The Wolverine

March 2012

The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports

Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/70101

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 12 of 115

INSIDE MICHIGAN ATHLETICS MAIZE AND BLUE NOTEBOOK HIS GREATEST CATCH • Baseball Hall of Famer Barry Larkin has traveled the world, coaching in China, even visiting South Korea and Brazil as an envoy for the State Department. But as he told LSA Today — a publication produced out of Michigan's College of Lit- erature, Science & the Arts — those aren't his greatest achievements. Larkin instead pointed to getting his degree at the University of Michigan, a quarter-century after he left school early to pursue a Major League Baseball career. His hometown Cincinnati Reds made him a first-round draft choice, and following his junior year, he went on to a career that included winning a World Series and a National League Most Valuable Player award. Getting his bachelor's degree in communications in 2010 was no small adden- dum to all that's happened in his life, Larkin noted. "It's humongous to say I'm a Michigan grad, really proud of it. I know there have been some pretty successful athletes to go back to college. It's not easy. It takes a lot of time. Baseball is very time consuming. Larkin pulled it off, nearly 30 years after he came out of Cincinnati's Moeller " Larkin told the publication. "I'm " High School, with hopes of playing defensive back for Bo Schembechler. Larkin realized he needed to focus on one sport in college, and a Hall of Fame career was born. Eventually, another Michigan grad was added to the rolls. "I may even be more proud of my degree than my other honors, was a goal [to graduate], and anytime you set that kind of goal for yourself and you accomplish it, you think: 'Wow. '" Wolverines' season so far, and tickets remain available for the event. The U of M Club of Ann Arbor-sponsored affair takes place April 10 at Michigan's new Player Development Center. Players will sign autographs, and sponsors will hold a silent auction at 5:30 that TICKETS AVAILABLE • Michigan's postseason basketball banquet promises to be as lively as the evening. A buffet dinner will be served at 6:30, with the program to begin at 7:15. Tickets are $45 each, and are available by mailing a check payable to the U of M Club of Ann Arbor to P.O. Box 1771, Ann Arbor, MI, 48106. A self-addressed, stamped envelope must be included, or the tickets will be held at the door. ON THE TEAM • Freshmen Shannon Osika and Ellen June- wick will represent Team USA at the North America, Central American and Caribbean Cross Country Championships March 17. The two earned a spot with first- (21.04.3) and fourth-place (21:16.0) finishes, respectively, at the USA Cross Country Championships Feb. 11. "I'm very proud of both of them," head coach Mike McGuire said. "Ellen has made remark- able strides. It's a testament to her commit- ment and the hard work she's put in during the time she's been here at Michigan. "Shannon executed another really good race BASKETBALL, ACADEMICS Senior captain Zack Novak is gar- EARNING HONORS FOR ZACK NOVAK nering some extra attention while he winds down his final season in a Michi- gan uniform. The four-year Wolverine recently earned academic and citizen- ship distinctions, in addition to admir- ers for his work on the court. On Feb. 2, Novak earned notice as a Capital One Academic All-District V team member, selected by the College Sports Information Directors of Amer- ica. He's culled the honor three con- secutive years. That came on the heels of Novak be- " Larkin said. "It coming a finalist for the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award. The business major at U-M's Stephen M. Ross School of Busi- ness has been cited often for his stud- ies, including the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Honors Court (2011), CoSIDA/Capital One Aca- demic All-District IV first team (2010 and 2011), Academic All-Big Ten (2010 and 2011), Old Spice Scholar-Ballers (2010), U-M Athletic Academic Achieve- ment (2009, 2010 and 2011), and U-M's Bodnar Award for Academic Achieve- ment (2009 and 2011). Novak was named one of 10 finalists for the 2011-12 Lowe's Senior CLASS Award Jan. 25. The award requires that the winner be a Division I senior and boast achievements of note in four ar- eas: community, classroom, character and competition. In addition to his academics and work on the court, Novak is involved with ele- mentary school reading programs, Mott Children's Hospital, summer camps for volleyball and basketball, and numer- ous other local charities. Finalists include three other play- plan. We felt that she had the ability to win the race and she didn't show a trump card until the last 200 meters of the race. We felt that she could be in control of the race without taking too much out of her because we've still got big things that we're trying to do at the Big Ten and national meet with her in indoor track. "It was a great opportunity for both of them at the junior level in their first year of college. Any time you get to represent your country, it's quite an honor. " ers from the Big Ten: Purdue's Robbie Hummel, Ohio State's William Buford and Michigan State's Draymond Green. Other finalists are Pittsburgh guard Ashton Gibbs, Belmont forward Mick Hedgepeth, William and Mary forward Quinn McDowell, Butler guard Ronald Nored, Pennsylvania guard Zack Rosen and North Carolina forward Tyler Zeller. Fan balloting for the award is made Freshman Ellen Junewick will run in the North America, Central American and Caribbean Cross Country Championships March 17. PHOTO COURTESY U-M SPORTS INFORMATION available on the official Lowe's Senior CLASS website and Facebook page. The voting by fans counts for one-third of the total, the remainder determined by NCAA Division I coaches and national media members. Fans are allowed to vote once per day through March 18. MARCH 2012 THE WOLVERINE 13

Articles in this issue

Archives of this issue

view archives of The Wolverine - March 2012