The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1524451
32 THE WOLVERINE ❱ AUGUST 2024 ROOKIES OF THE YEAR MALE SPORT ROOKIE OF THE YEAR COLLIN PRIEST, BASEBALL The freshman infielder from Mount Dora, Fla., had an impressive debut sea- son with the Wolverines, appearing in 56 outings with 39 starts, hitting .279 with 11 home runs and 30 RBI. His 11 hom- ers were third on the team and set U-M's program record by a freshman. He also had the second-highest OPS on the team (1.023) and was third with 85 total bases. Priest was named a second-team Freshman All-American by Perfect Game, U-M's first to earn the nod since pitcher Willie Weiss in 2019. Priest transferred to Clemson this off- season. BEST INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCES OF THE YEAR MALE SPORT BEST INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE OF THE YEA BLAKE CORUM VS. WASHINGTON The senior running back capped off his collegiate career in style, rushing for 134 yards and 2 touchdowns in a 34-13 victory over Washington to win the national championship. A fitting way to cement the victory was for fifth-year defensive back Mike Sainristil to notch an interception and 81-yard return to the Husky 11-yard line, before Corum scored from 1 yard out two plays later. Sainristil had 6 picks on the year, and Corum broke a single-season program record with 27 rushing scores. Corum had a huge impact throughout the game, which was played at NRG Stadium in Houston. He dashed for 59 yards on the final play of the first quar- ter, setting the Wolverines up at the Washington 20-yard line before James Turner made a field goal to put U-M up 17-3. The Marshall, Va., native scored from 12 yards out, breaking tackles along the way, to give the Maize and Blue a 14-point lead with 7:09 remaining in the fourth quarter (27-13). Corum was named Offensive MVP of the title game for his efforts. Freshman All-American Collin Priest started 39 times in 56 outings and hit .279 with 11 home runs and 30 RBI. His 11 homers were third on the team and set U-M's program record by a freshman. PHOTO COURTESY MICHIGAN ATHLETICS Right-handed pitcher Lauren Derkowski started and completed all three of Michigan's conference tournament wins. She allowed just 5 earned runs in a total of 19 innings and was named the Big Ten Tournament MVP. PHOTO COURTESY MICHIGAN ATHLETICS Blake Corum capped off his collegiate career in style, running for 134 yards and 2 touchdowns in a 34-13 win over Washington for the national championship. PHOTO BY DOMONICK SOKOTOFF FEMALE SPORT BEST INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR LAUREN DERKOWSKI IN BIG TEN TOURNAMENT, SOFTBALL The junior right-handed pitcher was stellar all season long, earning first-team All-Big Ten honors with a 19-10 record and 2.29 ERA. But she turned her level of play up a notch in the Big Ten Tournament in Iowa City, which the Wolverines won with victories over Maryland, Wisconsin and Indiana. In incredible fashion, Derkowski started and completed all three outings, throwing every pitch and notching the win each time out. She allowed just 5 earned runs in a total of 19 innings. The Elmhurst, Ill., native was named the Big Ten Tournament MVP. 2023-24 YEAR IN REVIEW