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Athletic awards include the athletes of the year, rookies of the year, breakthrough performers, teams of the year and coach of the year. The voting includes spring sports of 2022 (baseball, men’s and women’s golf, rowing, softball, men’s and women’s outdoor track & field and tennis) and the fall and winter sports of the 2022-23 athletic year. Voice of the Golden Gophers, Mike Grimm emceed the event. Gopher men’s and women’s hockey took home team of the year awards, both advancing to their respective NCAA Frozen Fours.
Listed below are the nominees of each category, while the winner is indicated in italics and bold:
Women’s Team Athlete of the Year
Natalie DenHartog, Softball
Taylor Heise, Women’s Hockey
Mya Hooten, Gymnastics
Joy Zhu, Women’s Swimming & Diving
Men’s Team Athlete of the Year
Brock Faber, Men’s Hockey *
Mohamed Ibrahim, Football
Max McHugh, Men’s Swimming & Diving *
Kostas Zaltos, Men’s Track & Field
Women’s Team Rookie of the Year
Mara Braun, Women’s Basketball
Nyalaam Jok, Women’s Track & Field
Ali Weimer, Women’s Cross Country
Mckenna Wucherer, Volleyball
Men’s Team Rookie of the Year
Logan Cooley, Men’s Hockey
Drew Bennett, Men’s Swimming & Diving
Athan Kaliakmanis, Football
Pharrel Payne, Men’s Basketball
Women’s Team Breakthrough Athlete of the Year
Taylor Landfair, Volleyball
Akilah Lewis, Women’s Track & Field
Gianna Gerdes, Gymnastics
Skylar Vetter, Women’s Hockey
Men’s Team Breakthrough Athlete of the Year
Michael Blockus, Wrestling
Justen Close, Men’s Hockey #
Jack Kelly, Baseball
John Michael Schmitz, Football
Women’s Team of the Year
Gymnastics
Women’s Hockey
Women’s Track & Field
Volleyball
Men’s Team of the Year
Football
Men’s Cross Country
Men’s Hockey #
Men’s Track & Field
Coach of the Year
Brad Frost, Women’s Hockey
Jenny Hansen, Gymnastics
Hugh McCutcheon, Volleyball
Bob Motzko, Men’s Hockey #
*indicates a voting tie – This marks the first time in Golden Goldys history an award resulted in tie voting
# won the award in back-to-back years
The Big Ten Medal of Honor was announced during the Golden Goldys as well, with the award going to John Michael Schmitz (football) and Taylor Heise (women’s hockey). Read more about their accomplishments here. READ MORE
The Richard “Pinky” McNamara Student-Athlete Achievement Award is given each year to an individual who has inspired all by making an extraordinary effort to succeed despite difficult circumstances, persevering during a time of tremendous adversity and/or overcoming a great challenge. This year’s award winner is Katie Borowicz of Women’s Basketball and baseball’s Randon Dauman.
For as long she remembered, Katie Borowicz always had problems with her legs, a tingling sensation that the early enrollee at the ‘U’ finally had checked out after her half season during the 2020-21 basketball season. After worsening symptoms, Borowicz was tested and diagnosed with chiari malformation. A condition where the skull is too small and creates pressure that causes part of the brain to be pushed into the spinal canal. The pressure constricts the nerves and can cause the formation of a cyst on the spine. Borowicz elected to get surgery and missed the entire 2021-22 season. After 607 days away from the court, Borowicz returned to the Gophers as a starting point guard on November 7, 2022. Leading up to her return on the court Borowicz was voted as a captain by her teammates as a redshirt freshman and appeared at the Big Ten Media Days in 2022. She returned and played 29 games despite having ongoing symptoms after her successful surgery. At the conclusion of the 2022-23 season Borowicz made the difficult decision to medically retire citing that her body was telling her that it had enough.
