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: Minnesota junior wrestler Quincy Hulverson and redshirt sophomore thrower Anthonett Nabwe.
Redshirt sophomore Quincy Hulverson in late January made his Big Ten wrestling dual debut at a dominating team win at Northwestern. It was only his second duel in his college career.
“I think I’ve adjusted a little bit” to college wrestling, said the Tea, S.D. native in a recent MSR phone interview. The 125-pounder was a two-time state champion and three-time South Dakota state placement, finishing with a 129-5 record.
“I think I came into college at like 115 (pounds) but I gained about 20 pounds and now walk around at 135,” said Hulverson proudly. “Overall, I think I’ve adjusted pretty nicely.”
The young Gopher wrestler reiterated that he must establish a consistent game plan. “I was always really good on my feet in high school. I never really tried to ride [his opponent] or do anything on the top or bottom in high school. [But] in college, it is really important to have a top game and the bottom game. It’s really establishing these two,” continued Hulverson.
“I think I’ve got a good place with these. Everything can still be better, but I think it’s definitely gotten a lot better.”
Hulverson said he hopes after graduation to be a physical therapist. “I had a really good connection with my physical therapist, and it was something that I could see myself doing. It was a way that I could stay around athletes and stuff like that.”
The Gophers this weekend will compete in the Big Ten championships March 8-9 in Evanston, IL with a 10-2 overall record (6-2 Big Ten).
“Teams are really good right now,” said Hulverson. “All the guys have been feeling really well. We just continue to practice hard. I think we’ll have a really good season.”
Nabwe throws some weight
Redshirt sophomore Anthonett Nabwe set a new weight mark at last month’s Snowshoe Open at the U of M Fieldhouse.
Nabwe had a winning mark of 23.56m (77-3 ¾) that puts her one centimeter ahead of the new No. 2 weight throw mark in the NCAA at the team’s final indoor regular season meet.
She was a Big Ten-leading three-time Field Athlete of the Week. Nabwe is the only female student athlete to have earned the week distinction from the conference office this indoor season, and the only Big Ten thrower to be ranked inside the top 10 in both the shot put and weight throw this season.
Charles Hallman welcomes reader comments to challman@spokesman-recorder.com.