UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF MEN'S ATHLETICS 1995-96 GOLDEN GOPHER ALL-SPORTS SUMMARY ALL-SPORTS SUMMARY UNIVERSITY OF MINNEsOTA MEN'S ATHLETICS 1995-96 ALL-SPORTS REPORT he 1995-96 season for the University of Minnesota HOCKEY Men's Athletics Department was filled with its share Minnesota's "Pride on Ice" had numerous achievements Tof outstanding performances: during the 1995-96 season to add credit to the claim of having one of the top programs in the nation. Included BASEBALL among those were the nation's longest unbeaten streak (19 Head Coach John Anderson led the Golden Gophers to games), extending the nation's longest NCAA Tournament their 34th consecutive winning season as the team finished appearance string (12 years), and having a third player the season by winning nine of its final 12 conference · (Brian Bonin) honored as the nation's best player by win­ games. Rob Smith was named to the All-Big Ten first team ning the annual Robey Baker Memorial Award. while Steve Huls, Bob Keeney, Phil McDermott, and Justin Pederson were all honored on the league's third team. SWIMMING AND DIVING The Golden Gopher swimming and diving team captured BASKETBALL its first Big Ten Championship since 1926 and sent 10 stu­ The Golden Gopher basketball team also finished its sea­ dent-athletes to the NCAA Championships, where they son strong, capturing seven of its final nine Big Ten games placed 12th in the nation. Head Coach Dennis Dale's pool to end the season with a winning Big Ten record and an crew also had three athletes gain first-team All-America invitation to post-season play. Bobby Jackson, Sam honors. Senior Bernie Zeruhn was named GTE Co­ Jacobson, and Courtney James were all named honorable Academic All-American of the Year and was named mention All-Big Ten. Minnesota's Big Ten Conference Medal of Honor recipi­ ent. CRoss CouNTRY The Golden Gopher cross country team continued to make TENNIS large strides toward moving into the top echelon of teams The netters finished the 1995-96 season on a high note, in the conference with solid performances from returners winning nine of their last 10 matches and the NCAA such as Rick Obleman, Tony Riter, and Ron Hoffner. Region IV Championship to shock the nation and qualify for the NCAA Championships in Athens, Ga. It was an FOOTBALL ironic twist to see Minnesota qualify for its first NCAA Head Coach Jim Wacker's squad led the Big Ten and set a Championships since 1989, because the season also school record by having 15 student-athletes named to the marked the first time in five seasons the Golden Gophers Academic All-Big Ten team. Despite a frustrating 3-8 sea­ did not win the Big Ten title. son, the Golden Gophers ranked 31st in the nation in over­ all attendance with an average of 48,574 per game. That TRACK AND FIELD marked the program's best year at the gate since averaging Head Coach Phil Lundin's 1995-96 indoor and outdoor 53,131 per game in 1987. track and field squads each posted their best conference finishes in over a quarter of a century. The indoor team fin­ GOLF ished third in the Big Ten, followed by a runner-up placing Minnesota received a bid to the NCAA Tournament for the during the outdoor season. Both finishes were highwater fourth consecutive season while placing in the top 10 in marks for the program since 1968. seven of the 10 regular season tournaments in which they were participants. Golden Gopher Rob Kerr took home WRESTLING medalist honors from the NCAA Central Regional, thus Three Golden Gophers were honored as All-Americans at qualifying for the NCAA Championships. the 1996 NCAA Wrestling Championships held at Minneapolis' own Target Center in March. Jason Davids GYMNASTICS and Chad Kraft, who will both be returning next season for Head Coach Fred Roethlisberger continued to keep the the Maroon and Gold, along with senior Billy Pierce, all Golden Gophers ranked among the top gymnastics pro­ earned All-America laurels. Minnesota will return starters grams in the country, as the team was ranked in the top 10 in nine of 10 weight classes for the 1996-97 season. most of the season. Chris Harrington qualified for the NCAA Championships in the vault. 1 9 9 5 . 9 6 ALL-SPORTS SUMMARY MEN'S BIG TEN UNOFFICIAL ALL-SPORTS TOTALS FOR 1995-96 (Graduated Scale- 11 pts. for 1st place, 10 for 2nd, 9 for 3rd, etc.) ILL IND IOWA MICH MSU MINN NW osu PUR WIS PSU Baseball 9 10 5 8 2 7 4 6 3 11 Basketball 3 9.5 8 6.5 5 6.5 2 11 4 9.5 Cross Country 8 7 4 10 9 3 6 2 11 5 Football 4.5 1 6 8.5 7 2 11 10 3 4.5 8.5 Golf 2 9 1 7.5 3 7.5 5 11 4 10 6 Gymnastics 6 10 5 7 8 11 9 Soccer 9 8 6 7 10.5 10.5 Swimming & Diving 8 7 10 3 11 5 9 6 2 4 Tennis 10 3 1 11 7 8.5 8.5 5 6. 