Gophers' Isabella McCauley reflects on career-best golf season
This season, Isabella McCauley became the first women's Gopher golfer in 36 years to play in back-to-back NCAAs.
Ren Clayton joined WCCO-TV in October 2021. He grew up in Chanhassen, Minnesota, but most recently lived on the beaches of Hawaii!
After graduating from Concordia University, St. Paul, Ren produced a high school sports magazine show in the Twin Cities, then worked as a weekend sports anchor at KOTA-TV in Rapid City, South Dakota, and KHON2 in Honolulu.
Ren has covered it all, from surfing, to rodeo, to hurricanes. He's grateful to be back working in his hometown, covering the teams and people he grew up with.
When he's not working, you can find Ren playing golf in the summer and snowboarding in the winter.
This season, Isabella McCauley became the first women's Gopher golfer in 36 years to play in back-to-back NCAAs.
After backing into the playoffs and losing seven straight, PWHL Minnesota had one choice in the semifinal round.
Since lacrosse became a Minnesota high school sport, Lakeville North has been one of the top teams.
Mounds View senior Tyler Guerin is one of the best prep prospects in Minnesota. According to some rankers, the best.
Pat Bowlin's career started in the 1980s with a dominant run at St. Bernard's in St. Paul. He's already added on to the record mark of 803 wins in his 40th year of coaching softball.
"Pretty unlikely that I'd ever be able to compete in athletics at a competitive level or ever be able to run or do anything involving running," said Will Just, recalling the doctor's message.
The Stillwater native and Hill Murray grad's career has been a slow burn. He was a late bloomer in high school golf and took until his senior year to capture college win number one.
This inaugural season of the PWHL has been a long time coming.
Truax retires with a 31-6-2 record. Many of his fights took place at the Armory, the convention center in Minneapolis or elsewhere in Minnesota.
Tyler Nubin says he's approaching 100% health and performing well at the Gophers pro day in front of NFL scouts, as well as many of the Minnesota Vikings coaches.
They're the only varsity team in Minnesota. There isn't a large water polo infrastructure in the state and no high school-affiliated programs.
Mya Hooten's infectious and exuberant reactions have become her signature. The moments after the Gophers senior nails a routine provide a season unlike any other.
Despite losing stars and leaders like Danielle Hunter and Jordan Hicks, the remaining defensive core got a boost this offseason when future hall of famer Harrison Smith announced he would return.
"If there was ever a time for this team to earn its shot and right at a parade here or to get to the second round, it's only right that it would be against a team that we found the most difficult for ourselves this year," said Karl-Anthony Towns.
Tyler Shilson took aim at a world record in muscle-ups, along the way raising money for a lost friend.