The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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INSIDE MICHIGAN ATHLETICS Michigan Selects Connor Jaeger, Joanna Sampson As Repeat Athletes Of The Year Senior swimmer Connor Jaeger and senior women's gymnast Joanna Sampson finished out their Michigan careers as the best of the leaders and best, according to Michigan's athletic department. The duo captured the 2013-14 Michigan Male and Female Athlete of the Year honors, each rising to the top for the second straight year. The awards began in 1982, and since that time, a mere half-dozen Wolver- ines have ever repeated the athlete of the year honor. In winning two straight, J a e g e r a n d S a m p s o n join the following dis- tinguished former Wol- verines: Ann Colloton (women's swimming and diving, 1989-90); Tom Dolan (men's swimming and diving, 1995-96); Sara Griffin (softball, 1996, 1998); Jennie Ritter (soft- ball, 2005-06); Tiffany Ofili (women's track and field, 2008-09); and Kellen Russell (wrestling (2011-12). Jaeger, a Michigan tri-captain this season, repeated as national cham- pion in the 1,650-yard freestyle at the NCAA Championships, garnered three All-America distinctions at the meet and led the Wolverines to a fourth-place finish after capturing the team title in 2013. Jaeger also helped pace the Wolverines to a fourth consecutive Big Ten championship. Sampson, also one of three captains, finished second at the NCAA Championships in floor exercise. She helped lead the Wolverines to the Big Ten championship and an NCAA regional title, and earned a trio of All-America honors at the NCAA Championships. Both Jaeger and Sampson are now eligible to become Big Ten Confer- ence Athletes of the Year, with a media vote determining the winners. Jaeger repeated as the national champion in the 1,650- yard freestyle, earned three All-America honors and helped lead U-M to a fourth-place finish at the NCAA Championships this year. PHOTO COURTESY MICHIGAN ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS