The Men’s Team

The 2006 U of M men’s track and field team, coached for the eleventh year by Phil Lundin, looks to recapture its Big Ten outdoor championship form of three years ago. Leading this year’s Gopher men’s unit has been senior thrower, Karl Erickson.

A 23-year-old from Zumbro Falls, Minn., Erickson has accomplished a lot during his four-plus years with the Gophers. Recently, the four-time All-American earned himself Big Ten Track & Field Athlete of the Week honors in both of the team’s first two weeks outdoor competitions.

The Gopher men begin outdoors after an indoor season in which they finished second (behind Wisconsin) in the Big Ten and featured three runners at nationals., senior runner Trent Riter and All-American high jumper Kevin Netzer will set the pace through the remainder of the Gophers’ spring schedule.

While this year’s team may lack a superb distance runner, Erickson and company should help lead Lundin’s 2006 Gophers toward a strong finish.

This 2006 team will not have distance runners the caliber of former standouts Adam Steele and Mitch Potter — first and third place finishers in the 2003 NCAA nationals 400-meter, respectively. However, this team does have a quality runner in Riter. Steele —though graduated — has remained present, serving as a volunteer coach to the team. So, Riter (a team captain from Shoreview, Minn.) and the rest of the U runners can perhaps benefit from some of Steele’s superior competitive running knowledge.

Riter competed twice at the NCAA nationals in the 800-meters and will enter late April with hopes to improve on what is already the third-best 800m time in school history: 1 minute and 48.2 seconds.

Netzer, also a team captain, will look to topple his career-best jump of 7 feet, _ inches this spring. A senior athlete from Rib Lake, Wisc., Netzer played a key role in Minnesota’s second place Big Ten indoor finish. His jump of 7 feet, _ inches placed first among his conference competitors. The accomplishment marked the third time Netzer’s been able to achieve a Big Ten high jumping crown.

Minnesota’s next competition is April 26 though 28 in Des Moines, IA, home of the 96th annual Drake Relays. A competition featuring many of the nations’ top teams, and big crowds (last year’s Drake Relays attendance of 5,100 marked its 40th consecutive sellout) should be tell of Minnesota’s 2006 outdoor season success.

The Women’s Team

The Gophers women track and field squad looks primed for its outdoor schedule. Led by head coach Gary Wilson, the Minnesota women look to have a successful spring as they attempt to expound on the record-breaking, national-ranking indoor success they achieved during winter competition.

During Minnesota’s ’05-‘06 indoor season, which ended with the NCAA nationals March 11 and 12 in Fayetteville, Ark., one of Wilson’s Golden Gopher athletes earned herself an NCAA national title, another young U woman broke her own Minnesota pentathlon record, and a special foursome of Gophers set new precedents with a special distance relay effort.

Wilson’s women earned the highest national ranking in the University’s program history for their indoor season; 12th. Of Wilson’s talented group of women, a particular freshman athlete has risen above and beyond the competition.

Rosemount native Heather Dorniden earned a NCAA national title by running the 800-meter dash in 2 minutes and 5.64 seconds. The outstanding achievement marked Minnesota’s first national record time. Dorniden, who took part in a record-breaking U of M relay team as well, was named Big Ten Indoor Freshman of the Year.

Another young female talent who flourished at nationals was Minnesota sophomore Liz Roehrig. A native of Chilton, Wisc., Roehrig turned in a pentathlon effort at the NCAAs that placed sixth there, but broke her own U of M record by 116 points. She earned a total of 4,115 points, with the bulk of her points coming from a high jump effort of 5 feet, 9 _ inches.

The other big feat for Minnesota at nationals was a distance medley relay finish of 11 minutes, 7.27 seconds. Dorniden, Jamie Cheever, Kadian Douglas and Emily Brown accomplished this time in earning All-American honors and becoming only the second Minnesota relay team to do so.

With these record-breaking efforts, expect Wilson’s Gopher women to have a lot of success in its spring season schedule. The U women prepare for the Drake Relays Apr. 27-29 and will be eying the outdoor nationals in Sacramento, Calif. this June.

As I walked into the St. Paul Gymnasium, I was second-guessing my choice to do this story. The only experiences I’ve had with heights is with ladders, bungee jumping and a ropes course. I had never really climbed anything of significant height before. But I decided to give it a whirl. Here is what to expect the first time taking on the St. Paul climbing wall.

After checking in at the front desk and paying $4 for the climbing wall, day pass, I started my walk to the course. Upon arrival, I introduced myself to the college-aged girl whom would eventually be my wall climbing assistant. I asked her what seemed like logical questions: “Has there been any kind of equipment failure in the past?” She laughed a little and replied no. Then she had me sign a waiver, the standard do-at-your-own-risk type, and helped me find the necessary equipment: a harness and pair of shoes that fit. The shoes were narrow, with little support: obviously meant for climbing. I struggled to put the harness on; I don’t think anyone gets it correct on the first try.

Once I had the harness and shoes on, I was ready to be roped up. I learned the acceptable way of tying a figure-eight knot as well as some other type of knot that I can’t remember. The rope was knotted in two spots to my harness, then went to the top of the wall, came back down to my assistant and was strapped to her as well. I felt pretty safe, but it seemed a bit sketchy that my 200-pound frame would be supported by a girl 80 to 90 pounds lighter. Thankfully, I remembered how pulley systems worked from physics class, which calmed my nerves. After talking about basic climbing strategy with my assistant for a couple minutes, I was ready for my first climb.

I decided to scale the easiest side of the wall, which was relatively flat. It had fairly large places to put my hands and feet but nevertheless it challenged me. I made my way rather swiftly and within minutes I was slapping the top of the wall. This was my high point of the afternoon.

Then I decided to try the medium difficulty section. I made it about two-thirds of the way up before I had no idea of where to go. Before plummeting back to the ground I had the climbing assistant take my picture — it is always a good idea to get your photo taken in a pretty difficult section so you look like a badass.

My helper then decided it would be a good idea for me to try the most difficult section to get a feel for it. This was intense; the places for my feet were between an inch and two inches long and about a half inch away from the wall. I struggled to get between six and eight feet up the wall before calling it a day.

My fingers were burning about ten minutes into the excursion and my arms shook frequently due to insufficient upper body strength. Overall, I had a blast climbing the wall and would recommend it to everyone. The only downside to the climbing wall is that there are treadmills facing the wall. So if you’re self-conscious, beware that people will most likely be watching as you try your luck at the wall.

Information about the Wall

The climbing wall in Saint Paul is 25 feet tall and has five top ropes; basically five different ropes to climb with. The climbing wall has more than 900 square feet of climbing surface. It costs $4 for a day pass at the climbing wall in St. Paul. There is also a bouldering wall at the St. Paul Gymnasium and at the Rec Center on the East Bank of the Minneapolis campus. A bouldering wall is more life-like without big, defined areas for a climber to put there feet and hands. For information about the climbing or bouldering walls, call (612) 625-8790.

As some university students traveled to hot spots around the globe over spring break, many stayed in Minneapolis, confined indoors, as 2 feet of snow fell and temperatures hovered near 30 degrees. And while I watched nearly 25 hours of March Madness, I thought to myself, “Where’s spring?” I turned up the thermostat and threw another Pasta Roni in the microwave and dreamt of the day when I could remain outside for more than a half hour. Well, that time has come. The snow has finally melted and the winter coats have been packed away for good. The Minnesota spring is upon us and it’s time to get outside and enjoy it, because we all know next winter is only seven-short months away.

So I implore readers to get outside, but many of you may wonder what to do once you’re out there. Maybe the thought of taking a 5-mile jog or running up and down a basketball court isn’t exactly your idea of a good time. Maybe you spent more time playing beer pong than at the Rec Center over the winter. If that’s the case, let me introduce to you the wide world of leisure activities; the ones that require a bit of skill and allow for maximum relaxation while doing their best to make sure you don’t break a sweat. So read on and discover some old favorites that will help you forget all about the drudgery of winter and make sure your homework remains untouched.

Hacky Sack

Playing “hack” is truly a classic way to waste away a nice spring day without running short of breath. Beside the occasional car flying by screaming “hippies,” a relaxing afternoon is yours. Add in the accompanying meaningless conversations between friends and acquaintances and a daily spring routine begins. Try to cut it off before nighttime when the shadow games begin and the sack blends in with the night sky; it’ll save a lot of frustration and may actually allow you to get some real work done.

What you’ll need: a $10 dirt sack which can easily be picked up around campus and a level playing surface and you’re ready to go.

Bocce Ball

Bocce can seem like a rather ridiculous game, and it is. Toss the little white ball around and then have each player throw to get within the closest proximity of it. However, this four-player game can become addictive as players battle for bocce supremacy. Scoring can vary, but according to the prestigious United States Bocce Federation, a game is typically played to 13 points. Beside the occasional thrown-out arm, bocce is another harmless activity that can get you and your buddies outside.