After suffering chest pains and temporary blindness, Randon Dauman has overcome tremendous adversity to play baseball at Minnesota. Starting his collegiate baseball career at Ohio University, Dauman left college for a year only to return to play in junior college. While finally landing at his dream school Minnesota, Dauman’s health took a toll. After realizing a heart defect and thyroid complications were the cause of his medical concerns, Dauman was able to return to play through the care of the Gopher physicians. Through it all, Dauman also founded a non-profit, Next of Can, in April of 2020. After living in three major cities, he witnessed several hardships faced by underprivileged communities and recognized the need for change. Based in Minneapolis, Dauman helps youth athletic and fine arts programs through monetary or equipment donations in addition to mentoring when time allows. His non-profit has raised over $92,000 worth of equipment for youth teams and organizations since its origin.
The Lindahl Outstanding Student-Athlete Achievement Award is presented to male and female student-athletes in honor of their success in both the classroom and athletics. This year’s recipients are Natalie DenHartog (softball) and Kaleb Siekmeier (Men’s track & field). DenHartog is a leader not only on the field, but also in the classroom. Earning various awards such as Academic All-Big Ten, CoSIDA Academic All-District, Big Ten All-Freshman Team and NFCA Freshman of the Year Finalist (Top 3). DenHartog graduated in three years with a communication studies degree (3.829 GPA) with a business law minor and then went out to earn a master’s degree in organizational leadership, policy, and development – evaluation Studies (4.00 GPA). She plans on attending Michigan Law School in Ann Arbor, Mich. in the fall to potentially pursue her dream of civil litigation. Siekmeier is currently graduated with a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering & a minor in astrophysics before working on graduate work for his master’s degree in aerospace engineering and mechanics. He was a four time Academic All-Big Ten selection, named USTFCCCA All-Academic, and a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar. Along with a successful career in the classroom, Kaleb was a two time All American in weight throws, including one first team selection, and will be finishing competing this spring in athletics.
Meg Messer (rowing) and Jaydon Antoine (men’s track & field) were awarded the Land O’ Lakes Outstanding Achievement Award in Leadership and Service. This award recognizes one men’s and one women’s team student-athlete who are accomplished in the areas of leadership and community service. During her time at Minnesota thus far, Messer has been a team representative on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, an active leadership council member and two-time recipient of the Leadership U Certificate of Excellence, and has volunteered several hours of community service work. Antoine is also an active leadership council member, and has dedicated numerous hours to community service work. Additionally, Antione is an Executive Leader for the Black Student-Athlete Association and championing the black experience within Golden Gopher Athletics.
Several student-athletes received their Leadership U Certificate of Excellence. To receive a certificate, individuals must accomplish the following items: attend and engage in Leadership U programming with fellow student-athletes, complete and debrief behavioral and emotional intelligence assessments, reflect on Speaker Series professional guests’ insights and actively engage with the Leadership U staff and fellow student-athletes. This year’s recipients are Katie Borowicz (women’s basketball), Delanie Cox (softball), Maddy Ehlke (softball), Mallory Garfield (rowing), Ava Hill (cross country), Cady Isom (rowing), Taylor Kreitinger (cross country), Carley Kremer (track & field), Sydney Kretlow (cross country), Madeline Lange (rowing), Grace Loescher (rowing), Meg Messer (rowing), Erin Reidy (track & field), Tiarre Sales (gymnastics), Zeyneb Sarioglan (tennis) and Ella Saunders (rowing).
The Gladys Brooks and Norman Borlaug Commitment to Academic Excellence Awards are given annually to recognize a women’s and men’s athletic team that have demonstrated the highest level of commitment to academic excellence. Tennis was awarded the Gladys Brooks Commitment to Academic Excellence Award, while Wrestling was awarded the Norman Borlaug Commitment to Academic Excellence Award. Softball’s Natalie DenHartog and men’s cross country/track & field athlete John Quigley have been honored as 2023 Big Ten Postgraduate Scholarship recipients.
The Tom H. Swain Campus Recognition Award is presented each year to an office or member of the University community who has had a positive impact on our student-athletes and who has supported the mission of the Lindahl Academic Center to help students in their academic pursuits. Emilee Hemme from the Office of the Admissions is being awarded this year’s Tom H. Swain Campus Recognition Award. Emilee works in partnership with the Lindahl Academic Center’s academic advisors and the Athletic Compliance Office to streamline the admission process for all incoming freshman and transfer student-athletes.
This year’s Teammate of the Year Award goes to University of Minnesota Athletics Business Office.
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