2 4 Track - Indoor 8 5.5 4 5.5 3 9 10 7 11 2 Track - Outdoor 8 7 2 5 3 10 6 4 11 9 Wrestling 8 1 11 5 9 6 3 7 2 4 10 TOTALS 66.5 70 59 82 66 78.5 43.5 90 48 70 88.5 PLACE 7 5 9 3 8 4 11 1 10 5 2 FINAL STANDINGS 1. Ohio State 90 2. Penn State 88.5 3. Michigan 82 4. MINNESOTA 78.5 5. Indiana 70 Wisconsin 7. Illinois 66.5 8. Michigan State 66 9. Iowa 59 10. Purdue 48 11. Northwestern 43.5 DIRECTORS' cup TROPHY GOLDEN GOPHERS CRACK TOP 25 IN FINAL SEARS DIRECTORS CUP RANKINGS he University of Minnesota finished 25th in the third annual Sears Directors Cup rankings released June 11 by NACDA (National Association of College Directors of Athletics). The competition recognizes the finest all-around Tathletic programs in the nation. This multi-sport national championship represents the partnership between NACDA and Sears. The Sears Directors Cup is part of the Sears Collegiate Champions program, which recognizes athlet­ ic participation and rewards performance at all levels of involvement. The program is a partnership between five athletic associations: NACDA, the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA), the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC), and the National Football Foundation/College Hall of Fame (NFFCHF). The Directors Cup gives men's and women's sports equal weight. Scoring is based on championship results in 22 NCAA Division I sports - 10 core sports each for men and women, and one wild-card sport each for men and women. Standings are based upon a 64-team bracket. First-place teams receive 64 points, second place 63, etc. 1995-96 Final Standings with point totals: 1. Stanford- 961.5; 2. UCLA- 836; 3. Florida- 731.5; 4. Texas- 700; 5. Michigan- 689; 6. North Carolina- 673.5; 7. Arizona- 629.5; 8. Penn State- 626; 9. Nebraska- 623; 10. USC- 598.5; 11. Notre Dame- 566.5; 12. Georgia- 561.5; 13. Tennessee- 559; 14. SMU- 536.5; 15. Wisconsin- 530; 16. Texas A&M- 524.5; 17. Arizona State- 521.5; 18. LSU- 515; 19. Auburn- 512.5; 20. Ohio State- 499; 21. Virginia- 495.5; 22. Princeton- 482.5; 23. Florida State- 478.5; 24. Colorado- 477.5; 25. MINNESOTA- 464.5. SCHOLAR-ATHLETES During the 1995-96 academic year, 124 student-athletes were honored as University of Minnesota Scholar-Athletes. This award is in recognition of academic achievement while participating in intercollegiate athletics at the University of Minnesota. In addition, five student-athletes were honored as the University of Minnesota Top-Five Male Scholar-Athletes as indicated in Bold. Name Sport Name Sport Anderson, Jonathan Track & Field Kieffer, Matthew Gymnastics Anderson, Michael Hockey Kinsella, Tim Wrestling Arroyo, Daniel Golf Kitzerow, Brandon Baseball Barber, Aaron Golf Koeppl, Rand Hockey Barney, Jeffrey Golf Komor, Andrew Golf Bassett, Benjamin Track/Cross Country Kraft, Chad Wrestling Bathurst, Ty Swimming Kraft, Ryan Hockey Bauman, Michael Swimming Kristoffersen, Martin Tennis Beers, Ryan Baseball Krob, Jason Gymnastics Bender, Tony Baseball Kurgz, Andrew Swimming Berger, Dustin Wrestling LaFleur, Brian Hockey Bemarde, Jared Track & Field Landgraff, Todd Track/Cross Country Bertogliat, Jesse Hockey Langolis, Mark Golf Beste, Jim Golf Levine, Tony Football Bjorklund, Isaac Swimming/Diving Lindgren, Erik Football Bonin, Brian Hockey Lindqvist, Glenn Track & Field Braaten, Luke Football Lopez, Luis Swimming Buchar, Darik Hockey Mason, Kevin Track/Cross Country Cahoy, John Swimming McCarthy, Shane Baseball Callinan, Jeffrey Hockey McClure, Charles Track/Cross Country Campbell, Lowell "Cubby" Swimming McDermott, Phillip Baseball Carlson, Carl Wrestling McManus, Erin Football Chalberg, Michael Football Mensink, Brian Baseball Clay, Nathaniel Track/Cross country Miller, Jeff Swimming Cline, Keita Track & Field Moen, Jeffrey Hockey Cockerham, Billy Football Monfre, Jason Baseball Conzemius, Justin Football Nevers, Thomas Hockey Copenhagen, Billy Gymnastics Nordrum, Travis Track & Field Crowley, Michael Hockey Oppenheim, Casey Tennis Deneen, Niles Track & Field Polhill, Jason Swimming Dodd, Josh Wrestling Quinlan, Robb Baseball Dooley, Adam Golf Rackley, Derek Football Doyle, Matt Golf Radke, Matthew Track/Cross Country Duerr, Troy Football Rantanen, V esa Track & Field Duey, Adam Swimming Rodgers, Fred Football Dunbar, Kevin Track/Cross Country Russell, James Todd Track/Cross Country Dunkel, Matthew Swimming Rutili, Roberto Tennis Eggum, Brandon Wrestling Sauter, Cory Football Epping, Jay Swimming Scblessman, Matthew Swimming Felling, Anthony Baseball Schoknecht, Mike Swimming Fowlkes, Chris Football Schroeder, Troy Golf Friederichs, Ty Wrestling Stommes, Eric Track & Field Gangl, Vincent Baseball Sudoh, Kenji Swimming Godbout, Jason Hockey Tallman, James Football Gonzales, Mark Track/Cross Country Tarver, Miles Basketball Grim, David Basketball Thornton, Gavin Swimming Hagman,