The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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cliffs and won't let herself fall," Eiffert said. "She has an amazing ability to go to the brink of what she's capa- ble of, and hold on for dear life. And that's what makes her a great rower, but it's also what overwhelms her. "She had to acknowledge what was going on, and learn techniques to control it, and that's what she's been doing." Mueller wasn't ready to tackle her stand what I was going through, and I didn't fully understand it either, so I think it was easier just to ignore it for awhile," Mueller said. "But it was getting worse and worse before races. I was so nervous, and my heart rate would elevate; I got to the point where I couldn't put up with it anymore. "I'm really grateful to Michigan inner demons at first, needing time to come to terms with what was hap- pening, but her denial eventually dis- sipated and she sought out the help she needed. "I don't think people can under- because the resources I needed to address this were made available to me, and my coaches and friends were supportive. "It's still something I'm dealing with, but it's getting a lot better, and I'm proud of myself for overcoming this." and one year later, in 1983, began recognizing the top female performance also, with runner Sue Frederick-Foster the initial recipient. In the 29 seasons since then, the Wol- verines have honored 30 standouts (there were dual award winners in 1997). Here is a ranking of those performances, weighing the Michigan introduced a Male Athlete of the Year in 1982 accomplishments of the athlete in that specific season (not counting a career's worth of achievements). Rk. Athlete of the Year in leading U-M softball to the program's first-ever national title. 2. Tiffany Ofili Named a first-team All-American and the Big Ten Pitcher 1. Jennie Ritter Softball Sport becoming the first athlete in NCAA history with five career titles in hurdle events. 3. Katie McGregor history to win an individual national title in both cross coun- try and track and field. 4. Tiffany Ofili Became the first, and remains the only, Wolverine in school Track/X-Country added the 60-meter hurdles NCAA crown to her résumé. 5. Mary Fischbach ing the first of two swimmers in program history with multiple NCAA championships. 7. Elise Ray scoring previous NCAA crowns in the all-around (2001) and balance beam (2002). 8. Beth Wymer Added an uneven bars national title to her résumé after Gymnastics in the uneven bars event while also earning Big Ten Gymnast of the Year honors. 28 THE WOLVERINE AUGUST 2012 Capped her career with her third consecutive national title Gymnastics 1995 2004 Took first in the 100- and the 200-yard breaststroke, becom- Swimming 1993 Repeated as the 100-meter hurdles national champion and Diving Track 2008 meter diving and in platform diving, and was named the Big Ten Diver of the Year. 6. Lara Hooiveld Earned three individual national titles, in one- and three- 1988 1999 Captured NCAA victories in the 60- and 100-meter hurdles, Track 2009 In 2005, Jennie Ritter was named Big Ten Pitcher of the Year, and she led the U-M softball team to a national title. to capture an individual national title, placing first in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. 10. Kylee Botterman Became one of only four Wolverines in program history 9. Anna Willard Track national title, and the second in the all-around, while an All- American in four events overall. 11. Lexi Zimmerman Became just the third gymnast in school history to win a Gymnastics finishing her four seasons as the most decorated volleyball player in program history. 12. Ann Colloton and won Big Ten titles in the 100- and 200-yard breaststroke. 13. Mindy Gehrs medley at the NCAA Championships, and was the Big Ten Swimmer of the Year. 14. Sara Griffin Touched the wall in first place in the 400-yard individual 1992 the Year, going 35-3 on the year — the second-most wins in single-season school history. Named a first-team All-American and the Big Ten Pitcher of Softball 1998 Earned a national title in the 200-yard breaststroke event Swimming Swimming 1989 Garnered All-America honors for the third time in her career, Volleyball 2010 2011 PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN 2007 Year 2005 in unison, Mueller could be at her best this season. However, there was one final obstacle to clear — returning to New Jersey for the NCAA Champion- ships, the site of her freshman hard- ship. Mueller chose to replace fear with faith in herself, embracing the opportunity to come full circle. "It was sort of fitting for me to fin- With her mind and body working ish in New Jersey because I felt like I had ruined the season for those seniors, and here was my chance to put a different stamp on my career," Mueller said. "I learned how to stay relaxed, and went into that race with a clear mind. Ranking Michigan's Female Athletes Of The Year