The University of Minnesota’s M Club, one of the nation’s largest and oldest varsity letterwinner clubs, will induct 13 new Hall of Fame members on Sept, 16, 2022 in an in-person ceremony on Williams Arena court. The individuals will be recognized throughout the weekend at various events, including the Sept. 17 home Gopher football game against Colorado.
The 2022 M Club Hall of Fame inductee class consists of:
Brandon Eggum (Wrestling, 1997-00)
A storied name within Gopher wrestling, Brandon Eggum has been a part of the University of Minnesota since 1997. A four-year letterwinner for the Gophers, Eggum was a three-time All-American from 1998-2000 in two different weight classes. The two-time Big Ten champion at 184 pounds, Eggum was also the 1999 NCAA Runner-Up and finished third in 2000. A member of the 1999 Big Ten championship team, Eggum was a part of four, top-three teams at NCAAs. Still to this day, Eggum’s name holds a presence in the program’s record books, where his 115 career wins, .833 career winning percentage, and 61 career dual victories all rank among the Top-25 in Gopher history.
Eggum was also a silver medalist at 2001 World Freestyle Championships and at 2002 Pan American Freestyle Championships. He also won bronze at 2003 U.S. National Freestyle Championships. Eggum has been a part of the Gopher wrestling coaching staff for the last 22 years and was named head coach of the program in 2016. During his time on staff, the Gophers have won three team national titles, eight team trophies at the NCAA Championships and captured five Big Ten team titles.
Veronica (Martin) Eriksson (Track & Field, 1991-94)
Eriksson was a standout pole vaulter for the Gophers from 1991-94. In 1993, Eriksson was the 1993 NCAA indoor champion, and the Big Ten champion. A three-time NCAA All-American, Eriksson was also a two-time NCAA Academic All-American. Eriksson broke the school record in pole vault both indoors and outdoors being the first person to clear 18 feet.
Along with the collegiate competition, Eriksson was a 2000 Olympian and represented Sweden. Eriksson also competed for Sweden in three World Championships and four European Indoor Championships.
Paula Gentil (Volleyball, 2005-08)
Minnesota’s first-ever designated libero is still one of the best to compete with the Gophers. The three-time Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year was also Minnesota’s first-ever three-time All-American in school history. The four-time All-Big Ten selection helped her team to two Final Four berths and was named to the 2004 NCAA Final Four All-Tournament team. She was also named Volleyball Magazine’s National Defensive Player of the Year.
Gentil finished her career as the NCAA record holder in digs with 2,971. She still holds the school record in digs by nearly 800.
Dave Haberle (Golf, 1968-71)
Dave Haberle left his mark on the University of Minnesota and helped build the early golden era of Gopher golf. Haberle was a two-time All-American in 1970 and 1971. He was also the 1971 Big Ten champion, the fifth individual in school history and won it by six strokes. He was also named to the 1971 All-Big Ten team.
Haberle was a Minnesota Golf Hall of Fame inductee and was the 1970 Minnesota State Golfer of the Year and also the State open champion.
Jeff Hackler (Swimming, 2000-03)
Jeff Hackler was a 16-time All-American for the Golden Gophers, which ranks third in school history. Individually, he was an eight-time First Team All-American during his Gopher tenure spanning from 2000-03. A phenomenal breaststroker, Hackler was an 11-time Big Ten champion and won the 100 breaststroke and 200 breaststroke twice apiece at Big Ten Championships. He set the school record in the 100 breaststroke and finished third in the 200 breaststroke at the 2000 NCAA Championships and in the 100 breaststroke at the 2002 NCAA Championships. The 2000 Big Ten Freshman of the Year was also a member of two Big Ten championship teams in 2001 and 2002.
Hackler also competed at the 2001 Goodwill Games after finishing second in the 100 breaststroke at the 2001 US National Championships.
Ron Johnson (Football, 1998-01)
Ron Johnson was a staple on the Minnesota Football team from 1998-2001. Johnson set school records in receiving yards (2,989), receptions (198) and receiving touchdowns (31). An All-Big Ten First Team in 2000, Johnson tied an NCAA record with a reception in 46 straight games. In 2000, Johnson set school season records for receiving touchdowns (11) and receiving yards (1,125). During his time, he recorded eight 100-yard receiving games and led Minnesota in receptions and receiving yards for three seasons. Johnson also set a school record with seven straight games with a receiving touchdown.
Johnson was drafted by Baltimore Ravens in the fourth round of the 2002 NFL Draft and played with the team from 2002-04. Overall, he played professional football from 2002-08.
Dana (Larson) Birk (Soccer, 1996-99)
Dana (Larson) Birk was the starting goalie for the 1997 Big Ten Championship team and four NCAA tournament teams during her tenure. Named to the 1997 First Team All-Big Ten, she recorded a then school-record 10 shutouts and went 18-3-2 that season.
