The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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60 THE WOLVERINE JUNE/JULY 2021 OLYMPIC SPORTS full-time starting goaltender for the past two seasons, Strauss Mann, U-M's first captain as a goalie in 78 years, an- nounced via his Twitter account April 30 that he will forgo his senior season to pursue a career in the pros. "I'm looking forward to my next chapter as I pursue a professional hockey career," Mann's statement read. "As I solidify my plans, I feel both excited for the future and im- mensely appreciative for everything the University of Michigan has given me." At 22 years old, Mann is ineligi- ble for the NHL Draft, but he can be signed as an undrafted free agent and work his way up by beginning in the minor leagues, and he intends to do so. In his three seasons in net for U-M, Mann posted a career save percentage of .926 and recorded 11 shutouts in 77 games, earning the title of Big Ten Goaltender of the Year in 2019-20 and being named a finalist for the Mike Richter Award (nation's best goalie) each of the last two campaigns. ❑ Baseball (23-12 Overall, 23-12 Big Ten) Redshirt sophomore pitcher Steven Hajjar was one of 45 play- ers named to the USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award Midsea- son Watch List April 14, an accolade given to the top collegiate baseball player in the country … As of May 9, he had compiled a 3-0 record, 2.88 ERA and 80 strikeouts in 56 1 ⁄3 innings pitched. Men's Golf The Wolverines' 2021 campaign came to a close May 2 when they finished 13th out of 14 teams at the Big Ten Championships. Women's Golf U-M tied Maryland and Nebraska as the runner-up at the April 23-25 Big Ten Championships after it set the program's lowest-ever 54-hole team score at the event with a 6-under- par 858 … Monet Chun was tabbed as the Big Ten Freshman of the Year April 28 … U-M received its 14th all-time NCAA Regional bid April 28 and competed in the event May 10-12. Men's Gymnastics (20-3 Overall, 6-0 Big Ten) Michigan finished in second place out of six teams at the NCAA Qualifier April 16, qualifying for the NCAA Champion- ship Finals as a result … U-M notched a third-place team fin- ish at the NCAA Finals April 17, its highest placement since winning it all in 2014. Men's Lacrosse (3-9 Overall, 2-8 Big Ten) U-M beat Ohio State 15-11 in its Big Ten Tournament opener May 1, but its season came to an end with a 16-8 loss to No. 1 Maryland in the ensuing contest. Women's Lacrosse (3-9 Overall, 3-6 Big Ten) The Wolverines wrapped up their 2021 campaign with a 16-13 setback against No. 13 Maryland in their first Big Ten Tournament tilt April 29. Rowing On May 2, Michigan won all six races against Louisville and Iowa in its regular-season finale … U-M's next competition will occur May 16 at the Big Ten Championships. Men's Soccer (6-4-1 Overall, 5-3-1 Big Ten) The Maize and Blue saw their season come to an end April 14 with a 4-1 loss to No. 14 Penn State in the Big Ten Tournament semifinals. Softball (32-6 Overall, 32-6 Big Ten) Michigan won its third consecutive Big Ten title with a doubleheader sweep of No. 23 Minnesota May 8 … With no conference tournament this year, that earned the squad an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, which begins with regionals May 21-23. Men's Tennis (15-5 Overall, 14-2 Big Ten) After claiming the Big Ten East Division title and ending the year ranked by all four national polls, head coach Adam Steinberg was named the Big Ten Coach of the Year April 27 … Michigan earned its 31st all-time bid to the NCAA Tour- nament May 3, but saw its season come to a close with a narrow 4-3 loss in the first round to No. 15 Arizona May 7. Women's Tennis (19-3 Overall, 15-1 Big Ten) The Wolverines won their 10th Big Ten championship with a 4-1 triumph over Michigan State in the April 18 regular- season finale … On May 4, freshman Kari Miller earned an at-large bid to compete in the NCAA Individual Champion- ships May 23-28 in Orlando, Fla. … Michigan kicked off NCAA Tournament with a 4-1 victory over Rice May 7 and followed it up with a 4-3 triumph over No. 14 LSU May 8 … The Maize and Blue will next square off against Pepperdine May 16 in the Sweet 16. Men's Track And Field Fifth-year senior shut putter Andrew Liskowitz was pegged as the Big Ten Field Athlete of the Week for the fourth time in his career May 5, after tallying an impressive 67-foot, 11-inch heave at the Big Ten Jesse Owens Classic May 1 in Columbus, Ohio … The Big Ten Outdoor Championships will be held May 14-16. Women's Track And Field Senior distance runner Alice Hill was awarded the Big Ten's Track Athlete of the Week honor May 5 after registering a career-best time of 9:54.19 in the 3,000-meter steeplechase race April 30 in Bloomington, Ind. … Michigan's next com- petition will take place May 14-16 at the Big Ten Outdoor Championships. Water Polo (21-4 Overall, 6-0 CWPA) Michigan won its fifth straight CWPA championship and the 10th conference title in program history April 24 when it took down Mount St. Mary's and No. 20 Bucknell, respec- tively … The Wolverines will next face No. 4-seeded Arizona State in the NCAA Tournament quarterfinals May 14 in Los Angeles. — Austin Fox Olympic Sports Roundup U-M standout Strauss Mann — the Big Ten's Goaltender of the Year in 2019-20 — will bypass his senior year of eligibility and turn pro. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL