Big Ten Recap

Most thought that with Aaron Studt red-shirting during the outdoor season the Gopher men's throws might be the events that hold the squad back from repeating as Big Ten Champions. That question mark was answered with an exclamation point this weekend in Indiana.

Lead by freshmen Micah Hegerle, and Sophmores Trey Davis, and Tyler Kleinhuizen the men didn't skip a beat and scored a total of 32 points at Big Ten's.

Hegerle started the weekend off claiming his first (of what will be many) Big Ten titles in hammer on Friday with a throw of 208-3. Hegerle's best on the season was 211-5 was thrown at Iowa on May 1st and broke the freshmen record in hammer 4 times throughout this outdoor season. Hegerle's mark currently ranks 8th nationally and 19th nationally.

All three competitors scored in the discus with Davis placing third (172-5) Hegerle placing fourth (170-1) and Kleinhuizen placing sixth (164-9).

Davis capped a successful weekend for the throwers with a huge PR in the shot at 60-1/2 placing second. That throw currently ranks him 11th regionally and 15th nationally.

Even though the season just ended it's staggering to look at the depth of the roster for next season. Not only are all three returning for next season but Aaron Studt has one season of outdoor eligibility remaining. Incoming freshmen Logan Hussung (Farmington, MN) and transfer Andy Norman (Winona via Hamline University) will definately keep the cupboards stocked for coach Lynden Reder.

The Gopher women finished 2nd, falling 10.5 points short of Penn State this past weekend. Sophmore DeAnne Hahn claimed her first title in hammer with a mark of 185-8.
Junior Nicole Tzanakis placed 5th in the disc with a mark of 164-2 and true freshmen Jessica Cagle (Grand Rapids, MN) 163-1 finished 6th and finished only 1 inch off making finals in the shot put.

Just like the men, all three point scorers will return and will be joined by Kim Hovey of Red Wing.
In other regional news, Wisconsin true freshmen and former Owatonna shot putter Casey Dehn placed 8th with a mark of 56-11 1/2

2010 High School Preview

A tame Minnesota spring should lead to some big performances in the throws this season in Minnesota. The 2010 season may go down as one of the best seasons for the shot put in the history of Minnesota.

Even with the graduation all-time greats Jessica Cagle (Minnesota via Grand Rapids), Casey Dehn (Wisconsin via Owatonna), and Sean Wallace (Stanford via Owatonna) there are many returners from last seasons state meet who should make 2010 memorable.

Red Wing Junior Luke Johnson is currently ranked 20th in the history of Minnesota. His marks from 2009 (60-9 3/4, 173-2) are the second farthest recorded marks by a sophomore, only behind the state's all-time record holder in shot put, Nate Englin, and former record holder in the discus, Mike Yonkey. Johnson will likely have company over the 60' this season. South Dakota State Football recruit and Blaine standout, Dijon Starr (58- 7 1/2) and Logan Hussung of Farmington (56-4 1/2) are the among the leading contenders.

On the women's side, future Gopher, Kim Hovey (Red Wing) is the returning state champion in girls AA shot put and is looking to capture her first discus title. Kim will face stiff competition from St. Francis freshmen, Maggie Ewen (135-0), and New Prague junior Elly Reinke (135-8).

Some not-so-under the radar names to watch in 2010:

Eden Prairie senior, Tyler Kubler, whose lone indoor performance (56'7") ranks him 43rd nationally is already 4 feet farther than his top mark of 2009 is proving why he's one of the most highly recruited throwers in the Midwest.

Owatonna, who has claimed 4 of the last 6 throws titles returns Jake Fensky (Junior) as their top thrower. Owatonna has not had a problem replacing top talent over the last few years.

Spring Lake Park/St. Anthony junior, Jesse Reemtsma is the #2 returning discus thrower (170-1).

Sophomores Bryce Johnson (Champlin Park) and Thomas Anderson (Andover) had the 4th and 5th best marks by freshmen all-time in Minnesota in 2009. Don't be suprised if one, or both of these two, put up some monster marks this season. These two should be very fun to watch over the next 3 years.

Opening the 2010 Season

The weight throw has turned in some big marks early in the season in the state of Minnesota.

Gopher senior Aaron Studt opened his season with a provisional mark of 64-8 1/2 and a second place finish behind post-collegiate Bryan Tolcser. The returning Big Ten Field Event Athlete of the Year for indoors and outdoors last season only competed in the weight throw in the first meet of the season. Tolcser throw broke the NW Open meet record previoiusly held by current U of M head coach Lynden Reder.

