In all of her talks with the University of Minnesota women's track and field team, one word stood out to Dickinson High senior Jess Herauf.
Family.
"I think I heard that word 20 times when I was down there," Herauf said of her official visit to Minnesota.
On Wednesday morning, Herauf officially joined the Gophers' family when she signed her national letter of intent to compete for them in the 2011-12 season.
"The biggest reason I chose Minnesota was because the coaches and the team, all they talked about was how the team was a family," Herauf said. "That's why I love my track team (at Dickinson High), is because we're like a family."
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Herauf, Class A state champion in the javelin last year and a 14-time state placer, chose Minnesota over several other schools.
She turned down offers to do track, from Stanford, Nebraska, Iowa, Wisconsin and North Dakota State, and was being recruited by both Dickinson State and the University of Mary for track, basketball and volleyball.
"It's definitely a weight off my shoulders to have it be a done deal," Herauf said.
Minnesota women's track and field head coach Matt Bingle said Herauf's hopes of joining a team with a family atmosphere immediately made him think she would be a good fit for the Gophers.
"She fit really well with our staff and our team when she visited," Bingle said. "It was a nice fit. It felt easy, like she should be on our team now."
Bingle said he hopes to mold Herauf into a heptathlete while also having her concentrate on the javelin.
"Our throws coach really loved her to death too and felt like she can really develop into a nice, Big Ten javelin thrower," Bingle said. "It will definitely be a priority. That's something she's going to do from the first day she steps out to practice."
Bingle said he hopes Herauf can be molded into a heptathlete over time as she learns some of the new events in which she has little experience.
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The heptathlon, consists of 100-meter hurdles, high jump, shot put, 200 meters, long jump, javelin throw and 800 meters.
"I love learning new things and doing the heptathlon is a huge new thing," Herauf said.
2 area football players sign with U-Mary
Dickinson Trinity senior outside linebacker Tim Brooke and Richardton-Taylor-Hebron running back Adam Woroniecki were announced as part of the University of Mary's 34-man recruiting class Wednesday.
Brooke (6-foot, 200 pounds) was a Class AA first team defensive lineman and a second team selection on the offensive line for the Titans this season.
Woroniecki (6-1, 195 pounds) was a 9-man all-state first team selection and earned Region 6 Senior Athlete of the Year honors while rushing for 2,055 yards and 30 touchdowns on 164 carries. He had 1,187 yards and 22 touchdowns as a junior.
Other North Dakotans signing with the Marauders include: Bismarck St. Mary's offensive lineman Peter Bopp, Park River offensive lineman Dakota Brust, Bismarck High tight end Mack Keller, running back Channing Mann and nose guard Brock Nelson, Mandan offensive lineman James McDowell, Shiloh Christian linebacker Zane Miller, Grand Forks Central running back Grant Parks, Washburn quarterback Jeff Rasmussen, Linton-HMB offensive lineman Levi Roemmich and Drake wide receiver Jon Sortino.
Morris: NDSU will be able to mold Moody
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In his first year as Dickinson High head football coach, Dennis Morris quickly learned that Nate Moody was his go-to player on offense.
Now that Moody has agreed to a preferred walk-on offer with North Dakota State, Morris believes the 6-foot-3, 190-pound wide receiver has a chance to excel at the next level.
"They're taking a great chance on Nate," Morris said. "He's such an athletic kid."
Morris, a former NAIA All-America center for Dickinson State, began his career as the starting long snapper for Montana State, which like NDSU is an NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision school.
Morris said he believes Moody, a three-sport athlete who hasn't spent an abundance of time in a weight room, has the type of build that can be molded into whatever type of player the Bison want him to be.
"Nate has one of those frames - big, wide shoulders - they could easily put 30 pounds on him and he won't lose an ounce of speed, probably even get faster with the type of training they have for him," Morris said. "I could see them taking Nate and maybe making him a tight end eventually."
