Kelly Wilson will have at least one familiar face to greet her when she arrives at the University of Minnesota campus in August.
Wilson, 17, who recently graduated from Brandon High School and competed for the Blackhawks in the Division 2 state meet June 3, has signed a letter of agreement to attend the Big Ten Conference university. She will compete for the Golden Gophers? women’s cross country and track programs on a walk-on basis in 2006-07, Minnesota women’s track and cross country coach Gary Wilson said.
An all-Flint Metro League performer in both cross country and track, Wilson will join another Brandon High School graduate, Danie Ashford, who recently completed her freshman year with the Golden Gophers.
Ashford was among nine runners who competed for the Minnesota women’s cross country team at the Big Ten Championships in 2005. Gary Wilson, who was named the Big Ten Conference coach of the year this season for outdoor track, said Ashford did a ‘great job? in her first year with the Golden Gophers? cross country and track programs, although she battled fatigue toward the end of the season.
‘She ran out of gas in April, which is not unusual for a freshman,? Wilson said.
Ashford, 19, who is majoring in animal science at Minnesota, also competed in the 3k and 5k events in indoor track as well as the 5k race in outdoor track. The Golden Gophers won the Big Ten championship this season.
She said her freshman year went ‘really well? and said she improved more than she thought she would in her first year.
Golden Gophers won the Big Ten championship this season.
She said her freshman year went ‘really well? and said she improved more than she thought she would in her first year.
As far as Ashford’s once and future teammate is concerned, Kelly Wilson also applied to the University of Northern Colorado, Michigan State University and Central Michigan University, in addition to Minnesota.
Gary Wilson said Kelly Wilson brings a lot of positive character traits to the Golden Gophers? program.
‘She’s a heck of a kid,? he said. ‘We look for a good, quality kid and a good person for our program.?
He said Kelly Wilson will not be rushed into a key role with the team right off the bat. ‘We have 13 or 14 new kids coming on next year,? he said. ‘It’s a matter of development, and not trying to rush anything.?
Wilson said Ashford played a key role in convincing her to give Minnesota a look.
‘It was not my number-one choice when I applied to each of the schools,? she said. ‘She convinced me to take a visit, and I fell in love with the campus and the team. She definitely had a hand in me going over there.?
Ashford said she told Wilson that the Golden Gophers? program is a good one for young runners.
‘The Minnesota team is one that has their top runners as well as runners that are developing,? she said. ‘It’s a good team for developing runners. They give people a chance to do well and have fun.?
She also said Wilson has a chance to contribute to the Golden Gophers in her first year. ‘She’s very positive and a good runner, so I can see her being in the lineup even as a freshman,? Ashford said.
Wilson said meeting with the team helped convince her Minnesota was the place for her.
‘I really liked the cross country team,? she said. ‘It really seems like a big family. The coach is focused on everyone getting along. It seems like a positive atmosphere, plus it’s a good school with a lot of choices as far as majors are concerned.?
Wilson said she is interested in majoring in nutrition and possibly minoring in Spanish.
On May 25, Wilson was a guest at the Flint Kiwanis Student-Athlete of the Year Luncheon. She attended the gathering with her grandparents, Donald and Frances Wills and Dolores Wilson, as well as her parents, David and Mary Wilson.
She was selected the club’s student-athlete of the month for November 2005, the only student-athlete in Brandon history to have won the award.
Wilson was also a member of the high school’s Spanish Club and was class president during the 2004-05 school year. She is also a member of the youth group at Ortonville Baptist Church, 173 Church St., Ortonville, and has taken part in two mission trips with her group.