The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/144506
M By Geoff Chiles ost freshmen require an adjustment period, but there are an elite few who step onto campus possessing a laser-like focus and immense talent that have the chance to do amazing things from the start. Here is a look at incoming freshmen that may shine early for the Maize and Blue. Grace Choi, Golf: A Dallas native, Choi will leave the Lone Star State a decorated and accomplished student-athlete who is ready to play golf at the collegiate level. At the age of 13, Choi became the youngest women's player to win the open division of the Dallas Junior Open Championship, and she's piled up the honors ever since. The American Junior Golf Association ranks her as the No. 28 player in the 2013 class. Her prep career concluded with an individual state championship May 1, when Choi shot a 6-under-par 64 in the final round. Most recently, she placed 30th and shot a four-round 302 at the 2013 Rolex Girls Junior Championship June 14. Choi is an AP Scholar with distinction. She was recruited heavily by Harvard, but chose to attend Michigan based on its pre-med program. "She's the epitome of what we're looking for at Michigan," Michigan head coach Jan Dowling said. "She's the valedictorian at her high school. She's part of the Honor Society. She wants to excel academically — she is looking to get into engineering and possibly biomedical engineering, so she's looking to challenge herself academically. "On top of that, she has a very, very good playing record. She shot 68‑64 [in two rounds] at the Texas High School State Championship to win it, and Texas, as you can imagine, is a strong golf state. "For her to win that state title and to shoot that score is pretty impressive. She's also had very solid national experience. I think she will contribute to our team in a positive way right away." Taylor Bucklin, Soccer: Filling the shoes of legendary Michigan goalkeeper Hayley Kopmeyer, who graduated, will not be an easy task, but such is the challenge for Taylor Bucklin. Hailing from Greenwich, Conn., Bucklin is a four-star recruit and the No. 6 player in the Northeast Region, according to TopDrawerSoccer.com. Originally from north of the border, Bucklin represented her country as a member of the Canadian U-17 Women's National Team and showcased her abilities at two international competitions: the CONCACAF U-17 Women's Championship in Guatemala, and the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in Azerbaijan. "Taylor is a very steady goalkeeper," U-M women's soccer coach Greg Ryan said. "She is one of those kids that rarely makes a mistake, and in goal, that's critical. "She's got high-level experiences having played for Canada in different events, and that's only going to help her in her first year."