What you’ll need: Go in with a group and pick up a nice bocce set. Sets can range anywhere from $25-$100 and I’d recommend at least a $50 set. Find a wide open area, preferably with some small pits and hills, and let it fly. Try to avoid losing control of the balls and taking out a squirrel or windshield.

Bollo Ball

Bollo ball is a little-known game that is in the same vane as “bean bag toss.” Sadly, it was unknown to me until this past summer. Each player receives two “bolos,” which are devices that consist of two hard balls attached through the middle by a piece of string. The goal is to wrap the bollo around one of three horizontal bars, each with their respective point values. The game consists of two players on each side and is played to 21 points. More challenging and exciting than bocce, without the ever-so-strenuousness task of walking.

What’ll you’ll need: For all you do-it-yourselfers, get to a hardware store and stock up on PVC pipe, rope, and a couple of wooden balls and construct your own sturdy set for a extremely cheap price. If this sounds like too daunting of a task, pick up a set for around $30. But buyer beware, a Bollo set can be destroyed within a single day.

Catch

Another spring option is to get back to the basics. Tossing around a ball or flying disc may not sound like the most exciting thing in the world, but thousands of university students that get outside anytime the temperature rises above 40 degrees will tell you otherwise.

Whatl you’ll need: Dig through your apartment or house, or check out from the residence halls any equipment you’ll need. Gloves may be in order if a baseball is your choice, and again watch out for those pesky windshields and pedestrians and try not to let that flying disc get away from you.

So there you have it. These activities along with the likes of bean bag toss, “horse”, lawn darts (if you still have them), and croquet should provide you with the relaxing spring that you’ve thought about since November. So, hit up Marcy Park in Dinkytown, Van Cleve Park on Como, Northrop Mall, or your front lawn and enjoy the spring before the scorching heat of summer arrives.

College students and 65-year-old men, in a closed off room, slap around balls. There’s no foul play here, this is the University of Minnesota Squash Club. The squash club is a group of roughly 50 athletes who meet three times per week to compete in a game that few people neither play nor know much about.

Brief Overview of the Game

Squash is a combination of tennis and badminton. The racquet used in the sport is about as long as a badminton racquet, but it’s as strong as a tennis racquet. There are two types of balls used in squash, the hardball and softball. The hardball is traditional and not widely used anymore. The U squash club uses softballs.

The court for squash is odd. Like racquetball, the game is played in an enclosed, four walled room. However, in squash there are boundaries on each wall and the ball must strike within the boundaries. The side walls have lines angling down and if the ball touches the side wall, it must be under the angled lines.

Scoring in squash is similar to the scoring in volleyball because only the server can score. If the non-server wins a rally, he or she then becomes the server. Like tennis, a server switches halves of the court on each serve. When the game is tied 8 to 8, the non-server gets to decide whether the game is played to nine points or to ten. There is no “win by two” rule in squash. A player wins a match in squash by winning three out of five games.

U of M Squash

Members of the club range in age from 18 – 65. The club is always open to new members and frequently has newcomers at their meeting times. Jacob Williams, first-year graduate student at the U, played tennis in high school and college. Williams recently took up squash and says “One of my professors got me starting to play and he suggested that I join the club.”

Vinh Chung, squash player and coordinator at the U, said that matches can last anywhere from 20 minutes to a half hour. In that time, players are constantly strategizing and running. Chung went on to say that squash is like a chess game because shots are intended to make the opponent run around and wear themselves out.

It is extremely cheap to be a member of the U of M squash club, only $10 per year. The dues cover the cost of social events and clinics taught by professional squash players.

Squash will be played at a very high level April 20 to April22 when the University of Minnesota Squash Club hosts the Minnesota state singles squash tournament. The tournament will feature more than 100 squash players from around the state and metro area.

If you’re interested in joining the squash club or learning more, the club meets every Tuesday and Thursday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturdays from noon to 2 p.m. at the Rec Center on East Bank.

Laura Johnson is, well, kind of a big deal when it comes to gymnastics. Johnson, a journalism senior from Albuquerque, N.M., has been an All-Big Ten honoree four years in a row, making her the fourth Gopher in history to accomplish such a feat. This year Johnson was named Big Ten Gymnast of the Year and is currently ranked 25th in GymInfo National Rankings in the all around.

The Wake: How did it feel to win the Big Ten for the first time since 1998?

Johnson: It was so exhilarating. It is almost surreal. When you go in you’re not really expecting to win, especially against a team like Michigan who has won the last eight years, and who is ranked a good 15 to 20 spots ahead of us. It really was just an amazing feeling.

