The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/703389
Romero didn't leave much on the table in her four-year run with the Wolverines. Still, she gets asked about not winning a national title after a runner-up finish last year and this season's shortfall, partially at the hands of her younger sister, Syd- ney, and eventual national champion Oklahoma. The elder Romero remained un- bowed and placidly philosophical after the slugfest 7-5 loss to the Soon- ers and the subsequent heartbreaker of a 1-0 WCWS ouster against Florida State. Her reasoning about the ap- proach proved as eye-opening as her numbers. Her father, Michael Romero, is a cancer survivor. While going through radiation treatments a while back, he told her he would never look back on his life and wish he'd done this or that. She learned to live in the moment and gained considerable perspective. "He ended up beating it," Romero said. "He's been cancer free for a couple of years. I've just always had that mentality. Win or lose a game, I'm still healthy. I still get to enjoy my teammates. I still get to have fun with my teammates. "No game is ever going to define who I am as a player." That doesn't mean she completely rebuffs her competitive side, Romero acknowledged. "People always ask me about win- ning a national championship and SIERRA ROMERO'S HONOR ROLL The only item longer than some of Sierra Romero's 82 career home runs involves her list of honors over her four seasons at Michigan. Here's a quick scan of the luminous array of achievements she managed: • USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year (2016) • Schutt Sports/NFCA Division I Player of the Year (2016) • Honda Sports Award for softball (2016) • Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-America first team (second base, 2016) • Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-America first team (at-large/second base, 2015) • Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-America first team (shortstop, 2014) • Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-America second team (at large/shortstop, 2013) • espnW Softball Player of the Year (2015) • Three-Time Big Ten Player of the Year (2013, '14, '16) • Two-time USA Softball top-three finalist for Collegiate Player of the Year (2014, '15) • NCAA All-Tournament Team (2015) • Four-Time NFCA All-Great Lakes Region first team (2013, '14, '15, '16) • Four-time unanimous pick on the All-Big Ten first team (2013, '14, '15, '16) • Big Ten Tournament Most Valuable Player (2015) • Two-time Big Ten All-Tournament Team (2014, '15) • Big Ten Freshman of the Year (2013)