A few big names from the Minnesota Gophers recent past will be enshrined this fall
Monday morning the University of Minnesota’s M Club announced their 2024 Hall of Fame Class. Eight former Gophers from eight different sports will be enshrined in the 2024 Class. Two others ere nominated but can not
attend the Hall of Fame Weekend in September and will be inducted in a following year. Several of the names should be very familiar to most Gophers fans with one of the best offensive players in Gopher Football history getting the honor, a former NCAA winning hockey coach, and a former D with his name on one of the current athletic venues also being enshrined. Here are the following eight members of the 2024 Minnesota Golden Gophers M Club Hall of Fame:
Nicole Chimko-Fahey (Track & Field, 1996-99)
Coming to the U from Canada, Chimko-Fahey made her name on the field portion of the track. She would be a three-time Big Ten champion in the discus and javelin. She went on to become a two-time All-American in both events. During the 1998 NCAA outdoor championship, she finished third nationally. She ended her career as the school record holder in the discus.
Laurie Kaiser Sund (Gymnastics, 1983-86)
Sund would be the first great star for the Gopher gymnastics team. She would become the first three-time All-Big Ten selection in school history, all on the first team. The Plymouth, Minnesota native broke a school record in every individual event over the course of her career from 1983-86. Kaiser Sund won the Big Ten vault and floor exercise as a sophomore in 1984 and the floor exercise as a senior in 1986. Named the team’s most valuable performer in 1984, Kaiser Sund was also a multiple-time Big Ten Gymnast of the Month. She also competed at the University World Games trials in the all-around.
Harsh Mankad (Men’s Tennis, 2000-02)
Mankad arrived from India in1999 and immediately became the Gophers top tennis player. Mankad was named an NCAA All-American and the Big Ten Player of the Year in 2002 after posting a singles record of 26-5 overall and 8-0 in the Big Ten. He was a three-time First Team All-Big Ten selection and was the first Gopher to reach No. 1 overall in NCAA singles rankings. In November of 2001, Mankad won the Intercollegiate Tennis Association’s National Indoor Tennis Championships. Mankad was a two-time NCAA qualifier as an individual and in doubles play. After college he played in the Davis Cup for India from 2000-10 and competed at Wimbledon in 2010.
Tori Dixon (Volleyball, 2010-13)
Dixon was a star on the court for the Gopher volleyball team. The Burnsville native was a two-time AVCA All-American and a three-time All-Big Ten selection, twice unanimously. Dixon still holds the program record for hitting percentage at .369. Her 1,479 career kills as a middle blocker, ranks 11th in school history and second among middles. As a junior, Dixon hit .436, which also remains atop the single season record. Following her Gopher career, Dixon was a part of the U.S. National Team where she was on the 2014 World Championship gold medal team. She continues to play professional volleyball, both internationally and now in the United States.
Joel Maturi (Athletics Director, 2002-12)
Joel Maturi became the first athletics director of a combined men’s and women’s athletic program in 2002. Maturi’s career included a successfully merged department, high graduation rates, various programs ranked among the nation’s best, a balanced budget, helped efforts to bring a football stadium back to campus, facility fundraising and increased scholarships for student-athletes. Under the Chisolm Minnesota native’s leadership, Minnesota claimed five national titles and 45 Big Ten or WCHA championships. In honor of his work, the Sports Pavilion was renamed Maturi Pavilion in 2017.
Don Lucia (Men’s Hockey Coach, 1999-2018)
Lucia coached the Gopher hockey team for 20 seasons and is one of just two coaches to win a NCAA Championship with the Gophers going back to back in 2002 and 2003. He was named conference coach of the year four times and led the Gophers to four WCHA regular season titles, four Big Ten regular season championships, four conference tournament titles and played in five Frozen Fours under Lucia. The Grand Rapids, Minnesota native is Minnesota’s all-time winningest coach with a record of 457-248-73 and a .634 win percentage.
Amanda Kessel (Women’s Hockey, 2010-13, 2016)
One of the greatest ever to lace up the skates, Kessel helped the Gophers to three national championships, as the Gophers took home top honors in 2012, 2013 and 2016. Kessel was a key member of the 2013 team that went undefeated and finished the season with a record of 41-0. The Madison, Wisconsin native was named a Patty Kazmaier Award winner in 2013, In her Gopher tenure, she scored 248 points, 108 goals and 140 assists, all of which rank in the top 10 historically for the Gophers. Kessel was a two-time All-American, the WCHA Player of the Year, the WCHA Rookie of the Year and WCHA scoring champion while with the Gophers. An international star, Kessel played in three Olympic Games, where she won a gold and two silver medals. She also has competed in seven world championships, winning four gold medals. Kessel has gone on to play professionally as well as work in the Pittsburgh Penguins front office where she was just promoted to Director of Minor League Operations.
Eric Decker (Football and Baseball, 2006-09)
One of the best wideouts in the history of the Gopher football program, Decker was a two-time First Team All-Big Ten selection. The Cold Spring, Minnesota product ended his collegiate career with 227 catches for 3,119 yards and 24 touchdowns in 45 games. Decker was selected in the third round of the 2010 NFL Draft by the Denver Broncos and had an eight-year NFL career, as he played for the Broncos, New York Jets and Tennessee Titans. He helped lead the Broncos to an AFC Championship in 2013 and to a berth in Super Bowl XLVIII. Decker ended his NFL career with 439 receptions for 5,816 yards and 53 touchdowns. He also lettered two times in baseball for the Gophers and was twice selected in the Major League Baseball Draft, first by the Milwaukee Brewers in 2008 and then by the Minnesota Twins in 2009.
Also nominated to enshrinement this fall in the M Club Hall of Fame but will have their honor postponed to a later season to allow them to attend were former Gopher Women’s Basketball star Rachel Banham and former Gopher volleyball star Sarah Wilhite Parsons.
The eight new members will be inducted on September 6th in a ceremony at Williams Arena. The individuals will also be recognized throughout the weekend at various events, including the Saturday home football game against Rhode Island.
Congrats to the M Club Hall of Fame Class of 2024!!