Romano Gymnasium University of Minnesota Duluth -
Voting high on everyone’s mind this election season Justin Wieck head men’s basketball coach at the University of Minnesota Duluth has been doing something of his own for UMD athletics. His goal to get 100% of the athletic department registered to vote but with a bit of a twist.
Wieck has been challenging teams to vote by stepping out of the basketball court and switching up his sport. Starting with the football, Wieck got suited up to play. He took on Marcus Mclin assistant football coach, and former two-time NCAA Division II All-American cornerback to score a touchdown. Wieck scored the touchdown to challenge the whole UMD football team to get registered.
Wieck getting his whole team and athletic department to vote was important to him. When asked where he got the idea he said “It all started in the summer with all the things that happened in Minneapolis with George Floyd we had a lot of conversations as a team about how we could use our platform as student athletes for change.”
But it didn’t stop there continuing with even more getting on some skates and going down to Amsoil arena to challenge Women’s and Men’s hockey. Wieck also got involved and challenged Men’s and Women’s Basketball, Soccer, Track, Cross country, Softball and Baseball.
The challenges include hitting home runs for baseball and softball, half court shots for basketball and scoring goals for soccer and hockey. All challenges were taken to twitter to encourage all of UMD to get involved. “I think it was such a fun and creative way to encourage people to vote, nothing motivates athletes more than some friendly competition.” said Drew Blair.
Coach Wieck said “it’s not about getting anyone to vote a certain way it about getting young people to use their voices.” 48.3% of college students voted in the last presidential election in 2016 according to a study done by Tufts University’s Tisch College. College students are usually the most underrepresented group in elections. Many believe young voter turnout can majorly change election results. Asking student athletes at UMD about voting there was a common answer to the question why wouldn’t you vote. Many said they simply didn’t know how to. “ I think voting can be intimidating to college students if they aren’t taught how to do it.” said women’s basketball player Kaylee Nelson.
As the election comes closer Wieck has made his impression on UMD athletics and had a little fun doing it too.
