Mitch Leidner has been invited to the NFL Scouting Combine, the former Gophers quarterback confirmed Thursday.

The 6-4, 230-pound Leidner, who went 24-17 as Minnesota's starting quarterback over the past three-plus seasons, will have a chance to boost his stock in the annual showcase in Indianapolis, which runs Feb. 28 through March 6.

ESPN analyst Todd McShay listed Leidner as a first-round pick — No. 25 overall — last May in his "Way-too-early 2017 NFL mock draft."

But after having his best statistical season as a junior (59.5 completion percentage, 20 combined touchdowns, 11 interceptions), Leidner completed 56.4 percent of his passes as a senior, with 18 combined touchdowns and 12 interceptions.

Still, the Gophers went 8-4 in Leidner's starts, including their Holiday Bowl victory over Washington State.

Leidner played in the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl last month in Carson, Calif., and completed three of 12 passes for 38 yards. In early January, Bleacher Report's Matt Miller ranked Leidner as the 15th-best QB prospect for this year's draft.

Joe Christensen

Weber heads to UCLA

Former Gophers quarterback Adam Weber was hired as an offensive analyst at UCLA, where he'll be working under Jedd Fisch, Minnesota's former offensive coordinator. Weber, 29, spent the past two years as a Gophers graduate assistant, working with the quarterbacks.

Joe Christensen

Auggies wrestlers fall

Wartburg defeated host Augsburg 20-13 in the "Battle of the Burgs" wrestling meet. Lance Evans of the Knights, ranked No. 1 in Division III, defeated Donny Longendyke 5-4 at heavyweight to clinch the match. No. 2 Augsburg got decisions from Victor Gliva at 125 pounds, Sam Bennyhoff at 133 and Tanner Vasser at 157 to take a 9-7 lead. Owen Webster's 10-2 major decision over Bryan Levsen put the Auggies ahead 17-1, but they lost the last two matches.

Ms. Hockey down to 10

Ten semifinalists for the 2017 Ms. Hockey Award, presented to the top senior girls' high school hockey player in Minnesota, were announced by Let's Play Hockey.

The list: forwards Paige Beebe, Blaine; Natalie Heising, Wayzata; Joie Phelps, St. Paul United; Naomi Roggi, Eden Prairie; Liz Schepers, Mound-Westonka; Natalie Snodgrass, Eastview; Taylor Wente, Maple Grove, and Grace Zumwinkle, f Breck, and defensemen Grace Bowlby, Edina, and Emily Brown, Blaine.

The five finalists will be named Feb. 16 with the winner announced Feb. 26.

Etc.

• Gophers senior pitcher Sara Groenewegen was selected to the 50-player watch list for the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Award for her third straight season. She was 31-7 with a 2.03 ERA last season. She also had 11 homers and 41 RBI.

• Minnesota Duluth's Hunter Miska, a freshman from Stacy, Minn., was named the NCHC goalie of the week and the rookie of the month.

• Minnesota-Crookston named Sarah Rauen, a native of Stacy, its volleyball coach.

• Burnsville native Mike Aldrich was named the football coach at Minot State. He spent the past two seasons as an assistant coach at Southwest Minnesota State. Aldrich, who played at St. Olaf, was the Augustana head coach from 2010-12.

• Senior Lee Stecklein of the Gophers was named the WCHA's defensive player of the week. She had a goal and three assists as Minnesota swept St. Cloud State 2-1 and 5-0.

• Hamline athletic director Jason Verdugo was appointed to the NCAA Division III Diversity and Inclusion Working Group. Verdugo, who has been AD at Hamline since May 2012, is one of just four ADs on the 12-member committee which will work with members of the NCAA to increase diversity among student-athletes, coaches and athletic administrators.

• Defending NSIC softball champion Minnesota State Mankato was picked to repeat in a preseason conference coaches' poll. Minnesota Duluth was chosen to finish second and Winona State third.