The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/510942
INSIDE MICHIGAN ATHLETICS ing. But we vow to give it our very best." Harbaugh added: "We tell our stu- dent-athletes here, 'Whatever you go do, just do it to the best of your God-given ability.' That way you can look back and feel good about what you've accomplished." One of the warmest receptions of the night went to outgoing U-M quarterback Devin Gardner. He re- ceived a Spirit Award, and noted he'd done all he could in a Michigan uniform. "I know how hard I worked," Gardner said. "I worked hard every day." His limited class schedule as a graduate student last fall allowed him to be in Schembechler Hall from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. most days. He put in those hours to help Michigan win, he offered. "My teammates knew how hard I worked," he said. "It wasn't a big deal when you get criticized, and all the adversity comes. I heard it. I hear it a lot. "But it doesn't matter what other people think. What other people think about me is none of my busi- ness. That's how I feel about it." That approach drew a hearty round of applause from the crowd. The Ufer banquet featured a num- ber of athletes who could do pre- cisely that. They included: • Senior Athlete Award winner Sachi Sugiyama from women's gym- nastics, an All-American in the all- around who became a finalist for the AAI Award, given annually to the most outstanding female gymnast in the nation. • Senior Athlete Award winner Cyesha Goree from women's bas- ketball, who set a school rebounding record this season with 367, topping her own mark of 317 from last year. • Senior Athlete Award winner Zach Hyman from hockey, an All- American and Hobey Baker Award finalist for Red Berenson. • Senior Athlete Award winner Bruno Ortiz from men's swimming, a 16-time NCAA All-American in various relays. • Spirit Award winner Nicole El- mblad from women's basketball, a leader on the team who is on her way to medical school. • Spirit Award winner Justin Glanda from men's swimming, a four-time NCAA All-American. • Spirit Award winner Max Biel- feldt from men's basketball, who earned Michigan's Sixth Man Award this season, stepping up after attri- tion and illness thinned the big man ranks. The group also made former U-M head coach Gary Moeller its 2015 Oosterbaan Award honoree. The award centers on lifetime contribu- tions to Michigan athletics. "Michigan trumps all of us indi- vidually," noted master of ceremo- nies Jim Brandstatter, the former Wolverine and present radio play- by-play man. "That's what Ufer was like. The tradition of Michigan is what makes us, is what makes them, is what makes this university what it is."