The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/230001
INSIDE MICHIGAN ATHLETICS MAIZE AND BLUE NOTEBOOK ACADEMIC SUCCESS A total of 60 Michigan student-athletes from the Wolverines' seven fall sports have earned Academic All-Big Ten honors. The women's soccer team led the way with 13 recipients while field hockey had 11, and football and men's soccer had 10 each. Women's cross country earned eight accolades, men's cross country five and volleyball three. To be eligible, student-athletes must carry a cumulative 3.0 grade-point average and be a letter winner in at least their second academic year at their current university. PROMISING FUTURE Though she did not compete at the NCAA Championships, freshman cross country runner Jaimie Phelan proved she could be a factor next season after placing third at the Canadian National Cross Country Championships Nov. 30. The Kitchener, Ontario, native clocked 18:13.13 in the 5,000-meter race to earn a spot on Team Canada for the North American, Central American and Caribbean Championships (NACAC) Feb. 22 in Trinidad & Tobago. COMING SOON The Michigan field hockey program will host the 2015 NCAA Championships at Ocker Field, the school and the NCAA announced Dec. 11. The semifinals and championship will take place Nov. 20-22. "We are thrilled to be hosting the 2015 NCAA Field Hockey Championship and look forward to welcoming these talented student-athletes, accomplished coaches and passionate fans," athletics director Dave Brandon said in a release. "We're excited for the opportunity to showcase our new state-ofthe-art facility, our beautiful campus and the Ann Arbor community. "We will work extremely hard to make this a 'wow' experience for everyone attending the championship." Michigan field hockey will be hosting the NCAA Championships for the first time, though the athletic department will be hosting its 16th national championship across its sports spectrum. U-M last hosted the 2011 Water Polo Championships and will host the 2014 Men's Gymnastics Championships. Ocker Field is currently under construction and set to reopen prior to the 2014 season. A project of $13.5 million includes a 13,000-square-foot multi-purpose facility with locker rooms, a training room, a press box and broadcasting booth, a 1,500-seat grandstand, scoreboard and field lighting, and new blue turf. U-M will also host a 2016 NCAA women's gymnastics regional, the NCAA announced.