Jared Lawrence battles Eric Larkin in the finals of the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational in 2002 (Photo/Danielle Hobeika)Jared Lawrence wrestled for Minnesota from 2000-03. In an era when Minnesota cemented its place as a collegiate wrestling power, Lawrence was one of the team's top performers. The 2002 national champion at 149 pounds and a two-time Big Ten champion, Lawrence posted a 130-23 career record and contributed to three consecutive Big Ten team titles for the Gophers. On the national stage, Lawrence helped Minnesota win the first two national titles in program history (2001, 2002) and -- along with teammate and fellow Hall-of-Famer Luke Becker -- became the first Gopher to be both a four-time NCAA All-American and an individual national champion.
Wrestling for the Gophers from 1973-77, Pat Neu built an impressive 136-32 career record. A two-time runner-up at the Big Ten conference championships, Neu managed to win the 134-pound title at the 1977 NCAAs despite being unseeded. His effort helped the Gophers place fourth in the team standings at the tournament, the highest finish in program history to that point, and one that would remain the program's high-water mark until 1997.
Lawrence and Neu join other 2016 inductees Greg Eslinger (Football), Dave Gumlia (Men's Golf), Tim Harrer (Men's Hockey), Amber Hegland (Softball and Women's Hockey), MaryAnne Kelley (Women's Gymnastics), Howard Nathe (Baseball), Al Nuness (Men's Basketball), Clay Strother (Men's Gymnastics), and Jeff Wright (Football).
Honorees in the "M" Club Hall of Fame are featured in a display within the T. Denny Sanford Athletics Hall of Fame inside TCF Bank Stadium. Including this year's 11-member class, the Hall of Fame now honors 345 Gopher student-athletes from 27 different varsity sports. Each member of the Hall of Fame is recognized with an engraved plate on the wall.
The Hall of Fame induction process begins with a research committee which pores over the careers of Gopher Athletics' alums from all eras and determines a group of approximately two dozen names to appear on each year's Hall of Fame ballot. Former and current coaches, athletics administrators and all University letterwinners are eligible to receive a ballot and vote for who they believe should be enshrined in the Hall of Fame.
"Earning a varsity letter and the opportunity to proudly wear the M on your chest is an accomplishment that brings pride to someone for the rest of his or her life," said "M" Club director George Adzick. "To be recognized as not just a letterwinner, but as one of the greatest letterwinners in the history of Gopher Athletics, is an honor reserved for a very select few. I am delighted for the 11 newest members of our Hall of Fame and excited to be there as their names are placed forever among other Minnesota legends."
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