Ya gotta love college spirit, don’t ya? This weekend, the Minnesota Golden Gophers athletic department will host the “Golden Goldys” which rewards the best individual student-athletes and teams from the University of Minnesota for the Spring 2007 teams through the Winter 2008 teams. The event will be hosted by former standout Ben Utecht and his lovely wife Karyn. It’s a formal event, no less, including a “maroon” carpet. (What else?)

Here are the nominees…

2008 GOLDEN GOLDYS NOMINEES
FEMALE?ATHLETE?OF?THE?YEAR
Jenny Barnes (Rowing)
Heather Dorniden (Track & Field)
Emily Fox (Basketball)
Gigi Marvin (Hockey)
Jillian Tyler (Swimming & Diving)

MALE?ATHLETE?OF?THE?YEAR
Bronson La’Cassie (Golf)
Mitchell Mays (Gymnastics)
Jayson Ness (Wrestling)
Matt Nohelty (Baseball)
David Plummer (Swimming & Diving)

FEMALE?ROOKIE?OF?THE?YEAR
Katie Bethke (Soccer)
Megan Braun (Swimming & Diving)
Brook Dieter (Volleyball)
Jenny Lura (Hockey)
Jillian Tyler (Swimming & Diving)

MALE?ROOKIE?OF?THE?YEAR
Cade Fairchild (Hockey)
Alex Kangas (Hockey)
Hassan Mead (Cross Country)
Michael Richards (Swimming & Diving)
Adam Weber (Football)

FEMALE?BREAKTHROUGH ATHLETE?OF?THE?YEAR
Rachael Drazan (Hockey)
Briana Hassett (Softball)
Leslie Knight (Basketball)
Christine Tan (Volleyball)
Castina Wabeke (Swimming & Diving)

MALE?BREAKTHROUGH ATHLETE?OF?THE?YEAR
Tom Buske (Baseball)
Eric Decker (Football)
Justin Grunewald (Cross Country)
Damian Johnson (Men’s Basketball)
Steve Miller (Swimming & Diving)

BEST?WOMEN’S?TEAM?COACH
Matt Bingle (Track & Field)
Wendy Davis (Rowing)
Brad Frost (Hockey)
Kelly Kremer / Terry Nieszner (Swimming & Diving)

BEST?MEN’S?TEAM?COACH
John Anderson (Baseball)
Brad James (Golf)
Steve Plasencia (Cross Country)
Tubby Smith (Basketball)

BEST?FEMALE?TEAM
Rowing
Swimming &?Diving
Track &?Field

BEST?MALE?TEAM
Baseball
Cross Country
Golf

This should be a great ceremony and these student-athletes deserve the kudos as well as the coaches.