The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/495628
the direction of the program. Accord‑ ing to espnW HoopGurlz, Barnes Arico signed the No. 16 recruiting class in the nation and is bringing in some real talent at multiple posi‑ tions. The four‑star quartet of Cha‑ grin Falls (Ohio) High School center Hallie Thome, Doylestown (Pa.) Cen‑ tral Bucks West guard Nicole Munger, Cincinnati Mount Notre Dame guard Naomi Davenport, and Brookville (N.Y.) Long Island Lutheran guard Lauren Brozoski, along with three‑star Minnetonka (Minn.) Eastview forward Sam Trammel, make up the best re‑ cruiting class in program history, top‑ ping last year's haul which previously held that spot. Next year's team will have 10 fresh‑ men and sophomores, and while they will be young, they will also be ex‑ tremely talented. Goree and Elmblad both recognize that the talent is starting to arrive in Ann Arbor in a way that it hasn't be‑ fore, and they both think that Barnes Arico is the one to drive the program to the top. They won't be on the roster anymore, but they'll definitely be a part of the success. "I definitely feel like the program is going to continue to build from where we left off," Goree said. "We will be in that top part of the Big Ten mov‑ ing forward, especially with the way Coach Arico is recruiting. "If this team continues to work hard and never takes any days off, the sky is the limit. There's no doubt in my mind that this program is going to be special, and I can't wait to be around for that." "I think with the great recruiting class coming in and the five fresh‑ men that will be sophomores next year, there will be a lot of youth on the team but there is a ton of talent and skill," Elmblad said. "After go‑ ing through a season like we did and going on that tournament run, all of the players still on the team got a lot of good experience. "They learned how to be successful and how to go on a run. I look for‑ ward to seeing them build on the late season success we had this season." Barnes Arico knows that she owes a lot to Goree, Smith and Elmblad. She says that even though they won't be wearing Michigan jerseys anymore, they are just as important to the suc‑ cess next year and beyond as they have been for the past two to three seasons. "When we do hang a banner or get to cut down a net, my first piece is go‑ ing to go to those seniors because of what they have meant to our program and what they've done," Barnes Arico said of Goree, Elmblad and Smith. "All three of them really stepped up and just showed such great character and class. They showed great emotion and did it all while playing at a high, high level. We are just so proud of them and the example that they have shown for the younger kids. "Each of them has such a different story. Cyesha and Nicole bought into a new coach and a new system and took our team to another level. Shan‑ non believed that she could come to Michigan and make a difference. The three of them have been super special, and they will be incredibly missed by their teammates and us coaches." ❑