OLYMPIC SPORTS
letic talent, but he's one of our most
important leaders on the team just in
the way he approaches every day in the
classroom and around the track," Sul‑
livan said. "Guys can really feed off that."
Athletes To Watch: Junior Ben Fla‑
nagan leads a strong contingent of
runners that should provide the depth
behind Ferlic to allow U‑M to challenge
for Big Ten supremacy, with senior Tony
Smoragiewicz, redshir t sophomore
Aaron Baumgarten and fifth‑year senior
August Pappas.
"If someone is ready to challenge Ma‑
son for that top spot on our squad, it's
Ben," Sullivan said. "Tony was rock solid
for us all cross country season, and I
expect big contributions from Aaron,
who had a breakout year as a redshirt
freshman, and August. They're hungry
to take a step forward."
Don't Miss: Michigan does not have a
home meet this fall.
WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY
First Event: Sept. 5, at EMU Open.
Big Ten Predicted Finish: Top two.
NCAA Best-Case Scenario: Top eight.
Coach's Expectations: "I think we can
compete for the Big Ten title; it will be
predicated on, as it always is, staying
healthy," said Mike McGuire, who is in
his 24th year in charge of the program.
"We started off the season a year ago
as a house of fire and faded with losing
our top two runners in Erin Finn and
Shannon Osika to injuries at the end.
"That allowed some athletes to grow
In 2014, fifth-year senior Mason Ferlic became the first Wolverine to garner back-to-back
All-America honors since Nate Brannen in 2002-03. He could lead U-M to a top-10 national
finish this season.
PHOTO COURTESY MICHIGAN ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS
