International Gopher Team Exceeds Expectations
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- The Minnesota Gopher tennis team has plenty to brag about this season.
The team went 4 -1 in the Big Ten, only losing Friday night to Indiana. They are ranked twentieth in the nation and are exceeding expectations.
"They've surprised me," said Gopher tennis coach Geoff Young. "I wouldn't have guessed that our record would be what it is right now.
The key to the team's success is an international roster. The 11-man roster includes six players from different countries.
The international Gophers bring a lot of experience to the team, said one of the U.S. – born Gophers.
For the international players, the United States is an educational opportunity that tennis makes available.
"The U.S. is one of the few places in the world that lets you train full time at your sport and also get an education at the same time," Young said.
One of the international players who came to Minnesota for precisely that reason was Tobias Wernet.
"Combining an academic education with the sport was just the best option for me and it turned out pretty well," Wernet said.
