The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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AUGUST 2018 THE WOLVERINE 15 INSIDE MICHIGAN ATHLETICS After a disappointing 13-19-3 campaign in 2016-17, Michigan's hockey team bounced back in a big way this past year, advancing all way to the Frozen Four. Then-sophomore goalie Hayden Lavigne was a big reason for the resurgence. The Brampton, Ontario, native led the club in goals-against average (2.81 a game), wins (18) and save percentage (.908), while also earning Academic All-Big Ten accolades in the classroom. "I just missed making the All-Academic team my freshman year," he said. "I worked really hard this time around to get it. It's such a boost to know what you're doing in the classroom is paying off." Lavigne noted balancing school and hockey has been challenging at Michigan, but he has found an effective method to help ease the stress. "It doesn't require a secret formula or anything," he said. "When I'm at the rink, I forget about school, because there's nothing I can do about a paper I have to write while I'm at practice. School goes out the window when I'm at Yost [Arena]. "It's the opposite, though, when I'm at the academic center — that's when I forget about hockey. I just have to focus on what I'm doing at the moment and make sure not to think about both at the same time." That method worked well last season, especially on the ice, where Lavigne was named a finalist for the Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Year award while helping U-M go deep in the postseason. "The buzz around the entire tournament was so exciting, and the support we received from other students, faculty and fans was amazing," he said. "The fact that we went from one of the worst teams in school history to the Frozen Four just showed how much work we put in over the summer — everyone was able to see it pay off. "It obviously didn't end the way we'd hoped, but that keeps us motivated heading into next year. Our goal is to be better. We're looking for a national championship, not a semifinal loss." The rising junior revealed that he'd like to continue playing the game professionally once he graduates from U-M, but he does have a backup plan in place in case it doesn't work out. "Playing in the pros has been my dream since I was a little kid," he admitted. "There are only so many available spots on NHL rosters, though, so if it doesn't work out, I plan on attending physical therapy school. "I'd like to become a physical therapist for a pro team or university, which would allow me to stay involved with the sport." — Austin Fox Student-Athlete Of The Month Ice Hockey Rising Junior Goalie Hayden Lavigne Last year, Lavigne paced U-M in goals-against aver- age (2.81), wins (18) and save percentage (.908). COURTESY MICHIGAN PHOTOGRAPHY Wrestling fifth-year senior heavy- weight Adam Coon: He used a late throw and pin to put the capper on his championship se- ries sweep against 2016 Olympian and four-time World Team member Robby Smith at the U.S. World Team Trials June 22 in Tulsa, Okla. The sweep qualified Coon for the U.S. Greco- Roman World Team at 130 kilograms, which means he'll compete at his first senior-level world championships in October. He has previously won a ca- det world freestyle championship and junior world bronze medal in both freestyle and Greco. Women's track and field fifth-year senior distance runner Erin Finn: On June 21, she was named to the Google Cloud Academic All-America first team for the third consecutive year. With the feat, Finn became the first student-athlete in Michigan athletics history — re- gardless of sport or gender — to earn three first-team Academic All-Amer- ica distinctions in a single career. She joined runner Sue Schroeder (1984-86) and basketball standout Diane Dietz (1980-82) as the only females in U-M history to earn three Academic All- America accolades. Men's golf senior Kyle Mueller: He earned PING All-America second-team honors from the Golf Coaches Association of America June 21. In do- ing so, Mueller became the first Wolverine golfer since Lion Kim in 2011 — and just the fifth all time — to earn a spot on a specifically designated team (first, second or third). The senior led U-M in 10 of 13 events with 10 below-par performances this past season, finishing with a team-best stroke average of 70.76 per round to set a new single-season school record for the third straight year. Men's lacrosse junior midfielder Brent Noseworthy: He was tabbed as a United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association Scholar All-American June 12, becoming the first Academic All- American in program history. To qual- ify, one must be nominated by his coach and hold a senior year standing in the classroom, along with a cumulative GPA, of at least 3.0. Nosewor- thy's incredible junior season at U-M — he led the team with a school- record 48 points — also earned him Inside Lacrosse third-team All-America, USILA honorable mention All-America and All-Big Ten first-team recognition. Baseball senior pitcher Alec Ren- nard: On June 26, he signed a free agent deal with Major League Baseball's Pitts- burgh Pirates, after go- ing unselected in the 2018 MLB Draft. The right-handed pitcher transferred to Michi- gan in 2017 following his sophomore season at Santa Rosa Junior College, where he helped lead his club to the California Community College State Championship in 2016. In two seasons with the Maize and Blue, Rennard com- piled eight wins and a 4.06 ERA in 29 total appearances, including 15 starts. — Austin Fox MICHIGAN'S TOP PERFORMERS