The Wake: How surprising was it that Michigan came in fourth place after winning eight seasons in a row?

Johnson: Oh it was unbelievably surprising. I think everyone at the meet including the audience was shocked. If Michigan hadn’t won, it was expected they would have at least taken second. So to be upset by three teams is a huge deal.

The Wake: Why did you choose the U of M being (you are) from Albuquerque NM?

Johnson: It was kind of a difficult situation. I was recruited by different schools around the nation. But my parents knew Doug Day (assistant coach) because he is from New Mexico and I kind of grew up with him so they wanted Minnesota. Plus when I came up here on a trip it just fit. I fit with the girls and the coaches and it was a Big Ten school.

The Wake: What state do you like the most Minnesota or New Mexico?

Johnson: Umm, they’re just so different. They both have their good points. I do love the U because it is in a big city and we are in an urban environment, which is great for what I want to do. It has been a lot of fun experiencing this intense of a winter. I also love New Mexico. I love the mountains. It’s really hard for me to get used to not having mountains around. I love the dry heat and the culture down there … I can’t choose. I would say maybe Minnesota now and New Mexico later in life.

The Wake: What is one misconception people have about gymnastics?

Johnson: That everyone has an eating disorder. Also I feel like people don’t realize how difficult this sport is. We do train year around and we average about 20 hours a week; about four hours a day, five days a week. I also don’t think people realize the commitment it takes because we have all had training for close to 20 years.

The Wake: What do you enjoy most about gymnastics?

Johnson: I enjoy the diversity. It can always change and you can always do a different skill. You can always get better. In other sports you can hit your peak and there are only certain things you can do, like you can only run. But in this sport there are really endless possibilities.

The Wake: What do you dislike the most about gymnastics?

Johnson: I really dislike the toll it has taken on my body. It really beats you up.

The Wake: Where and what do you see yourself doing in 10 years?

Johnson: Well, because a teammate and myself are starting a lingerie company next year, a maternity lingerie company, hopefully that will be off the ground and running successfully. And also getting married and traveling the world.

Several members of the U’s Cycling Club stepped into the St. Paul Gym for practice with sun-scorched arms and legs, a look even Hank Hill would be jealous of. Their newly acquired farmer’s tans were the result of a spring break expedition to Tucson, Ariz. which included 60-70 miles of cycling per day, and a 25-mile climb up rock-infested Mt. Lemmon.

Despite the rigorous routine in Arizona, the cycling club is very accepting of riders with little cycling experience. On the trip some riders had never been on a group ride before, and about half the people who join the club have never raced competitively. “It is a club that develops riders,” says Bill O’Reilly, fifth year coach. But it is also a club that is serious about cycling, particularly road racing. The U’s Cycling Club has won the North Central Collegiate Cycling Conference (NCCCC) three years in a row, which includes teams from Midwestern states such as: Nebraska, Kansas, Minnesota and North Dakota. Although the U is dominant in the NCCCC, the conference is weak compared to the rest of the nation. “We would get annihilated by them,” says O’Reilly, in reference to California and Colorado.

Western states are successful for numerous reasons, one being the cycling sub-culture that has evolved, which creates unity. “Cycling is a culture and it takes a while to form,” says O’Reilly. “And we (U of M) are getting there.” The culture that has formed at the U includes a lot of joking and the creating of nicknames. “It is a fun crowd to be with,” says Andy Rosch, a sophomore cyclist.

Types of Cycling found at the U

Road Racing

The objective is basic: first to the finish line wins. But the strategies involved, make road racing rather complex. One of the most popular techniques is drafting (closely following another rider to decrease one’s workload). It can be used in a team effort where teammates rotate drafting behind one other, or by following a competitor closely and then sprinting past them at a strategic time.

Road racing intuitively sounds less dangerous than mountain biking or track racing. Don’t be fooled. Because riders often get cluttered together, one rider crashing can lead to a tangled mess of handlebars, spokes and bodies. Instead of discouraging riders, though, the danger and tactics involved in road racing seem to attract riders. “[Road racing’s] fast and tactical—and way cool,” said a cycling club member.

Track Racing

There is only one speed in track racing: extremely fast. Races are generally held at velodromes constructed of Baltic pine, a hard surface ideal for speed. Track bikes are made of steel and have no brakes or gears. Similar to road racing, drafting is an important aspect of track racing, along with a multitude of other tactics. Crashes are a fairly common occurrence in track racing. Elena Dorr, a freshman at the U who loves the speed and thrill of track racing has fallen twice and says, “it definitely hurt.” She didn’t suffer any severe injuries from her crashes, but did get splinters in her hands from the track. The closest velodrome is at the National Sports Center in Blaine.

