The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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SEPTEMBER 2018 THE WOLVERINE 65 TOP TEN OLYMPIC SPORTS FRESHMEN Mat listed him No. 5 overall in the senior class. Silva racked up an outstand‑ ing prep record of 250‑12, and took home four grade‑division titles at the NHSCA High School Nationals. He was just the ninth ever to win the prestigious Super 32 championship, which began in 2000, three times. Silva will wrestle at either 133 or 141 pounds during his days in Ann Arbor. "He wrestles and trains at a very high level," Bormet said. "He'll come in and have an impact in our room with his work ethic and how hard he competes. I'm so excited to have him get started here this fall." 6. KATHRYN PETERSON San Diego • Field Hockey She was recognized as a first‑team All‑American by MAX Field Hockey in 2017 and stamped as the No. 7 recruit in the entire country by the publication. The midfielder served as a co‑cap‑ tain during her senior year at power‑ house Serra High in San Diego, rack‑ ing up 40 goals and 18 assists. In addition, she was also a mem‑ ber of the USA Field Hockey U‑19 National Team, which allowed her to travel and compete internationally. "She's reliable and a very smart player who can adapt quickly," head coach Marcia Pankratz explained. "She's also athletic too, which allows her to pick up things quickly. "Kathryn is in the process of learn‑ ing our system, which will allow her to contribute right away." 7. MORGAN OVERAITIS Canton, Mich. • Softball The shortstop was lauded as the No. 18 overall prospect in the country by FloSoftball, and landed on the 2018 Premier Girls Fastpitch (PGF) Re‑ gional All‑American team after lead‑ ing her Beverly Bandits travel club to the 2017 PGF national championship. Overaitis was a four‑time all‑state first‑team selection (2015‑18) for Sa‑ lem High, batting over .600 in each of her prep seasons. "I'm as excited about Morgan as I've ever been about anybody," head coach Carol Hutchins admitted. "She has great softball skills and works so hard at it. Morgan works out with some of the great coaches out there and has been on winning teams, but her intangibles are what really make her special. "She's just on the ball, and she is a high achiever — I really like those qualities. Morgan is a great teammate who is going to take care of this pro‑ gram and has plenty of love for the block M." 8. PAIGE JONES New Bremen, Ohio • Volleyball As a senior in 2017, Jones led her New Bremen squad to a 28‑1 record its first‑ever state title. The outside hitter was penciled in at No. 40 on the Prep Volleyball 100 Senior Aces list in 2017. In 2016, she was named first‑team all‑state, a first‑team MaxPreps Small School All‑American and a Prep Vol‑ leyball All‑American. She repeated all those honors as a senior. She also owns the Ohio state re‑ cords for kills in a match (53) and in a single season (753). "I'm continually surprised by how often she gets kills," U‑M head coach Mark Rosen said. "She broke all those records as an undersized kid who isn't physically imposing. You ask yourself how does she do it, but then you see her in your gym and she just keeps getting kills. "Her range is unbelievable — most players tend to hit a similar shot and they become limited when you take that shot away, but she has a long range where she can hit the ball. She can work the line and high off the top, which is what makes her so hard to defend." 9. ERIN O'LEARY Novi, Mich. • Volleyball O'Leary helped guide Novi to three consecutive state titles during her high school days, and was val‑ ued as the No. 43 Senior Ace in the country by Prep Volleyball. The 2017 Michigan Miss Volleyball award win‑ ner also happens to be all the all‑time assists leader in the state with 5,678. In addition, the setter was a four‑ time MaxPreps All‑American, was Patrick Maloney was listed as a five-star recruit and the nation's No. 6 overall pros- pect by TennisRecruiting.net. PHOTO BY FRITZ MICHAEL DEVON MOORE When infielder Morgan Overaitis signed with Michigan in November, longtime head coach Carol Hutchins noted: "I'm as excited about Morgan as I've ever been about anybody." PHOTO COURTESY MICHIGAN PHOTOGRAPHY