2018

CNN says that 2018 "wasn't really all that bad." 

Jessie Diggins of Stillwater, MN, charged from behind to win America’s first-ever Nordic skiing Olympic gold medal. It was a thrilling finish in which Diggins passed Sweden’s Stina Nilsson about 50 yards from the finish line and win by 0.19 seconds.

#44 Athlete

#44 Event

Jessie Diggins Wins First U.S. Nordic Skiing Gold Ever

Jessie Diggins was a skiing prodigy, who competed against older children from the age of eleven. She won three state individual Nordic skiing titles in 2007, 2008 and 2010 competing for Stillwater high school, also leading the way to team championships in 2008 and 2010. 

Her first notable success in international circles was a gold medal in the team spring with Kikkan Randall at the 2013 world championships. She won silver in the individual sprint in the under-23 world championships in 2014, then finished eighth in the 15 kilometer (km) skiathlon at the Sochi Winter Olympics. She won silver in the ten km freestyle race at the worlds in 2015, and in 2016 was ranked #8 in the world in the spring rankings and #9 in the distance rankings. At the 2017 worlds, she won silver in the individual sprint and bronze in the team sprint. In 2017, she finished third in the overall rankings, the first American to place overall.

At the 2018 South Korean Winter Olympics, Diggins and Randall were the U.S. freestyle sprint team. The event consists of six 1.25km sprints alternating between the two teammates. Randall opened and Diggins closed. Diggins started her final lap close behind the Swede Stina Nilsson in second place, but briefly dropped to third behind Norway’s Maikan Casperson Falla. She closed the gap coming up one last steep climb, then zoomed past both of them on the final downhill, passing Nilsson with only yards to spare and by .019 seconds. It was the most exciting moment of the 2018 games, and not just for us Minnesotans.

• It another huge year for Gopher women’s sports as the softball team repeated as Big 10 champions, then won two NCAA tournament games behind two-time conference player of the year Kendyl Lindaman. The volleyball team won the Big 10 and two NCAA tournament matches behind three-time (soon to be four) all-America setter Samantha Seliger-Swenson. The women’s hockey team finished third in the WCHA, then shocked Wisconsin 3-2 to win the WCHA playoffs. Wisconsin got is revenge, however, beating the Gophers 4-0 in the first round of NCAA tournament play. 

• Meanwhile, the Gopher baseball team won the Big 10, the Big 10 playoffs, and three NCAA tournament games. The football team made some waves in coach P.J. Fleck’s second season, finishing 7-6 with a 34-10 win over Georgia Tech in the Quick Lane Bowl. 

#24 Coach

John Anderson

It’s hard to believe that the Minnesota Gopher baseball team has had just two coaches since 1948. Well, it’s hard to believe because it’s not true. Still, Gopher baseball fans can be forgiven for forgetting George Thomas’ three-year stint in 1979, 1980 and 1981. And, he wasn’t bad. The Gophers went 95-43. But, coming after Dick Siebert’s 31-year tenure and before John Anderson’s 38 years, well, sorry, George.

Anderson grew up on the Iron Range, in Nashwauk, MN, and came to the U as a walk-on pitcher. He pitched a little for two years but an arm injury forced his retirement. He became an assistant to Siebert as an undergraduate, then stayed on as a grad student and then as a full-time assistant to Thomas. Thomas resigned in 1981, and Anderson became the youngest Big 10 baseball coach ever at 26. 

He has now won 1,317 games while losing 887 with three ties (.597). In the Big 10, he is 592-351 (.628). The Gophers have won Big 10 titles, whether regular season or playoff, in 17 of Anderson’s 38 seasons, and they have won 18 NCAA tournament games while losing 38 in 19 tournaments. His best team came in 2018, with Big10 regular season and playoff titles, and the program’s only NCAA regional title in Anderson’s tenure. They defeated Canisius and UCLA at Siebert Field, then lost two games to Oregon State in the super regional. They have not played in the College World Series under Anderson.

Some of Anderson’s top players include three-time all-American Mark Merila, 2B; and two-time all-Americans Robb Quinlan, 1B; Luke Appert, 2B; and Glen Perkins, pitcher. Appert was also a two-time Big 10 player of the year.

• There were 2 classic games in the boys state basketball tournament. First, Columbia Heights shocked six-time defending AAA champion DeLaSalle 71-69 in a Class AAA semi-final game, and then Cretin outlasted Apple Valley 79-78 in the AAAA final.

• The Minnesota Vikings slumped to 8-7-1 but wide receiver Adam Thielen caught 113 passes for 1,373 yards.

Year	Athlete of the Year	Team of the Year	Coach of the Year	Event of the Year
2018	1. Diggins, U.S. Olympic Nordic skiing (Olympic gold) 2. Kendyl Lindaman, Minnesota Gopher softball 3. Adam Thielen, Minnesota Vikings	1. Minnesota Gopher baseball (41-13, Big 10 champion) 2. Minnesota Gopher volleyball (29-5, Big 10 champion) 3. Minnesota Gopher softball (41-17, Big 10 playoff champion)	1. Jamie Trachsel, Minnesota Gopher softball 2. Anderson 3. P.J. Fleck, Minnesota Gopher football	1. Jessie Diggins won the Olympic Nordic ski team sprint.  2 (tie). Columbia Heights shocked DeLaSalle 70-69 in the 1st round, and Cretin beat Apple Valley 79-78 in the boys basketball tournament. 3. The Minnesota Gophers beat Wisconsin 3-2 in the WCHA women’s hockey final.