Gophers from several generations stepped into Jean K. Freeman Aquatic Center on Friday before diving into the pool in a night spent honoring the past.
While splashes and dives were abundant among the alumni, people like Kelly Kremer, director of men’s swimming and diving for the Gophers, saw the night as a rare chance to mingle and catch up with the athletes who came through the program.
“I’m not on social media, I don’t have a Facebook page,” Kremer said. “I’m literally learning what they’re generally doing when I see them here.”
One diver at the pool was Sarah Bacon, fresh off a trip from the 2024 Paris Olympics where she won a silver medal in the synchronized three-meter springboard alongside Kassidy Cook.
Bacon feels the importance of connecting with her former teammates at the alumni meet even though she graduated just a few years ago.
“Being able to spend some time with them, get back in the pool and dive spreads happiness around,” Bacon said.
When all were caught up and laps and dives were in, two former Gophers were inducted into the University of Minnesota Swimming and Diving Hall of Fame, Yu Zhou and Derek Williams.
Williams, who graduated in 1996, finished his career as a 14-time All-American, 1996 Big Ten champion, U.S. National team member and formerly the Big Ten record holder for the 100-meter butterfly.
When asked about having his record broken, Williams said he was happy to hold the title at one point, but records are meant to be broken. The record is currently held by Indiana’s Tomer Frankel.
Zhou graduated from the University in 2017 but never graduated from the team. Zhou worked as a graduate assistant after completing her swim and dive tenure with the Gophers.
Now, Zhou is an assistant diving coach for the Gophers next to the head coach Wenbo Chen.
During Zhou’s career, she was a two-time NCAA champion, seven-time All-American, seven-time Big Ten champion, three-time Big Ten diver of the year, the 2015 NCAA diver of the year and still holds the Minnesota platform dive record with a score of 371.80.
Zhou was born and raised in China and came to the university not only for diving but the opportunities that an American college can offer. She said seeing the faces of her old teammates and athletes she coached brings a sense of comfort.
“We dove together, they were my teammates, so it was great to see them come back,” Zhou said. “Once people leave there’s less connection.”
The current Gophers swim and dive teams are back in action against Wisconsin on Nov. 1. The men’s team sits at 4-0 while the women are 5-0.
