The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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JANUARY 2023 THE WOLVERINE 13 INSIDE MICHIGAN ATHLETICS A standout senior, David Willett has enjoyed an accomplished career to this point, being named an NCAA All- American in 2021 and performing for back-to-back Big Ten championship- winning teams in 2021 and 2022. Willett is a biomedical engineering major and was tabbed an Academic All-Big Ten selection in 2021 and 2022, and named a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar the latter year. Here are some facts about Willett that you may not have known: Best Aspect Of Being From High Point, N.C.: "I don't meet many people from North Carolina in general or High Point here at Michigan. I think it's a really cool experience being around a whole new environment in the Mid- west and being able to meet people from all across the country and pro- viding my perspective into this huge United States mixing pot at Michigan." Favorite Restaurant In Ann Arbor: "Frita Batidos. Every time I go to Frita's, it's just hard for me to stop." Best Meal He Can Cook By Himself: "I've been incredibly lazy on cooking this semester, but I have made Pad Thai a few times." Favorite Professional Athlete: "LeBron James, just because of the way he presents himself and the ma- ture way he's conducted himself while being at the most supreme place in athletics. He's been in the spotlight since he was 18 [years old], and it's an incredible mark of maturity for how well he's been able to handle that, and then sustain the excellence." Sport He Enjoys Playing Besides Gymnastics: "I love playing basket- ball." Favorite Television Show: "'Stranger Things.'" Favorite Movie: "'Rush Hour' with Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker. Just ab- solutely hilarious." Why He Chose Michigan: "I just fell in love with the community that Michigan is able to breed. There is no stronger alum system that I've seen compared to Michigan. Ever yone takes care of everyone. It's like one big, cohesive family — and it's a huge family that's extensively successful." What He Hopes To Do After Michi- gan: "I'm hoping to be a physician one day. I have some lineage, with my fa- ther and grandfather being physicians, internists. I've had a few surgeries. "My father has fought cancer a few times. Just seeing the impact that physicians have every day on peoples' lives, being able to provide aid to their health and allowing people to continue doing their passions, that's something I want to give back." Favorite Memory At Michigan: "We hadn't won a Big Ten championship since a mini-dynasty in 2013 and 2014. We went out there and won by the widest margin in 40 years [during the 2021 season]. That was just incredible. Thinking about it gives me chills." Overall Experience At Michigan: "These have been the greatest three years of my life, for sure, and I've never experienced such a growth period. It's really set me up for so many ventures in life, and I'm extremely grateful for every single person that's been instrumental to my success here at Michigan." — Clayton Sayfie Willett took home three all-around titles during the 2022 season — against Northern Illinois (75.000), at the Windy City Invitational (77.350) and versus Nebraska (78.550). PHOTO COURTESY MICHIGAN PHOTOGRAPHY Getting To Know Men's Gymnastics Senior David Willett