Freshmen Micah Hegerle (Dodge Center) broke the freshmen record in the weight throw with a mark of 63-8 1/4. Hegerle had a very strong red shirt season and is positioning himself to make his mark in the Big 10 this season.

MSU-Moorhead throwers Chris Heil (Blaine) took 5th with a throw of 58-1 and Anthony Enyi (Lakeville North) threw 57-3 1/2. Enyi also won the shot put with a mark of 46-6. Enyi opened the season with a throw of 62-11 1/4 at Mankato state on Dec 5th and currently ranks 4th in Division II. Heil currently ranks 13th in Division II.

The weight throw lead to some great starts on the women's side.

Sophmore DeAnne Hahn set a new personal best with a mark of 60-4 and was just over a foot off the NW Open meet record. Hahn had a successful freshmen season after qualifying for two events (shot & hammer) in the NCAA Regional Championships. Freshmen Caitlyn Dongoske (Mound) finished 2nd in the weight throw behind Hahn with a throw of 50-4 1/2. St. Cloud State junior Rebecca Kitzman won the shot put with a throw of 41-9 1/4.


In Division II, Rebecca Stier of Winona(Grand Meadow) currently ranks 1st in the weight throw with a throw of 58-10 3/4 and sits 2nd in the shot put with a throw of 46-6.

The Gophers men's and women's squads will be home for the Minnesota Open and the Jack Johnson Classic on the 16th and 23rd. There will be a few women who will compete in Lincoln, Nebraska on the 15th and 16th.

St. Cloud State University will be hosting a youth throws clinic on January 18th. More information can be found on their website.

http://www.stcloudstate.edu/athletics/sports/track/story.asp?pubID=44&issueID=25577&storyID=30574

Studt Takes 5th at NCAA Outdoor Championships

University of Minnesota shot putter Aaron Studt finished 5th in last night's men's shot put final at the NCAA Divsion I Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The junior landed a PR 63-02 3/4 on his second throw of the competition. Arizona State's Ryan Whiting won the competition with a 65-11 3/4 mark.

Studt the Big Ten indoor and outdoor champion in the event was a double all-American this season. The Ripon, Wisconsin native was the runner-up at the NCAA Indoor meet this winter.

Studt and Gophers Ready for Regionals

Gophers Competing at the NCAA Regional Championships in Norman, Oklahoma:

In order to qualify for the NCAA National Championships competitors must place in the top 5 at one of the regional meets. In the event of a poor performance or illness the NCAA has a small number of at large bids that it will award based on season performance.

Women's Shot Put, Saturday 5/30 at 12:15 PM

Freshmen, DeAnna Hahn

Women's Discus, Friday 5/29 at 5:30 PM

Sophomore, Hannah Studt

Sophomore, Nicole Tzanakis

Senior, Amanda Solberg

Women's Hammer, Friday 5/29 at 11:00 AM

Freshmen, DeAnna Hahn

Men's Shot Put, Friday 5/29 at 12:15 PM

Freshmen, Tyler Kleinhuizen

Junior, Aaron Studt

Men's Discus, Saturday 5/30 at 5:30 PM

Senior, Jerry Netland

Freshmen, Trey Davis

Men's Hammer, Saturday 5/30 at 11:00 AM

Senior, Andy Bastain

Junior, Aaron Studt

St. Louis Park (2008) graduate LaSheima Hampton will also be competing in the women's shot put.

Read about Aaron Studt in yesterday's Star Tribune article:

http://www.startribune.com/sports/gophers/46321332.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUUsZ

See Aaron's interview and winning throws from the Big Tens:

http://www.gophersports.com/newMediaPlayer/sl/console.htm?SPSID=38682&CLIP_FILE_ID=410552&type=vod&DB_MENU_ID=&DB_OEM_ID=8400&oemid=8400&CLIP_ID=402264&id=410552&SPID=3305

See Nikki Tzanakis's interview prior to the Regions:

http://www.gophersports.com/newMediaPlayer/sl/console.htm?SPSID=38651&CLIP_FILE_ID=414964&type=vod&DB_MENU_ID=&DB_OEM_ID=8400&oemid=8400&CLIP_ID=406073&id=414964&SPID=3300

All Eyes on Section 1AA

It's no secret that Minnesota is one of the toughest state meets to get into across the US. Thankfully there were no suprises out of Section 1AA. With four of the top give shot putters in the state coming out of Section 1AA let's just be thankful that they all survived via standard and will compete next Friday at Hamline in what should be one of the meet's marquee events.

