Governor calls on all Minnesotans to cheer on, support 20 Minnesota Olympians

 

ST. PAUL, MN – Today, Governor Mark Dayton recognized the 20 Minnesota athletes competing in the 2018 South Korean Winter Olympic Games. Governor Dayton issued a proclamation today declaring February 8, 2018, to be “Minnesota Winter Olympians Day” throughout the state, and called on all Minnesotans to support our athletes at the Winter Games.

 

“Like many Minnesotans, I grew up with the dream to one day play on the U.S. Olympic hockey team. Few athletes, however, have the exceptional talent and extraordinary dedication needed to achieve such an incredible feat,” said Governor Dayton. “Congratulations to these tremendous Minnesota Olympians for their amazing achievements. We are so proud to have you represent our state, and all of Team USA, on the world stage.”

 

Minnesotans have a long tradition of representing the United States at the Winter Olympics. This year is no exception, with the 20 Minnesotans representing the U.S. in a variety of competitions at the 2018 Winter Olympic Games. This is more than all neighboring states combined, and ties Minnesota for the third-most Winter Olympians of any state in the nation, behind only California and Colorado.

 

To read a copy of Governor Dayton’s proclamation, CLICK HERE.

 

Minnesota’s Winter Olympians will compete in a variety of different sports including: biathlon, curling, ice hockey, and cross-country skiing. Minnesotans can learn more about their hometown athletes and track their Olympic Games experiences by following the links below to the Team USA website:

From Moorhead, Borgen attends St. Cloud State University. He was named to the 2016 NCHC All-Rookie Team in his first season, where he tallied a total of 43 blocked shots. During the 2015 NHL Draft, Borgen was selected in the fourth round by the Buffalo Sabres and in 2016, won bronze in the IIHF World Junior Championships. This will be his first time competing in the Winter Olympics.

 

Brandt is a 24-year-old graduate of the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities, where she helped the team make it to three NCAA national championships. Continuing that success, she also participated in the World Championship multiple times, ultimately winning two gold medals and one silver. This will be her first time competing in the Winter Games.

 

Like Governor Dayton, Cameranesi got her start playing hockey at the Blake School in Minneapolis. A graduate of the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities, Cameranesi plays forward for the U.S. Women’s National Team. She has successfully represented the U.S. internationally on numerous occasions, including two Four Nations Cups and two International Ice Hockey Federation U18 Women’s World Championships. In 2015, Cameranesi won gold at the International Ice Hockey Federation Women’s World Championship in Malmo, Sweden. The 2018 games will be her fist time competing at the Olympics.

 

A Duluth native and University of Minnesota – Duluth alumnus, Christensen has extensive experience when it comes to curling. In 2012, she earned her first of four totaled U.S. Junior Champion titles. While the 2018 Winter Games will be Christensen’s first time participating in the Olympics, Christensen has competed internationally since 2012. During the 2017 World Championship, Christensen placed fifth.

 

At 26-years-old, Diggins is no stranger to the Olympic stage. In 2014, Diggins competed in the Sochi Winter Olympics as a member of the U.S. Women’s Nordic Ski Team, where she placed 8th in the skiathlon and 13th in the sprint freestyle. As part of the first-ever U.S. team to win a world cup team sprint event, Diggins also is the first cross-country skier to win a medal in the Tour de Ski world championship event.

 

Currently, Frankowski is a professional cross country skier for Alaska Pacific University’s Team Elite based out of Anchorage, Alaska. Born and raised in Minneapolis, Frankowski first began skiing with the Southwest High School team, where she quickly progressed to represent the Central Division at Junior Nationals. In addition to skiing for Alaska Pacific University, Frankowski also has competed in the 2014 FIS U23 World Championship and has received three All-American honors.

 

Training at the Duluth Curling Club, George is a member of the formidable Shuster Curling Team. Touting a mixture of national and international competitive experience, George is one of America’s finest curlers, with three U.S. National Championship titles and two runner-up finishes. The 2018 Winter Games will be his first Olympic experience.

 

A product of the University of Minnesota – Duluth, Geving plays second position on the U.S. Olympic Curling Team. In addition to being a two-time Junior National Champion, Geving also has competed twice in the World Junior Championships and the World Women’s Championships.

 

Hailing from Stillwater, Hart got her skiing start while attending St. Paul Academy and Summit School and training with the Minneapolis Ski Club. A Dartmouth College alumnus, she was as a five-time All-American athlete as a member of the school’s Ski Team. Hart is currently part of the Stratton Mountain School Elite Ski Team, and has competed in the 2013 and 2015 FIS U23 World Championships.

 

28-year-old Landsteiner is part of the men’s curling Team Shuster based in Duluth, where he previously competed and placed 9th in the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics. With an extensive professional curling background, some of Landsteiner’s accomplishments include winning the 2014 and 2016 Continental Cup, placing 4th in the 2017 World Men’s Championship, and being named 2014’s USA Curling Athlete of the Year. This will be Landsteiner’s second Olympic experience.

 

Currently in her second season as a player for the Boston Pride, Marvin is a two-time Olympic medalist. Before going professional, Marvin played for her high school hockey team in Warroad, earning all-conference honors in each of her four years. She then went on to complete four seasons with the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities, where she made school history by placing sixth overall with 195 points in 152 totaled games. She has actively medaled in various events, including seven World Championship Experiences and eight Four Nations Cups.

 

As a current player for the University of Minnesota – Duluth Women’s Hockey Team, Morin will be making her Olympic debut in South Korea. Previous international competition experiences include the IIHF Under-18 Women’s World Championship, where she earned silver. Morin also competed on the 2012 U.S. Under-18 Women’s Select Team. Morin is from Minnetonka, and is a graduate of Minnetonka High School.

 

Nordgren is a graduate of Forest Lake High School and has been a member of the U.S. National Team since 2010. In 2017, Nordgren finished 7th in relay at the World Championship Experience in Hochfilzen, Austria. Having competed previously in the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics, the 2018 Winter Games will be his second Olympic experience.

From Plymouth, Pannek is a forward for the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities. Currently in her third season, she has helped the team make it to two Division I national championships. As a junior, Pannek led Division I Hockey with 62 points and 43 assists in 39 games. In 2017, Pannek played in the International Ice Hockey Federation U18 Women’s World Championship with her team, and helped win the U.S. its first gold world title on American soil.

Peterson plays vice skip for the curling Team Roth. A University of Minnesota – Twin Cities alumnus, Peterson’s accomplishments include victory in the 2013 and 2018 Continental Cup, recognition as a two-time U.S. junior national champion, and the 2016 World Mixed Doubles bronze medalist.

Currently one-fourth of the men’s curling Team Schuster, Polo hails from Duluth and attended both Bemidji State and the University of Minnesota – Duluth. In 2016, he won bronze in the World Mixed Doubles Championship. Polo is also a six-time U.S. men’s national champion, and was awarded bronze at his first Winter Olympic Games in 2006.

 

The youngest Minnesotan member of Team USA, 20-year-old Rooney attends the University of Minnesota – Duluth and is a goalie for the U.S. Women’s National Team. In 2017, she competed in the Four Nations Cup and the World Championship Experience, winning gold for both. Rooney attended Andover High School. This will be her first Olympic experience.

 

Shuster is the founder of Team Schuster and captain of the U.S. Olympic Curling team. This will be the Chisolm native’s fourth time representing the United States. He won a bronze medal in 2016, and ranks consistently in the U.S. National Championships with a total of six champion and two runner-up titles. An alumnus of the University of Minnesota – Duluth, when Schuster is not curling, he manages the Pickwick Restaurant and Pub in Duluth.

 

A recent graduate from the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities, this will be the 23-year-old’s first time in the Olympics. Stecklein has competed in four Four Nations Cups, four Women’s World Championships, and helped the University of Minnesota team make it to three national championships. In 2014, Stecklein represented the U.S. in the Sochi Winter Olympic Games, earning a silver medal.

Currently a member of the Spartak Moscow (KHL) club, Stoa is from Bloomington and began his hockey career as a player for the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities, where he was team captain his senior year. In 2010, Stoa tied for the highest scoring rookie in the American Hockey League with 23 goals. This will be his first time representing the United States at the Winter Olympics.