To date, Birk is still the career record holder for wins (48) and shutouts (27). She also held the record for win percentage (.717), saves (320) and minutes played for nearly 20 years. She still ranks second in school history in shutouts, saves and win percentage, third in minutes and sixth in goals against average (1.21).
John Pohl (Hockey, 1998-02)
John Pohl made his mark on the Gopher men’s hockey program during his time with the Gophers. A team captain in 2002, Pohl guided Pride on Ice to its first NCAA Championship in 23 years when the team defeated Maine, 4-3 in overtime at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minn. Pohl was a first-team All-American that season and recorded 79 points that year. It was the most by a Gopher in a decade and 13th-most all-time. His 52 assists also ranks fourth all-time. The two-time team captain was also a 2002 All-WCHA First Team selection that season.
Pohl was drafted by the St. Louis Blues in 1998 and went on to play professionally from 2002-2010.
Terry Silkaitis (Swimming, 2002-05)
The most decorated Gopher swimmer, possible overall athlete in school history enters the hall of fame this year. Terry Silkaitis was a 23-time All-American from 2002-05. A 10-time Big Ten champion, Silkaitis won five individual titles alone. He was named the 2003 Big Ten Swimmer of the Year after remarkably sweeping the 50, 100 and 200 freestyle events. Over his Gopher tenure, Silkaitis won the Big Ten title in the 100 and 200 free twice, in both 2003 and 2005. He set school records in both the 100 and 200 free.
Silkaitis was a part of three Big Ten Championship teams in 2002, 2004 and 2005. Silkaitis also aided the team to top 15 NCAA finishes in both the 2004 and 2005 championship season.
Jillian (Tyler) Miller (Swimming, 2008-11)
Calgary, Alberta native Jillian (Tyler) Miller became Minnesota’s second women’s swimming national champion, winning the 100-yard breaststroke in 2011. Miller accumulated 13 All-America awards and was a seven-time NCAA finalist as an individual. She remains the only Gopher athlete to win four Big Ten titles in the same event, taking the 100 breaststroke each year. She also won the Big Ten 200 breaststroke twice (2010, 2011). She was named the 2011 Big Ten Swimmer of the Championships. Overall she won eight Big Ten titles, swimming the breaststroke leg of the victorious 400 medley relay team in 2008 and 2010. Miller shattered the school record in both breaststroke events during her storied career and was a critical part of Minnesota’s team success that included a Big Ten title in 2008.
Miller earned a spot on Team Canada in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing and the 2012 Olympics in London. Miller competed in the 100-meter breaststroke, reaching the semifinals in both Games.
Clyde Turner (Basketball, 1971-73)
Clyde Turner was an integral part of the 1972 Big Ten Championship team and was named a First Team All-Big Ten selection that season. Turner was a part of Minnesota’s first Big Ten title since 1937 in a shared title and the first Gopher outright title since 1919. Playing in a total of 51 games for the Maroon and Gold, he led the team in scoring both seasons when he averaged a team-best 18.6 points in 1972 and 18.1 in 1972. He would also receive Second Team All-Big Ten honors in 1973. Turner ranks eighth all-time in career scoring average per game at a career 18.4 ppg.
Turner was drafted in the fourth round of the 1973 NBA draft by the Milwaukee Bucks. He went on to play professionally in Europe for two seasons and later earned his degree from the University of Minnesota. Turner, passed away on Aug. 9, 2022 and will be inducted to the Hall of Fame posthumously.
Jenny (Shaughnessy) Ferris (Swimming, 2006-09)
Jenny (Shaughnessy) put herself on the map during her Golden Gopher tenure. A 12-time All-American, Ferris was also an eight-time All-American. A two-time Big Ten champion in the 400 individual medley, she was also the 2009 Big Ten Swimmer of the Championships after winning four events, including the 200 and 400 IM as well as two relays. Ferris also aided the Gophers in the 2008 Big Ten Championship. By the time she was done with her Gopher career, Ferris held six school records, including a Big Ten record in the 200 free.
An outstanding student, Ferris was also a 2009 Academic All-American and two-time Minnesota Top Five award, given to the athletes with the highest GPA in the department.
Nora Sauska (Tennis, 1997-2000)
Nora Sauska is one of the best to play in program history. Playing from 1997-2000, Sauska remains the only four-time First Team All-Big Ten singles player in school history. She was a 1997 NCAA individual qualifier after posting a 20-1 singles record, which included a 9-0 mark in Big Ten play. Sauska helped Minnesota to three NCAA Regional berths, which is the longest streak in school history. As a junior, Sauska held a 24-11 singles record and 8-2 in Big Ten action.
Sauska still ranks third in career singles victories (93), the most in the modern era of collegiate women’s tennis. Throughout her career, Sauska was 74-28 in doubles play as well.
(info courtesy of Gopher Sports)