Mountain Bike Racing

Minnesota is definitely not the epicenter of mountain biking, but there are still plenty of trails to use. Last year many U Cycling members competed at the Lebanon Hills Time Trial in Eagan.

Mountain biking didn’t officially become a recognized sport until 1990. No one really knows how mountain biking originated, but the primary belief is that it started in northern California by people looking for an alternative way to ride bikes.

How to Join

There are no tryouts. The club accepts everyone as long as they pay $80 in dues and fill out a participation waiver. It is a co-ed club and usually about a third of the team is women. More information can be found at .

It was a cold February night when a group of nine amateurs took the ice for the first time as a team. These athletes, known collectively as the Fortknighters, were unskilled, uncoordinated and undersized. Only one of these “athletes” knew that there were special shoes meant for playing broomball. Some teams wore hockey helmets, while certain members of this team opted for bicycle helmets.

For their first game, the Fortknighters’ lineup consisted of LT in the net, KrS-1 and Heart ‘n Soule playing defense with Michael Myers and the Notorious BRIE playing forwards. This group took the ice like wolves on the prowl. Line changes were infrequent, but effective. Hell ‘N Brand and Bagger Vance each netted goals within minutes of shuffling on the ice. At halftime the Fortknighters wanted to change their team name to Dr. Scholl’s because they were gellin’ so well on the ice. At the end of the game, when the smoke had cleared, LT recorded 21 saves and didn’t give up any goals. LT was the only goalie in the league smart (or stupid) enough not to wear any protective gear when playing goalie on ice. Blood is not usually shed in a friendly game of broomball, but this team had other intentions. After the game, random bruises and cuts filled the elbows and knees of this team on a mission.

The next games came and passed; victories came easy for the Fortknighters. The team’s fourth game however was a beast of a match-up. The Fortknighters hadn’t faced a player who mastered the sliding slap shot like the captain of the fourth team. LT struggled in the net for the first time all season, while Heart ‘n Soule applied pressure to no avail. The sliding bastard torched the Fortknighters the entire game and the team’s record fell to 3-1.

The Fortknighters faced yet another talented opponent the following game. The team was dressed in red; one player resembled Jesus. This Jesus look-alike put the Fortknighters in their place for the second straight game.

As the season wore on, the endless amount of post-game (and sometimes pre-game) partying caught up with this Cinderella team. The Fortknighters narrowly missed the playoffs. While other teams put together All-Star lineups in search of a championship, this team was made up of a bunch of Davids who couldn’t slay the Goliaths of the league.

Editor’s Note: Like a made for TV movie, this story was based very loosely on actual events.

In the Land of 10,000 Lakes, chances are, most people have done some canoeing. If not canoeing, maybe they’ve stroked the oars of a rowboat while going fishing on one of our great state’s fine lakes.

While Minnesota may not be a state known for rowing, its biggest (and perhaps best) rowing program is right here—near the banks of the Mississippi River, on this college campus.

Building a program out of nothing, University of Minnesota, head rowing coach, Wendy Davis has built a rowing team consisting of 59 female-student athletes.

Coming here from a well-established program back East, Davis knew building a successful rowing program in Minnesota would have its share of difficulties.

“It was really tough because we’re in a tent,” says Davis about her early years recruiting rowers here. “But, I like the challenge of building a program here … its smack dab in the middle of the country, two ideals coming together.”

By “ideals,” Davis is referring to the East Coast schools and the West Coast schools; more specifically, the two United State regions with the most established collegiate rowing teams. To the benefit of the Gophers, Davis is quite familiar with some of these schools. In her college years, Davis rowed at University of California- Los Angeles. When she finished her time there, she coached Stanford University in California for 10 years. After Stanford, she spent four-plus years in Connecticut as the head rowing coach at Yale University.

This brings Davis to Minnesota, where she shares her extensive coaching knowledge with several more (59) rowing pupils. With that in mind, one might wonder what Davis looks for in an ideal rower?

“There’s three things,” says Davis. “First of all, it helps if you’re tall. Then, like any racing sport, you’ve got to be able to tolerate pain. The other thing is you’ve got to have a strong work ethic.”

One athlete who fulfills Davis’ above-mentioned credentials is Liz Ponder. A third-year student, Ponder competes in the stroke position for a Varsity Four boat.

Quick rowing lesson: The University has 59 total rowers, but only 24 of these athletes row on varsity. The U’s varsity boats consist of two eight-person boats (Varsity Eights) and two four-person boats (Varsity Fours).

