Minnesota Golden Gophers women's gymnastics

The Minnesota Golden Gophers represent the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities in women's gymnastics. They are coached by Jenny Hansen. The Gophers have 6 Big Ten Conference titles, most recently in 2021. In 1990 Marie Roethlisberger won the NCAA Championship in uneven bars, the Gophers' only NCAA champion to date.

Minnesota Golden Gophers
women's gymnastics
Founded1974
UniversityUniversity of Minnesota
Head coachJenny Hansen (1st season)
ConferenceBig Ten
LocationTwin Cities, Minnesota
Home arenaMaturi Pavilion (Capacity: 5,700)
NicknameMinnesota Golden Gophers
ColorsMaroon and gold[1]
   
NCAA Regional championships
1980, 1982
NCAA Tournament appearances
1997, 2002, 2013, 2022
Conference championships
1988, 1989, 1991, 1998, 2006, 2021

History
Head coaches
Name Seasons
1 Katalin Deli 1974 – 1992
2 Jim Stephenson 1993 – 2010
3 Meg Stephenson 1998 – 2014
4 Jenny Hansen 2015 – Present

The Minnesota gymnastics program competed its first season in 1974 in AIAW competition, joining the NCAA for the 1983 season. Katalin Deli was hired as the first coach in 1973 and quickly established the team as a contender for regional and conference titles; she was named Big Ten Coach of the Year for the 1989 and 1991 seasons.[2] During her tenure Minnesota won three Big Ten conference titles as a team and Minnesota gymnasts won 21 individual event titles. Deli was fired following the 1992 season after gymnasts accidentally saw a sex tape of Deli and her husband, then-assistant coach Gabor Deli.[3]

Jim Stephenson took over the program in 1993 and added his wife Meg Stephenson as co-head coach in 1998. Under the Stephensons, Minnesota advanced to the NCAA National Championships three times, finishing 10th in 1997, 9th in 2002, and 8th in 2013. Minnesota also added more Big Ten team titles, winning in 1998 and 2006. Jim stepped down as head coach in 2010, continuing to assist the team in a volunteer position.

In 2014, Meg Stephenson resigned due to controversy over her siding with her husband in a sexual harassment allegation, and allegedly retaliating against the student who made the claims.[4] Assistant coach Jenny Hansen served as interim head coach for the 2015 season, before being officially promoted to the position.

The highest score ever recorded by the Minnesota gymnastics team is 197.750, at the 2021 conference championships.[5]

Roster
2020-21 Roster[6]
Name Year Hometown
Maya AlbertinSOHouston, TX
Erin FortmanFRBlaine, MN
Gianna GerdesFRDelaware, OH
Kate GrothenhuisSOEden Prairie, MN
Mya HootenFRWoodbury, MN
Katie HorakFRBuffalo, MN
Emily KockFRBloomington, MN
Mary Korlin-DownsR-SRLake Elmo, MN
Mallory LeneaveSOLee's Summit, MO
Ona LoperSRBluffton, SC
Lexi MontgomerySRThe Colony, TX
Abbie NylinJRRogers, MN
Maddie QuarlesR-SOAndover, MN
Lexy RamlerSRSt Michael, MN
Halle Remlinger SO Winona, MN
Tiarre Sales JR Henderson, NV
Ella Sirjord FR Andover, MN
Ali Sonier JR Sussex, WI
Hannah Willmarth SR Boulder, CO
  • Head coach: Jenny Hansen
  • Assistant coach: Geralen Stack-Eaton
  • Assistant coach: Rich Stenger

See also

References
  1. "Colors and Type | University Relations". Retrieved December 20, 2022.
  2. "Golden Gopher Honors and Awards". Minnesota Golden Gophers. Retrieved 4 September 2015.
  3. Associated Press. "Minnesota Gymnastics Coach Fired After Team Sees Alleged Sex Tape". LA Times. Retrieved 4 September 2015.
  4. Gonzalez, Jason. "Gophers gymnastics coach out at U of M after sexual harassment investigations". StarTribune. Star Tribune. Retrieved 4 September 2015.
  5. "Women's Gymnastics Meet Results". Retrieved 20 March 2021.
  6. "Official Women's Gymnastics Roster". Minnesota Golden Gophers. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.