Dehn (back) won the meet with 62-6, Stanford-bound Sean Wallace (left) finished second at 58-1, Red Wing sophomore Luke Johnson was third at 54-7 and Farmington junior Logan Hussung came in fourth at 54-6 all surpassing the state standard of 54-4. The next in what is becoming a emerging tradition of Owatonna throwers, sophomore Jake Fensky (right) finished 5th at 53-1.

Discus will be held Saturday at Lakeville South. There are five throwers who have thrown over the state standard this season (153-9). Dehn (187-6), Johnson (173-2), Hussung (161-3), Wallace (159-9) and Owatonna junior Brian Vargason (159-11) should all be in a good position to advance to Hamline.

The super sophomore out of Red Wing will have his chance for revenge against Dehn and Wallace in the discus on Saturday at Lakeville South. Johnson's marks rank him as the second best sophomore in the history of MN in both of shot put and discus, behind only current record holder Nate Englin (61-8 1/2, 2002) and former state record holder Mike Yonkey (174-4, 1985).

Read about Dehn and Section 1AA in the Star Tribune:

http://www.startribune.com/sports/preps/46421842.html?elr=KArksi8cyaiUo8cyaiUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUU

In The Circle Report: D2/D3 National Championships

Follow the Meets Live:

Division II:

http://www.flashresults.com/2009_Meets/outdoor/NCAADII/

Division III:

Men: http://www.raceberryjam.com/results/ncoutmenevt.html

Women: http://www.raceberryjam.com/results/ncoutwomenevt.html

NCAA Qualifiers

Shot Put

• Cody Hunt, Freshmen, Northern State, 58-8, Currently 3rd (competing 5/22 1:00 pm)
• Ben Jacobsen, Sophmore, Mary, 54-1, Currently 13th (competing 5/22 1:00 pm)
• Jeremy Soupir, Sophmore, 53-5, Finished 22nd
  
• Rebecca Stier, Sophmore, Winona St, 46-8, currently 9th (competing 5/22 7:30 pm)
• Maria Swanson, Senior, UMD, 45-5, currently 17th (competing 5/22 7:30 pm)
• Chelsey Brown, Junior, Winona St, 53-7, finished 33rd

Discus

• Rebecca Stier, Sophmore, Winona State, 148-10, currently 12th (competing 5/23 5:30 pm)

Hammer

• Michelle Potter, Sophmore, Winona State, 169-9, currently 13th (competing 5/21 3:00 pm)
• Maria Swanson, Senior, UMD, 167-6, currently 18th (competing 5/21 3:00 pm)
• Cassie Corrigan, Senior, UMD, 162-8, finished 26th

Shot Put

• John Schantzen, St. Olaf, 56-4, currently 2nd (competing 5/23 12:00 pm)
• Derall King, Sophmore, Hamline, 53-5, Currently 7th (competing 5/23 12:00 pm)
• Billy Oehlers, Senior, Concordia Moorehead, 51-9, finished 18th
  


• Sam Broderius, Sophmore, Gustavus Adolphus, 45-3, currently 6th (competing 5/23 2:30pm)
• Jenna Lewis, Junior, St. Thomas, 43-9, currently 15th (competing 5/23 2:30pm)
• Lisa Brown, Senior, Gustavus Adolphus, 43-4, currently 17th (competing 5/23 2:30pm)

Discus

• Griggin Hayes, Sophmore, St. John's, 161-3, currently 15th (competing 5/22 4:30)

• Sam Broderius, Sophmore, Gustavus Adolphus, 148-3, currently 8th (competing 5/22 1:30 pm)
• Felisha Willaert, Sophmore, St. Thomas, 143-11, currently 14th (competing 5/22 1:30 pm)
  

Hammer

• Andrew Brueggen, Sophmore, St. Thomas, 185-11, currently 4th (competing 5/21 1:00 pm)
• Aaron Wilkerson, Junior, Hamline, 176-8, finished 17th
• Andy Norman, Sophmore, Hamline, 172-6, finished 28th

• Megan Honan, Junior, St. Thomas, 162-2, finished 21st
• Jenna Lewis, Junior, St. Thomas, 155-2, finished 36th