The Wolverine

April 2020

The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports

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APRIL 2020 THE WOLVERINE 17   INSIDE MICHIGAN ATHLETICS Student-Athlete Of The Month Senior Water Polo Player Skyler Pyle When it came to choosing a col- lege after attending Mater Dei High School in California, U-M wa- ter polo senior Skyler Pyle wanted to pick carefully. She's the first in her immediate family to attend college, and she wanted to make sure it was the right fit. "As soon as I got to Michigan the first time I visited, I was just amazed," Pyle said. "I'd never felt such energy in a college town in my whole life. It was so different from anywhere I had ever been in California. "As soon as I stepped foot on campus, I got that special feeling that I knew this is where I needed to be." Pyle has been a standout in the pool for a team that since she ar- rived as a freshman, and has been a key contributor on three confer- ence championship teams that have qualified for the NCAA Tournament. "You come to college, and you're surrounded by the best talent in the country," she said. "So, finding out how to use your talent to make you better and improve every year is something that I had to learn pretty quickly. "It's been awesome to have a successful team, to be able to go on the football field with my teammates and get rings every year after winning the conference." She hopes to keep the success going as she nears the end of her senior season. "We have to focus on winning the conference first, in order to get to the NCAAs," she said prior to the March 12 season cancellation. "But we're really hoping for a Final Four push this year. That's kind of a goal we set at the beginning." Before excelling in the classroom at the same level she is in the pool, Pyle went through an adjustment period, like many college freshmen. "I realized that if I wanted to succeed in the classroom, I was going to have to work harder than I ever have before in my life. It took freshman year, first semes- ter, kind of struggling a bit, to realize what it's going to take for me to succeed in the classroom, and I really decided to dedicate myself to that." The hard work paid off. Pyle, a sport management major, is a two-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree, as a sophomore and a junior, and has a chance to earn her third straight award this year. Getting the recognition for her superb performance in the classroom has given her confidence as she plans out her career after U-M. "I've had a lot of confidence going to job interviews and networking events, stuff like that, because I feel like my resume shows I'm not just an athlete," Pyle said. "I'm a student, and I'm able to succeed in a lot of different environments, not just the pool, but in the classroom and in professional environments." Pyle believes her entire experience as a student-athlete at U-M is going to pre- pare her for the challenges she has ahead. "I think Michigan really taught me what hard work truly means," she said. "I'm constantly surrounded by the best. I go to practice, and I'm training next to the best girls in the sport of water polo, and then I go to class and I'm studying with the smartest people in the country. "I think just being surrounded by that talent for four years has really allowed me to raise my standard and my hard work. I think that I've never worked harder in my life, and I've developed a work ethic that I know is going to transcend my experience." — Clayton Sayfie Pyle has been a standout on three Big Ten cham- pionship teams and has twice earned Academic All-Big Ten honors. PHOTO COURTESY MICHIGAN PHOTOGRAPHY (Item #1365) CUSTOM GRILL COVER Commercial grade, breathable vinyl with moisture vent and buckle clasps • Black w/ maize Block M logo in UV resistant ink AVAILABLE IN 2 SIZES: Small: 60" wide x 36" tall x 21" deep $51.95 + $15.00 S&H Large: 72" wide x 36" tall x 21" deep $54.95 + $15.00 S&H Grill covers are made to order and shipped direct from manufacturer. Please allow up to 2 weeks for delivery. Returns not related to damage or manufacturer error may incur restocking fee. GRILL MAT (Item #1256) $49.95 + FREE S&H Grill mats are made to order and shipped direct from manufacturer. Returns not related to damage are not available. SPORTULA (Item #1220) LAST ONE! $14.95 + $6.50 S&H (Reg. $24.95) DELIVERY LIMITED TO CONTINENTAL U.S. PLEASE ADD SALES TAX FOR ITEMS SHIPPING TO: (NC 7.5%, IN 7%, MI 6%) THE WOLVERINE PO Box 2331 Durham, NC 27702 TheWolverineOnDemand.com 1-800-421-7751

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