Fourteen Gophers teams were honored with Academic Progress Rates (APR) public recognition awards. They are given to programs in the top 10 percent in their sport based on their most recent multiyear APR. Last year, 14 Minnesota teams also were honored.
The Gophers rank fourth among FBS institutions — and first in the Big Ten — in highest percentage of teams receiving APR awards.
Here's the list of men's teams honored: baseball, cross-country, football, golf, gymnastics, hockey and tennis.
Women's teams honored: cross-country, golf, gymnastics, softball, swimming and diving, track and field, and softball.
Since the awards began in 2004-05, this is the first time football, men's golf and men's hockey has been in the top 10 percent.
U pitcher in mix for top softball award
Sara Groenewegen, a junior righthander for the Gophers, was named one 25 finalists for the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year for the second year in a row.
She is 19-5 with a 1.86 ERA. Groenewegen has 17 complete games, four shutouts, including a no-hitter and a perfect game, and 222 strikeouts in 154⅔ innings.
As a batter, Groenewegen is hitting .289 with six homers, 22 RBI and a .533 slugging percentage.
