Mallory LeNeave

umn gymnastics alumni〽️

[Minnesota Women’s Gym @GopherWGym]

For this first time in school history, we’re going to the FINAL FOUR!!!! 〽️

#SkiUMah

[Minnesota Men’s Hockey @GopherHockey]

How about this guy tonight?

🧱🧱🧱🧱🧱

[Mallory LeNeave @malloryleneave]

The true glue that holds the team together physically and mentally! Thank you for always giving us your best everyday! ❤️❤️

[Minnesota Women’s Gym @GopherWGym]

A huge shoutout goes to our Athletic Trainer, Shanice, in celebration of #NATM2024!

Thank you for everything you do for us 💛

[Minnesota Men’s Hockey @GopherHockey]

A career-high 46 saves

The one, the only, Justen Close

[Braden Appelhans @AppelhansBraden]

Those of you who follow New Mexico basketball may have noticed I haven’t been playing or anyone who knows me may have noticed I have been so distant from everyone and there is a good reason for that. 

I have struggled with depression off and on since high school. I was diagnosed with ADHD and anxiety in 4th grade. I was put on medication to help with school and only took it during school (summers and weekends off) I was told my medication had a slight antidepressant in it. Since my depression wasn’t constant and would come and go my parents just helped me through it, thinking my medication would help.

Last spring, after taking a medical redshirt, trying to recover from surgery, and learning how to balance school with a tough travel schedule my depression showed up in a big, bad, scary way!  I went home after school got out, got into my doctor, and started on an antidepressant.  

I returned to UNM for summer and fall and killed it in practice.  Was earning playing time and showing signs of having a great season.  However, in late September I started spiraling into a dark place again. My coaches noticed a dramatic change.  I would call me several times a day to my mom in just a complete meltdown. I couldn’t make it through a practice without breaking down in tears.  I couldn’t function, stopped doing homework, lost interest in basketball, and was going down a dark path to the point where I was questioning if I should even be here.  My coaches called my mom and said she needed to come and be with me.  She was on a plane the next day and spent 4 days in Albuquerque.  I went to see the team doctor and learned my ADHD medication and depression medication were canceling each other out.  For about 6 months I wasn’t getting any medication.  I got on a new medication that worked with my ADHD meds and got in with the sports therapist.  Slowly but surely I started to feel like myself again.  Then the start of the semester came and anxiety attacks kicked in. They would hit me out of the blue.  They were almost crippling and exhausting.  So back to the doctor I went and decided it was time to stop the ADHD meds - too much stimulation.  Now I am about 2 months ADHD meds free.  Grades are still good and I feel like myself again. I still take an antidepressant every day but I am in such a better place!

Through all of this, I missed practices and games.  My coaches, teammates and everyone involved in Lobo basketball put me in a protective cocoon and took great care of me and I couldn’t be more thankful for them. My coaches decided to limit me to make sure I was mentally healthy.  I've handled it the best way possible and I understand their decision because I know what a dark scary place I was in.

You change from here.

I am so grateful that I reached out for help. I knew I could call my parents, coaches, and teammates at any time.  Most people (young kids and young adults especially) don’t have that. Most don’t dare to reach out and ask for help. I hope someone reading this will see that it can happen to anyone, even kids who are living out their dreams.  Everyone needs help at some point. 

So there it is. That is the big story and mystery as to why I haven’t been on the floor and why I have been so distant from everyone. I have accepted that I have an invisible injury that I am fixing and is well on the mend!   I will be back in a Lobo jersey next year! 

-BA1

[Mizzou Gymnastics @MizzouGym]

Leading off with a career best 🌟

Kyra Burns notches her first career 9.9 to get us rolling in the second rotation!!

#MIZ🐯

[Minnesota Men’s Hockey @GopherHockey]

Third times the charm 🤞

Justen Close has been named a top-10 semifinalist for the Mike Richter Award!

📰: https://t.co/LM2kWpunhS

[Minnesota Men’s Hockey @GopherHockey]

AND STILL! 🏆

After a perfect weekend between the pipes, Justen Close is back-to-back @B1GHockey first ⭐ of the week!

@aaronhuglen_8 nabs his first career B1G weekly honor after a three-point weekend ⭐️

[Kansas City Chiefs @Chiefs]

BACK-TO-BACK LIKE IT'S A TRADITION‼️

[Minnesota Men’s Hockey @GopherHockey]

JUSTEN CLOSE MY GOODNESS

[Mallory LeNeave @malloryleneave]

THIS‼️‼️‼️ Put some respect on their name @EllaSirjord @HorakKatie
Nobody has worked harder than these two!

[Minnesota Women’s Gym @GopherWGym]

What. A. Performance.

Horak hits a career-best with a 9.875!

The senior keeps getting better each week 🤩

💻: https://t.co/VWdptQYh6N

#Team50 x #TogetherWeRise

[Minnesota Men’s Hockey @GopherHockey]

Justen Close has been named to the 2024 Mike Richter Award Watch List! 🧱

📰: https://t.co/z12dUXFmrs

[Jess Myers @JessRMyers]

Yesterday was two years, to the day, since Jack LaFontaine announced he was leaving college hockey midseason, under pressure from the Hurricanes to sign. "Closer" stepped in cold and has backstopped two @B1GHockey titles & two Frozen Four trips. His record is now 50-21-5.

[Minnesota Men’s Hockey @GopherHockey]

5️⃣0️⃣ Ws

A milestone win for the Cl🚫ser!

[Stephen Schoch @bigdonkey47]

This is actually insane

[Barstool Gophers @BarstoolUMN]

Close is that dude

[Minnesota Men’s Hockey @GopherHockey]

Justen Close

That's it. That's the tweet.

[Mallory LeNeave @malloryleneave]

Can’t wait to cheer you on in maroon & gold for another year🫶🏼❤️

[Minnesota Men’s Hockey @GopherHockey]

1️⃣ more year for The Cl🚫ser!

Justen Close will return for his 5th year season with the #Gophers!

#PrideOnIce

[Mallory LeNeave @malloryleneave]

The definition of hard work pays off! I’m really really proud of him!❤️❤️

[Dan Kelly @DanKelly_21]

Still a captivating story, guy in the middle was a 3rd string walk on with little chance of playing 15 months ago. Now Justin Close is playing in his 2nd straight #FrozenFour and now poised to play for a national championship Saturday night