The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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which was a weaker event for our team last year," Michigan coach Bev Plocki said. "We expect her to help right away there. "She is a dynamic and high-energy performer, which is great for college gymnastics." Alex Sobczak, softball — With the departure of senior Lauren Sweet, Sobczak will play right away at catcher. Rated No. 51 nationally in FloSoft- ball.com's ranking of the top 100 re- cruits in the 2015 class, the Bloom- field Hills, Mich., native was a member of the web site's All-Amer- ica first-team after hitting .440 with six home runs and 33 RBI in leading Mercy High School to the Division I state semifinals this past spring. The state's Miss Softball award winner for 2015, Sobczak had a .524 career average and 40 home runs (fifth all-time in Michigan high school history), while striking out only 23 times in 475 career plate ap- pearances. "She's a good third baseman but we need her to catch, and she will be a good catcher and a great player," U-M coach Carol Hutchins said. "She loves to compete, loves to get better and work hard. "This is a kid that has been on cam- pus this summer, not to go to school but to work out. She has enthusiasm for all the right things." Lauren Van Vlierbergen, track and cross country — The Algonquin, Ill., native was the indoor state cham- pion in the 800-meter run in 2013-14 Laura Van Viergen will help out on the track and in cross country after winning Illinois state titles in the indoor and out- door 800-meter runs, as well as the indoor 1,600-meters. PHOTO COURTESY MICHIGAN ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS