The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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women's gymnastics profile definitely took into consideration what my coaches said I was capable of doing as a sophomore," Sheppard said. "I really got myself in gear and got in shape over the summer. When I got back to Ann Arbor, I was fully ready to train harder than I ever have, and that has definitely paid off." In the summer, Sheppard started every day with a half-hour of cardio work, paid close attention to her diet and worked out any chance she got. "To see someone who has taken it upon themselves like that is very encouraging," Plocki said. "We don't have any control over what they do in the summer. It's a scary time for coaches. She could be sitting on the couch watching reality TV and eating Twinkies, but she worked her butt off and came back ready to go. "And that also helps mentally, because you feel so much better and stronger. When she came in this fall looking and feeling really good, it catapulted her back to where she was when we recruited her. Now, it's just about the final tweaks and getting her confidence level back to peak competition form. It's one thing to practice and another thing to compete." When Sheppard returned to Ann Arbor for fall semester, the difference was immediately noticeable. Her hard work throughout the summer paid off, and that culminated in a strong preseason in the gym. In the first regular-season meet of the year, a tri-meet at Iowa State Jan. 10, Sheppard hit a 9.900 with her Yurchenko layout full vault routine, winning the meet title in the event. "Last year, I really struggled with landing," Sheppard said. "My focus in that meet was sticking my landing. I took a small little step, but I was pretty pleased with the performance. It was really exciting to win a vault title." And, for the first time in her career, she competed in multiple events, scoring a 9.750 on the uneven bars. She is "on the cusp" of making the team's lineup on the floor exercise, according to Plocki, and will most likely compete there sooner rather than later. "I'm so excited," Sheppard said. "It's so awesome to contribute on more than one event. That was my goal this year. I know that I am capable of it, and the coaches know I can do it, too." If Sheppard continues to progress at her current rate, she has a chance to compete on the balance beam, as well, which would round her out as an allaround competitor. "The only thing that is holding her back on beam is consistency," Plocki said. "Her routine is good enough to be in the lineup. She can get up there and do a gorgeous routine, and other times she might stumble. We need that consistency. "As coaches, we really feel like we can make a difference with an athlete like Austin. We can see her and watch her growth. She is a talented enough kid to be an NCAA all-around champion if she puts her physical and mental effort level toward what she wants to do. "You can't just be committed part of the time. You have to be committed all the time, and she is absolutely getting there. I am so proud of how far she has come, and I know how much farther she has the capability to go." — Andy Reid