The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/703389
BY JOHN BORTON S iobhan Haughey faced a long swim just to reach Michigan, coming to Ann Arbor from Hong Kong. She made certain to waste no time making her presence count. Haughey earned Female Rookie of the Year status from The Wolverine for a freshman season that appears tough to match in any sport. Haughey didn't merely break through to com- pete in her debut, she dominated com- petition at the Big Ten level and went on to make her mark nationally. The first-year Wolverine earned four Big Ten Freshman of the Week awards in slashing through the water during the regular season. But when it came time to participate in big events, she wasn't looking to draw acclaim only from the narrow pool of her classmates. She became the Big Ten Swimmer of the Championships by helping the Wolverines to their first women's swimming conference title since 2004. Not Freshman of the Championships. No, Haughey rose above all in the friendly confines of Michigan's Can- ham Natatorium. Haughey made a major statement on day two of the event, winning the 200-yard individual medley in a time of 1:54.97. That mark shattered the Big Ten record, as well as those of the Big Ten Championships, the University of Michigan and Canham Natatorium. In all, Haughey earned Big Ten ti- tles in no fewer than five events. In addition to the 200-yard individual medley, she captured the 100-yard freestyle (47.71) and the 200-yard freestyle (1:43.51) while participating on the winning 400-yard and 800- yard freestyle relay squads. Her rookie rampage didn't stop with the rise to the top of the Big Ten. Haughey went on to become an NCAA All-American in the 200-yard freestyle, finishing fifth in the nation (1:43.35). She also earned NCAA All-America honorable mention in five other events: the 100-yard freestyle, the 200-yard in- dividual medley, the 200-yard freestyle relay, the 400-yard freestyle relay and the 800-yard freestyle relay. She insists she didn't see it coming. "No, definitely not," Haughey said. "I knew I would have improvements after I came to Michigan, because this is a very good swimming program. But I never saw accomplishing so much in a first year. "I know it wouldn't be possible without my teammates and coaches supporting me every day, and push- ing me past my limits so I could do the best I could in these meets." Michigan head coach Mike Bot- tom knows well what sort of talent Haughey possesses. He's coached in the last five Olympics, and has wit- nessed many talented performers. The 18-year-old freshman, he as- sured, won't be out of place in Rio. He wasn't going out on a limb to pre- dict a medal for Haughey, but didn't completely rule out the possibility. Bottom told The South China Morn- ing Post: "She has a shot to be in the FEMALE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR SIOBHAN HAUGHEY