The University of Minnesota's M Club, one of the nation's largest and oldest varsity letterwinner clubs, will induct eight new Hall of Fame members on Sept. 6 in a ceremony at Williams Arena. The individuals will be recognized throughout the weekend at various events, including the Saturday home football game against Rhode Island. Tickets are available for purchase HERE. Doors open for the event at 6 p.m. on Sept. 6, with the ceremony beginning at 6:30 p.m.
The 2024 M Club Hall of Fame:
Nicole Chimko-Fahey (Track & Field, 1996-99)
Eric Decker (Football and Baseball, 2006-09)
Tori Dixon (Volleyball, 2010-13)
Laurie Kaiser Sund (Gymnastics, 1983-86)
Amanda Kessel (Women's Hockey, 2010-13, 2016)
Don Lucia (Men's Hockey Coach, 1999-2018)
Harsh Mankad (Men's Tennis, 2000-02)
Joel Maturi (Athletics Director, 2002-12)
Rachel Banham (women's basketball) and Sarah Wilhite Parsons (volleyball) were also voted in, but are unable to attend. They will be inducted at a future event.
Nicole Chimko-Fahey (Track & Field, 1996-99)
Hailing from Okotoks, Alberta, Canada, Nicole Chimko-Fahey played a variety of sports growing up, but earned a scholarship from former coach Lynne Anderson to join the Gopher women's track and field team from 1996-99. Chimko-Fahey was a three-time Big Ten champion in the discus and javelin. She went on to become a two-time All-American in both events. During the 1998 NCAA outdoor championship, she finished third nationally. She ended her career as the school record holder in the discus.
Eric Decker (Football and Baseball, 2006-09)
Eric Decker lettered at Minnesota from 2006-09 and was a two-time First Team All-Big Ten selection. The Cold Springs, Minn., product ended his collegiate career with 227 catches for 3,119 yards and 24 touchdowns in 45 games. Decker was selected in the third round of the 2010 NFL Draft by the Denver Broncos and had an eight-year NFL career, as he played for the Broncos, New York Jets and Tennessee Titans. He helped lead the Broncos to an AFC Championship in 2013 and to a berth in Super Bowl XLVIII. Decker ended his NFL career with 439 receptions for 5,816 yards and 53 touchdowns. He also lettered two times in baseball for the Gophers and was twice selected in the Major League Baseball Draft, first by the Milwaukee Brewers in 2008 and then by the Minnesota Twins in 2009.
Tori Dixon (Volleyball, 2010-13)
Hailing from Burnsville, Minn., Tori Dixon was a force on the Gopher volleyball team from 2010-13. A two-time AVCA All-American, Dixon was also a three-time All-Big Ten selection, twice as a unanimous selection. During her career, Dixon hit .369, which still is a program record. Dixon played in 141 career matches, which ranks fourth in school history. Her 1,479 career kills as a middle blocker, ranks 11th in school history and second among middles. As a junior, Dixon hit .436, which also remains atop the single season record. Following her Gopher career, Dixon was a part of the U.S. National Team where she was on the 2014 World Championship gold medal team. She continues to play professional volleyball, both internationally and now in the United States.
Laurie Kaiser Sund (Gymnastics, 1983-86)
Laurie (Kaiser) Sund was a pioneer in Gopher gymnastics, becoming the first three-time All-Big Ten selection in school history, all on the first team. The Plymouth, Minn., native and Armstrong High School alum broke a school record in every individual event over the course of her career from 1983-86. Kaiser Sund won the Big Ten vault and floor exercise as a sophom*ore in 1984 and the floor exercise as a senior in 1986. Named the team's most valuable performer in 1984, Kaiser Sund was also a multiple-time Big Ten Gymnast of the Month. She also competed at the University World Games trials in the all-around. Kaiser was also inducted into Minnesota's gymnastics hall of fame in 2003.
Amanda Kessel (Women's Hockey, 2010-13, 2016)
Amanda Kessel will go down as one of the greatest ever to lace up the skates. The Madison, Wis., product guided the Gophers to three national championships, as the Gophers took home top honors in 2012, 2013 and 2016. Kessel was a key member of the 2013 team that went undefeated and finished the season with a record of 41-0. Kessel was named a Patty Kazmaier Award winner in 2013, Minnesota's second recipient to receive the award. In her Gopher tenure, she scored 248 points, 108 goals and 140 assists, all of which rank in the top 10 historically for the Gophers. Kessel was a two-time All-American, the WCHA Player of the Year, the WCHA Rookie of the Year and WCHA scoring champion while with the Gophers. An international star, Kessel played in three Olympic Games, where she won a gold and two silver medals. She also has competed in seven world championships, winning four gold medals. Kessel has gone on to play professionally as well as work in the Pittsburgh Penguins front office.
Don Lucia (Men's Hockey Coach, 1999-2018)
Don Lucia led Gopher men's hockey from 1999-2018. During that span, he was named conference coach of the year four times and led the Gophers to national championships in 2002 and 2003. The Gophers won four WCHA regular season titles, four Big Ten regular season championships, four conference tournament titles and played in five Frozen Fours under Lucia. The Grand Rapids, Minn., native is Minnesota's all-time winningest coach with a record of 457-248-73 and a .634 win percentage. Lucia coached Hobey Baker award winner Jordan Leopold and a total of 15 individuals to 17 All-America honors. Over his 31-year tenure that included stops at Alaska Anchorage and Colorado College, Lucia held an all-time record of 736-403-102.
Harsh Mankad (Men's Tennis, 2000-02)
Born in India, Harsh Mankad joined the Gopher men's tennis team in 1999, where he played the No. 1 singles and doubles until 2002. Mankad was named an NCAA All-American and the Big Ten Player of the Year in 2002 after posting a singles record of 26-5 overall and 8-0 in the Big Ten. He was a three-time First Team All-Big Ten selection and was the first Gopher to reach No. 1 overall in NCAA singles rankings. In November of 2001,Mankad won the Intercollegiate Tennis Association's National Indoor Tennis Championships.Mankad was a two-time NCAA qualifier as an individual and in doubles play. He played in the Davis Cup for India from 2000-10 and competed at Wimbledon in 2010.
Joel Maturi (Athletics Director, 2002-12)
During his 10-year tenure as athletics director, Joel Maturi led the Gophers through one of the most transformative eras in its history. He became the department's first-ever director of athletics for both the men's and women's programs on July 12, 2002, bringing together what had been two separate departments since their inception. A native of Chisholm, Minn., Maturi's career included a successfully merged department, high graduation rates, various programs ranked among the nation's best, a balanced budget, helped efforts to bring a football stadium back to campus, facility fundraising and increased scholarships for student-athletes. Under Maturi's leadership, Minnesota claimed five national titles and 45 Big Ten or WCHA championships. In honor of his work, the Sports Pavilion was renamed Maturi Pavilion in 2017.