Ponder, whom Davis describes as “low maintenance and high output,” loves rowing at the U. However, she’s definitely had some battles in maintaining the strong physical health necessary to be a good rower. “I’ve had mono on-and-off for a while,” says Ponder, referring to her mononucleosis illness. “It (mono) definitely can drag you down at times.”

Mono, which also gets referred to as “the kissing disease,” is a sickness caused by an increased presence of white blood cells in one’s bloodstream. Ponder is unsure how her mono was contracted, but had lots to say about the pains it caused and how she’s been able to overcome them in rowing.

Ponder first rowed in 2000, joining a club rowing team after she was cut from her high school basketball team. It took her time to learn the ropes of rowing before she started to succeed. It was then, just as Ponder finally started seeing some rowing success, when she came down with mono. “I remember my coach telling me ‘you finally got your head out of the clouds,’” says Ponder of Mike Wenker–her coach through all four of her years with the Cincinnati Junior Rowing Club.

The compliment from Wenker came at a practice after Ponder won all her “seat matches;” which Ponder says are competitions among teammates to move up to a faster, higher rated boat.

So, as Ponder’s passion for rowing was rising rapidly, mono came. Her throat became sore and she’d often be weak and lethargic; however, this didn’t deter her from missing rowing. “I arranged my classes so that I’d go to two of them, come home and sleep, and later go to my rowing practices,” Ponder says. Ponder battled through school and rowing practices. And, in the spring of 2002, it was through her perseverance, that she accomplished an amazing feat–leading her Cincinnati Junior boat to win nationals.

The next year, Ponder’s boat won nationals again; prompting scholarship offers to be flooded her way from several Division-I rowing schools. One of these schools was Minnesota, and after her first visit here, she made her mind to become a Gopher.

Davis recalls Ponder from that visit, saying she’s been a leader from the start. She notes some of Ponder’s strengths are her work ethic and ability to help and encourage others.

As Minnesota approaches the mid-point of its spring rowing season, Davis, her assistants, Ponder and the rest of Minnesota’s rowing team prepare for an April 8 regatta in Los Angeles. The team they’ll be facing? Davis’ alma mater, the UCLA Bruins.

When people hear the words baseball and Hunter, the next word that usually pops in their heads is Torii. But there’s another Minnesota player named Hunter and he’s been a mainstay for Gopher baseball for the past four seasons.

Andy Hunter, a preseason All-Big Ten pick and current .349 hitter, is a fifth-year senior on this year’s Gopher team and a St. Paul native. He also excels in academics at the U and was named an Academic All-American the past two seasons.

The Wake: What are your thoughts about playing such a tough non-conference schedule year in and year out?

Hunter: It’s something that our program prides itself on. It’s what Coach Anderson has always done. We try to get a sense right away of where we’re at and really the only way to do that is to play the best in the country. Sometimes it means we don’t start out as well as we’d like and sometimes we do. When you do, you really feel like you’re in a good spot and when you don’t it just gives you some ideas of what you need to improve on. It’s part of the reason I came here because I wanted to play against the best. And this year was no different.

The Wake: What are your expectations, as an individual and as a team, for the Big Ten Season?

Hunter: Well this is the first year that I’ve been a non-defending Big Ten champion. But Minnesota is still Minnesota and people shoot at us. We’re kind of like the Yankees of the Big Ten. We’ve been there so much, so often that people are definitely bringing their A-game to the table to play us. Obviously going out and winning the Big Ten is a goal. I would like to go out as a Big Ten champion in my last year. From an individual standpoint, the goal is just to continue to produce. I’ve been in the middle of the lineup my entire career because I’m there to drive in runs and that’s going to be my goal to take advantage of the opportunities to do just that.

The Wake: Biggest reason why you will win the Big Ten?

Hunter: This is the most together group I’ve ever played with. I really feel right away that everybody is pulling for each other. We’d had some tough games already, but no one is getting down and people are staying with it and that’s unique for what I’ve experienced in my time here. We’ve struggled with that in the past. We have more depth and togetherness than we really know what to do with it at this point.

The Wake: What does the team need to work on to achieve that goal?

Hunter: It’s an experience thing. We kind of threw out our entire roster from last season. We don’t really have a core group that’s been playing together for a long time. Our pitching staff has a new look, we got catchers battling and we got infield and outfield battles. If it’s a weakness, I guess it’s that we have almost too much depth and not enough experience.

The Wake: Favorite part about playing for the Gophers?

