The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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three campaigns, no player other than Ezurike has finished a season with more than 13 total points. Lewis already had 10, as of Sept. 23. 5. Nick Posada, men's cross country: As a redshirt freshman last season, Posada had a solid debut, finishing 88th in the 8,000-meter race at the Big Ten Championships with a time of 25:51.1. Since then, Posada has emerged as one of the most talented youngsters on the roster. In the Wolverines' first big meet of the 2013 season, the Purdue Invitational, Posada sliced nearly 50 seconds off his Big Ten Championship time, finishing 12th at the event with a time of 25:04.7. 6. Erin Finn, women's cross country: The Wolverines will be a strong contender to repeat as the Big Ten champs this season, beating second-place Ohio State by 42 points at the annual Purdue Invitational Sept. 13. Michigan placed five runners in the top six at the event, including Finn, a true freshman, who took fourth place behind three Michigan runners with a time of 21:31.1. At West Bloomfield (Mich.) High School, Finn won consecutive Division I state cross country titles in 2011 and 2012. 7. Chris O'Neill, men's golf: As a freshman last year, O'Neill proved that he would be a important piece of the Michigan golf program for the foreseeable future, starting in all 12 tournaments and leading the team in scoring average (73.9 strokes per round). He finished 13th at his first Big Ten Championships (72-73-76-76). He's back and better than ever in 2013, taking second at this year's Wolverine Intercollegiate Sept. 17. He shot a three-round 206, averaging 68.7 at the tournament, including a career-best round of 66 in the third round. 8. Grace Choi, women's golf: The Wolverines have yet to play in their first fall event, but there is already buzz around Choi, a true freshman who came to Michigan from Dallas, Texas, where, at age 13, she became the youngest girl to win the Dallas Junior Open Championships. At Woodrow Wilson High School, she won three consecutive 4A Region II championships and finished third at the 2012 4A State Championship, shooting a two-round 147. 9. Taylor Bucklin, women's soccer: After last season, the Wolverines lost goalie Haley Kopmeyer, who had started 76 games in the last four seasons, to graduation. That left a big hole, and big question marks about the defense, heading into 2013. But Bucklin, a true freshman, was phenomenal in her first eight starts, surrendering just four goals in 708 minutes in net (0.51 goals against average). She posted 17 saves and had a 7-1 record. 10. Lauren Thomas, field hockey: The sophomore backfielder was instrumental in the team's defensive performance through six games, helping limit opponents to 20 goals and a 25.6 shooting percentage. Thomas, an Aylesbury, England, native, is talented enough to help on the offensive end too. She tallied five goals last season, had a career-high six shots against UC-Davis Sept. 15 and hit the game-winning goal in a 4-2 decision over Maine Sept. 1. — Andy Reid