The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1242051
MAY 2020 THE WOLVERINE 13 INSIDE MICHIGAN ATHLETICS MICHIGAN'S TOP PERFORMERS Women's gymnastics freshman Sierra Brooks: She was pegged as the Women's Collegiate Gym- nastics Association ( WCGA) Regional Gymnast of the Year for Region 3 April 7, becoming just the 13th U-M women's gymnast to take home the ac- colade. Brooks was the highest-ranked all-around performer (39.403) in the region and possessed the region's second-best average on vault (9.883) and bars (9.789), while earning WCGA second-team reg- ular-season All-America honors on vault and all-around as a result. The Wolverines have now had the regional Gymnast of the Year in each of the last four seasons. Women's basketball sophomore forward Naz Hillmon: The Cleve- land native was tabbed to the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) All-Region 4 team March 25 after an outstanding sophomore campaign in Ann Arbor that saw her lead the club in scoring (17.4 points per game), rebounding (8.7) and field goal percentage (56.7). She started all 32 contests this past season and scored 10 or more points in 28 of them, eclipsing the 20-point plateau 14 times. Hillmon was also unanimously voted as an All-Big Ten first-team member by both the coaches and media at season's end. Women's lacrosse junior attack Caitlin Muir: She earned Inside Lacrosse All-America honorable mention recognition March 31 after stringing together a red-hot six-game start to her junior campaign. Prior to the season's cancellation due to the coronavirus, Muir led the squad in goals (16), assists (11), points (27) and shots on goal (28), with her 11 dimes tying for the third most in the Big Ten. The junior also concluded the coronavirus-shortened season with a bang when she closed with three consecutive hat tricks, highlighted by a five-goal performance in Michigan's 12-11 triumph over Albany Feb. 29. Women's gymnastics head coach Bev Plocki: She was selected as the WGCA Northeast Regional Coach of the Year April 9 for the fifth consecutive year and the 11th time in her U-M tenure (since 1990). Plocki's Maize and Blue squad finished the coronavirus-shortened 2019-20 campaign with a 12-1 record and a 9-0 mark in league play, taking home the conference's regular- season crown as a result. U-M also posted the top two scores in school history, first with a 197.950 mark Feb. 22 at the Elevate the Stage meet in Toledo, Ohio, and then with a 197.900 showing at home Feb. 28 against New Hampshire. Water polo incoming freshman utility player Kata Utassy: The Budapest, Hungary, native signed a tender of financial aid with Michigan April 6 and will subse- quently join the Wolverine program in the fall as the fifth member of the Maize and Blue's 2019-20 signing class (the other four inked their letters of intent in No- vember). Utassy will bring an impressive résumé with her to Ann Arbor, having served as a member on both the 2019 Hungary Junior World Championship team and the 2018 Hungary Youth World Championship squad. She won an individual game MVP with both clubs, first against Russia in 2018 with the latter and then versus Brazil in 2019 as a member of the former. — Austin Fox Jimenez started all 23 games the Michigan softball team played in 2020 — 14 at second base and nine at shortstop. PHOTO COURTESY MICHIGAN PHOTOGRAPHY Favorite restaurant in Ann Arbor: "Bigalora Wood Fired Cucina. It's a great Italian place." Best meal she can cook by herself: "I can make a really good Mexican soup called po- zole. I cook it with my mom, but haven't had a chance to do so yet in Michigan because of the dorms." Hobbies: "I love going to the beach with friends. Roller-skating has always been some- thing fun I've done with my family and I like going to drive-ins as well. I'm a pretty outgoing person, so I just enjoy being outdoors and do- ing fun things." Favorite TV show: "I'd say 'All American' right now. I'm not into a lot of shows, though I used to watch 'The Fosters.' I've started to watch more TV though since I've been home." Favorite movie: "'Step Brothers.'" Dream vacation: "I would love to go to Bora Bora and stay in one of those water tiki houses. That would be awesome." Favorite place she's been to: "Cuba. The softball team went there during our fall break and it was my favorite trip of all time." Favorite professional athlete: "[Former New York Yankees shortstop] Derek Jeter, even though he's retired." Role model: "My parents." Sports she plays besides softball: "I've always wanted to play other sports but never re- ally had the chance to. My high school coach wouldn't let us play anything else due to injury concerns. I like playing basket- ball and volleyball for fun." Why she chose Michigan: "As soon as I visited, it felt like home. The coaches, facilities and edu- cation are awesome here, so it fit me perfectly." What she hopes to do after softball: "I'm not sure yet. I'm just seeing where life takes me and don't really have anything specific in mind. I'm majoring in communications, so I'm hop- ing that takes me down a good path." Her overall experience at Michigan: "I've had my ups and downs, just like any other freshman. Facing adversity this season is definitely going to prepare me and make me a lot stronger heading into next year." — Austin Fox