Hunter: When I decided to come back this year, it was the idea to put on our actual game uniforms and to step out on the field and have people screaming for you. There’s just nothing like being a part of that group, putting on a Minnesota jersey and having people there cheering for you. And you get to play in the Dome and be on that floor where such great things have happened from Twins’ and Gophers’ standpoints. The long fall and spring practices are probably not the most enjoyable things in the world, but at the end of the day you’re playing baseball and you get to put that jersey on.

The Wake: Any pre/post-game rituals?

Hunter: I re-tape my bat before every single game. It’s something I started doing my freshman year. I fell in love with Barry Bonds and I try to emulate his tape job on my bat. I eat all the time during the games and never wear the same shoes I’m going to play in throughout the day.

The Wake: Best thing on television right now?

Hunter: Spring training baseball and the beginning of the golf season. It’s a great time of the year for television.

The Wake: Worst thing on television?

Hunter: All the crappy reality shows on MTV and VH1.

The Wake: Favorite athletes?

Hunter: The guy I like to watch the most is Barry Bonds, but my favorite athlete is Tiger Woods.

The Wake: Favorite Movie?

Hunter: Caddyshack no doubt.

The Wake: Pet peeve?

Hunter: I’m a pretty easy-going guy so I don’t know if I have any. I like to talk a lot, maybe people who don’t talk a lot. (laughs)

The Wake: Most embarrassing moment on/off the field?

Hunter: My first at bat ever (during) my freshman year down in Arizona and I got a base hit off a guy into left field in the top of the ninth. Next pitch the guys throws was a ball in the dirt and all I hear is Coach Fornasiere saying “Advance to second on a ball in the dirt,” so I take off and get thrown out by about 30 feet. We were down by one at the time and as I walk off the field some guy yells, “Hey six, next time leave the dog sled behind.” That was a dose of college baseball right off the bat. I was high as it gets and as low as it gets in about 10 seconds.

The Minnesota Twins have oiled up the leather, stretched out the lumber and limbered up their arms in anticipation of beginning the 2006 regular season with the hope to reclaim the American League Central title.

To do so, however, the Twins will undoubtedly have to hit better—especially when it comes to power. In an era known for power hitting, the Twins have not had a 30-homerun hitter since 1987 (Gary Gaetti with 31, Tom Brunansky with 32 and Kent Hrbek with 34).

So, where are these extra-base hits and long balls going to come from? This year’s Like many other Twins teams in recent years, this years Twins have many players who should be considered 30-homer worthy. But, who are the top power-hitting contenders for the 2006 Twins?

Tony Batista – The 32-year-old veteran third baseman hasn’t played Major League Baseball since 2004. Minnesota hopes the ex-Orioles, Blue Jays slugger (who’s topped the 30-homer mark three times in his 10-year career) can provide the much needed power; but it’s hard to believe he can get back to MLB form and knock out 30.

Torii Hunter – The defensive superstar’s hitting has become more consistent in recent years. Last season, which included missing more than two months due to injury, Hunter only hit 16 homeruns. However, in Hunter’s previous four seasons he led the team in home runsthree of those years—including hammering out 29 homers in his 2002 All-Star season.

Joe Mauer – Female fans, dream on. This 22-year-old catcher will be a phenomenal hitter. Look for Mauer to hit .300-plus and possibly lead the team in batting average. As far as homeruns, this St. Paul native will likely hit 30 at some point in his career, but it’ll be a few years. As for 2006, look for Mauer to hit some homers, but not more than 24-25. The third-year catcher will provide Minnesota some consistent hitting, but not a ton of power … yet.

So, who will be that first Twin since ’87 to hit 30 homeruns?

Of the above-mentioned, Hunter and Batista are the most probable; however, the key to bringing some power back to Minnesota’s lineup will be its 24-year-old Canadian import—third year first baseman, Justin Morneau.

In 2005, the towering first baseman’s production (or lack thereof) paled in comparison with his lofty potential. Pre-season illnesses and getting hit on the helmet hampered Morneau’s production last season. He finished last season with a .239 batting average, 22 homeruns and 79 RBI. Although his RBI total led the Twins, expect better things for Morneau this season. At 6 feet 4 inches, and a strong 227 pounds, the burly first baseman should be able to knock out 30 and drive in 100 if his health holds up.

This season Morneau has so far been in good health. He competed in the World Baseball Classic for Canada and rejoined Minnesota with plenty of time to prepare his swing and first baseman skills for the new season.

