangen C/OF
2014 Connor Schaefbauer 2B
2015 Michael Handel SS
2016 Matt Fiedler P/DH
2017 Luke Pettersen 2B
2018 Terrin Vavra SS
2019 Eli Wilson C
2020 Zack Raabe 2B
2021 Zack Raabe 2B
2022 Jack Kelly UTL
2023 Brett Bateman CF
2024 Josh Fitzgerald OF
2025 Drew Berkland OF

Dave Winfield Pitcher of the Year

Year Player
1985 Bryan Hickerson
1986 Bryan Hickerson
1987 Mike Pavelka
1988 Darren Knight
1989 Denny Neagle
1990 John Lowery
1991 Scott Bakkum
1992 Scott Bakkum
1993 Andy Hammerschmidt
1994 Jim Brower
1995 Andy Hammerschmidt
1996 Justin Pederson
1997 Mike Diebolt
1998 Ben Birk
1999 Brad Pautz
2000 Mike Kobow
2001 Mike Kobow
2002 C.J. Woodrow
2003 Glen Perkins
2004 Glen Perkins
2005 Matt Loberg
2006 Brian Bull
2007 Bill Johnson
2008 Dustin Brabender 
2009 Tom Buske
2010 Gopher Pitching Staff
2011 Scott Matyas
2012 T.J. Oakes
2013 Tom Windle
2014 Alec Crawford
2015 Ben Meyer
2016 Dalton Sawyer
2017 Lucas Gilbreath
2018 Patrick Fredrickson
Reggie Meyer
2019 Max Meyer
2020 N/A
2021 N/A
2022 Aidan Maldonado
2023 Tucker Novotny
2024 Connor Wietgrefe
2025 Noah Rooney

Phil Isaksson Teammate of the Year

Left-hander Phil Isaksson pitched for the Gophers 2008-11 and was a regular in the starting rotation his junior and senior seasons. After Phil passed away of cancer in 2015, the Gopher baseball program named the Teammate of the Year Award after him to remember his positive, unselfish attitude. 

Year Player
2005 Dan Thompson/Tim Theis
2006 Tony Leseman
2007 Tom Steidl
2008 Tom Steidl 
2009 Matt Nohelty
2010 Tim Ryan/Drew Hanish
2011 Drew Hanish
2012 Kyle Geason
2013 Billy Soule
2014 Lance Thonvold
2015
 
Joey Brettingen
Kan Ikeda
2016 Ty McDevitt
2017

 
Ryan Goll
Sam Niedorf
Cale McElroy 
2018 Drew Hmielewski
Fred Manke
2019 Jeff Fasching
2020 N/A
2021 N/A
2022 Randon Dauman
2023 Randon Dauman
2024 Kyle Bork/Tommy Gross
2025 Jack Taxdahl

Paul Fortin Scholarship/Athlete Award

Year Player Pos.
1985 Bill Lentsch OF
1986 Bryan Hickerson P
1987 Bruce Bates OF
1988 Dan Wilson P/C
1989 Karl Johnson P
1990 Brian Raabe 2B
1991 John Kopfer OF
1992 Darren Schwankl 3B/OF
1993 Kerry Ligtenberg P
1994 Charlie Nelson OF
1995 Brian Mensink P
1996 Tony Felling P
1997 Ryan Beers IF
1998 Mike Arlt OF
1999 Jeremy Negen C
2000 Jeremy Negen C
2001 Jason Shupe P
2002 Jason Kennedy OF
2003 David Roach 1B
2004 Andy Hunter 1B
2005 Andy Hunter 1B
2006 Luke MacLean 2B
2007 John Arlt C/IF
2008  Matt Nohelty OF
2009 Tyler Oakes P
2010 Brooks Albrecht OF
2011 Luke Rasmussen P
2012 Troy Larson IF
2013 Troy Larson OF
2014 Kevin Kray P
2015 Chris Schaaf IF
2016 Jordan Jess P
2017  Tim Shannon P
2018 Micah Coffey 3B
2019 Riley Smith IF/OF
2020 N/A
2021 N/A
2022 Chase Stanke C
2023 Noah Rooney P
2024 Noah DeLuga P
2025 Easton Richter INF

George Thomas Most Improved Player Award

Year Player Pos.
1987 Shane Kangas P
1988 Vince Palyan OF
1989 Jeff Munson 1B
1990 Eric Toijala P
1991 Greg Johnson 3B
1992 Keith Krenke OF
1993 Jason Karrman P
1994 Shane McCarthy OF
1995 Rob Smith 1B
1996 Ted Zrust P
1997 Troy Stein OF
1998 Dan McGrath P
1999 Josh Holthaus C
2000 Brandon Kitzerow P
2001 Kurt Haring OF
2002 Jeremy Beaulieu C
2003 Jeff Moen P
2004 Craig Molldrem P
2005 Andy Peters P
2006 Dustin Brabender P
2007 Josh Oslin P
2008 Scott Matyas P
2009 The Team 
2010 Phil Isaksson P
2011 Cullen Sexton P
2012 Dustin Klabunde P
2013 Ryan Abrahamson 1B
2014 Dan Motl OF
2015 Jordan Jess P
2016 Toby Anderson P
2017  Brian Glowicki  P
2018 Eli Wilson C
2019 Nick Lackney P
2020 N/A
2021 N/A
2022 Brett Bateman CF
2023 Richie Holetz P
2024 Drew Berkland OF
2025 Joe Sperry P

David Chelesnik Jr. Award

Each year, the Gopher Baseball program presents the David Chelesnik Jr. Award to an athlete who best demonstrates the special qualities of courage, determination and perseverance that were exhibited by David. This special  award is given in memory of an outstanding student-athlete who died of bone cancer on Labor Day 1984, after completing one year of a lifelong dream -- to play for the Golden Gophers. The memory of his courage in the face of insurmountable odds will long be cherished by those who knew him.

Year Player
1985 Paul Blanchard
1986 Alex Bauer
1987 Mike Pavelka
1988 Paul Weinberg
1989 Steve Calvert
1990 John Wroge
1991 Joe Wallraf
1992 Eric Porter
1993 Chris Lawler
1994 Shane Gunderson
1995 Mark Vandersall
1996 Bob Keeney
1997 Ted Zrust
1998 Kelly Werner
1999 Dan McGrath
2000 Ben Birk
2001 Dan McGrath
2002 Chris Guetzlaff
2003 Nick McCauley
Chad Drexler
2004 Gary Dick
Jared Sanders
2005 Luke Beresford
Josh Krogman
2006 Reid Mahon
2007 Taylor VanderAarde
2008 Jeremy Chlan
2009 Michael Kvasnicka
2010 Kyle Knudson
2011 Justin Gominsky
2012 Kyle Geason/Trip Schultz
2013 Ty McDevitt
2014 Dan Olinger
2015
 
Matt Halloran
Ty McDevitt
2016 Austin Athmann
Dan Motl
2017
 
Reggie Meyer
Toby Hanson
2018 Toby Hanson
2019 Ryan Duffy
2020 N/A
2021 N/A
2022 Riley Swenson
2023 Boston Merila
2024 Boston Merila
2025 Jack Spanier

Excellence in Athletic Performance Award

Beginning in 2018, the Excellence in Athletic Performance Award is bestowed upon the athlete who put in the work off the diamond and the practice field, showing the dedication to improving his body in the weight room throughout the year.

Year Player Pos.
2018 Reggie Meyer P
2019 Jake Stevenson P
2020 N/A
2021 N/A
2022 Chase Stanke C
2023 Will Semb P
2024 Brady Counsell 2B
2025