There are approximately 100 African American and other student-athletes of color this school year at the University of Minnesota. In an occasional series throughout the school year and sports year, the MSR will highlight many of these players. This week: Gopher freshmen soccer players Aaryn Gabriel and Karson Yon, and volleyball graduate student Phoebe Awoleye.
The Gophers women’s soccer team is back home this week for a two-match stretch. The 2024 team thus far is off to a 4-0 start.
“We have a great staff who have helped us all summer preparing us for this moment,” said Aaryn Gabriel after their 4-1 victory at St. Thomas August 25.
Gabriel and Karson Yon are two of seven first-year players this season. The two also are the only Black players on the Gopher squad.
Gabriel, a forward/defender from Kernersville, NC, was an all-conference performer in four sports (soccer, basketball, indoor and outdoor track) in high school.
Yon, a defender from Durham, NC, was a three-star soccer prospect and a top 50 South Atlantic Player.
“I wanted to get far away from home and have a fresh start,” Yon admitted, who plans to study kinesiology, elementary education, and special education.
Added Gabriel, who signed with Minnesota after her official recruiting visit, “I love the coaches, I love the team. Everything is just so knit-tight, and everybody’s like a family.”
Both athletes praised the consistent support from the Gopher coaches and their fellow teammates. “With the amazing coaching staff and facilities and academics that the University of Minnesota offers, it’s an easy choice to come here,” noted Yon. “Something that they [the coaches] really install in us here is the belief in the process and believing in things that you can’t see.
“So, I think that it’s so important that no matter what happens, you give 100% and be relentless,” she pointed out.
Gabriel concurred: “I think we have so much, like the great support staff, whether it’s our sports psychologist or if it’s our upperclassmen or the coaches, we also have someone to talk to because there will be challenges and there will be things that we don’t understand.”
Finally, both first-year Gophers said they are committed to help Minnesota be successful this season and beyond.
“We have a great group of freshmen coming in, and we have worked hard, and we’re gonna help build this team to get our way to the Big Ten tournament, and hopefully win that,” said Gabriel.
“I’m so excited to see how everything plays out,” concluded Yon.