AL Central Breakdown

Chicago White Sox

Last year: 99-63, first place
Manager: Ozzie Guillen (third season)
Key additions: Javier Vazquez (SP), Jim Thome (DH/1B), Rob Mackowiak (Util.)
Key losses: Aaron Rowand (OF), Damaso Marte (RP), Frank Thomas (DH)
Outlook: The Sox are definitely the favorites to win the Central this year. A healthy Thome could have Chicago fans forgetting about the Big Hurt (Thomas) in a hurry. Pitching-wise, this team is tough too. The starters are solid, but the bullpen is especially tough. Chicago’s relief core will feature a pair of reliable veterans (Cliff Politte and Dustin Hermanson), as well as a flame throwing 25-year-old closer (Bobby Jenks) who’ll be shutting the door on several Chicago opponents this year.

Cleveland Indians

Last year: 93-69, second place
Manager: Eric Wedge (fourth season)
Key additions: Paul Byrd (SP), Guillermo Mota (RP)
Key losses: Coco Crisp (OF), Kevin Millwood (SP), Arthur Rhodes (RP)
Outlook: After narrowly missing the playoffs last season, Cleveland will be contending for the AL Central crown once again. The problem is they’ve traded away one of the League’s most consistent relievers (Rhodes) and its undervalued centerfielder, Crisp. Rhodes, a veteran of 16 MLB seasons, posted a 2.08 ERA in 43.1 innings with the Indians last year. As far as losing Crisp goes? Well, the Indians will have a very talented heir-apparent to Crisp in Grady Sizemore (22 HR, 81 RBI through a team-leading 640 at-bats in 2005), but Sizemore’s presence will not make up for the loss of its 26-year-old, slick-hitting centerfielder. Over his three years in Cleveland, Crisp provided the Indians with consistent hitting (.287 career avg.,) and excellent speed (15-plus stolen per season average).

Minnesota Twins

Last year: 83-79, third place
Manager: Ron Gardenhire (fifth season)
Key additions: Rondell White (DH), Luis Castillo (2B), Tony Batista (3B)
Key losses: Jacque Jones (OF), J.C. Romero (RP)
Outlook: The Twins enter 2006 with possibly the League’s best pitching staff. Leading the pitchers will be 2004 Cy Young winner Johan Santana and 2005 All-Star closer Joe Nathan. Offensively, Minnesota hopes to have a quality mid-lineup hitter in ex-Detroit Tigers slugger, Rondell White. Minnesota plans to play White exclusively at the designated hitter (DH) position. Someone who could be an offense igniter is ex-Marlins second baseman, Luis Castillo. He will bring the team a lot of speed (281 stolen bases) and figures to be a consistent hitter at (or near) the top of the Twins lineup. A dark horse for Minnesota may be Rueben Sierra. Sierra, at 40 years of age, is undoubtedly past his prime; however, he has shown he still has a good ability to hit the long ball.

Detroit Tigers

Last year: 71-91, fourth place
Manager: Jim Leyland (first season)
Key additions: Kenny Rogers (SP), Todd Jones (RP),
Key losses: Rondell White (OF/DH), Jason Johnson (SP)
Outlook: Not good. Detroit will try to rekindle its dead flame with a new manager this year. Leyland, who enters his 14th season as a MLB manager, will have his work cut out for him in what will likely be another losing Tigers season. Detroit signed veteran pitchers Kenny Rogers and Todd Jones, but these two will not be able to salvage a difficult situation in Detroit. The Tigers still have All-Star catcher “Pudge” Rodriguez and up-in-coming first baseman, Chris Shelton (.299 avg., 18 HRs and 59 RBI last season).

Kansas City Royals

Last year: 56-106 (last place)
Manager: Buddy Bell (first season)
Key additions: Reggie Sanders (OF/DH), Mark Grudzielanek (2B), Joe Mays (SP)
Key losses: Jose Lima (SP/RP), Terrance Long (OF)
Outlook: Royals new skipper (Bell) will be trying to pick up the pieces of K.C.’s 100-loss season, but it’ll be a mighty task. Despite losing 106 games last season, Kansas City was able to make a couple nice acquisitions. MLB journeyman Reggie Sanders brings the Royals something they desperately need: experience. Sanders has played with seven different teams throughout his 15-year career – including the past two with National League power St. Louis. Through his career thus far, Sanders has hit for a .267 average, while knocking out 292 homers (including 31 with Pittsburgh in 2003). The other veteran pick-up who could help K.C. is second baseman Mark Grudzielanek. A veteran of 11 Major League seasons, Grudzielanek comes to the Royals with a career batting average of .287. The 35-year-old, Grudzielanek, also played for the Cardinals last season.