The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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14 THE WOLVERINE APRIL 2017 INSIDE MICHIGAN ATHLETICS Allison Skaggs came to water polo at a fairly early age, but by way of another sport. "I started swimming for a club when I was 4 or 5, so I kind of had a knack for that," Skaggs said. "I was pretty good at it. I was 11 years old when I joined my first water polo team and that's where I played until I graduated high school. "Some of my friends started playing water polo because they de- cided swimming was a little too boring for t h e m . Th e y wa nte d something a little more interactive and more of a team sport, so I thought I'd try it too. I went out for my first practice and I loved it." The Michigan water polo team is glad she eventually made her way to the sport, and Skaggs has stood out in the pool since she arrived in Ann Arbor from Lake Forest, Calif. Skaggs has appeared in every game the Wolverines have played during her tenure on the team and averages just more than a goal per game. The senior captain has marked her name in the history books at Michigan as one of only 11 players to draw 100 or more exclusions, and through 21 games this season she ranks fifth on the all-time list with 135. In coming to Michigan, Skaggs has found exactly what she wanted in a college. "Michigan reached out to me when I was a junior in high school, and I've always been a fan of the idea of going out of state," Skaggs said. "Leaving California and trying something different. "I couldn't ignore the reputation Michigan had academically and athletically. I think that was the perfect combination for me and what I wanted to do." Just as with water polo, Skaggs didn't find what she wanted to ma- jor in without a little searching. She eventually settled on sport man- agement, which brings together many of her academic interests. "I was definitely more business, humanity minded," Skaggs said. "Math and science have never really been my strong suit. I've always loved to write as well, so I was kind of tossing up between, do I apply to the business school or do I stick with English and communica- tions? "I've always really loved sports so I think that sport management just provided a great foundation for that business background but also an emphasis on the sport industry." Despite choosing a sport management major, Skaggs has not given up on her love of writing. She will graduate with a writing minor. Skaggs is unsure of exactly what she will move on to after graduation, but she knows it will involve sports, and like her studies and water polo, she may not find it right away, but eventually she will discover something she loves. — Leland Mitchinson Student Athlete Of The Month Water Polo Senior Allison Skaggs During her junior year, Skaggs earned Big Ten Distinguished Scholar, Big Ten All-Academic team, CWPA Scholar-Athlete and ACWPC All- Academic team accolades. PHOTO COURTESY MICHIGAN ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS TRANSFER DEVIN ASIASI'S FATHER HAILS JIM HARBAUGH Michigan head football coach Jim Harbaugh certainly didn't want to lose one of his most promising tight ends, in freshman Devin Asiasi. After all, the rugged frosh got on the field this year and would have enjoyed a major role in the U-M offense in 2017. Win or lose with the talented rookie, though, Harbaugh wasn't going to change his approach. He'd promised Asiasi's dad, Dave Asiasi, that he'd look out for the youngster if he traveled across the country from his California home to Ann Arbor to become a Wolverine. So when the younger Asiasi decided he needed to move back closer to home, there wasn't any acrimony. He opted for UCLA, where former Michigan assistant Jedd Fisch also landed in the offseason. Those situations can produce considerable tension, but this one did not, especially in the view of the elder Asiasi. He tweeted out praise not only for Harbaugh, but Asiasi's tight ends coach Jay Harbaugh as well. Dave Asiasi noted: "As the head of the Asiasi family and father of Devin, I would like to per- sonally thank coach Jim Harbaugh and son Jay Harbaugh for an amazing experience of foot- ball this year. Even though kids tend to change [their] minds and as parents all you can do is support, I personally thank Coach for promis- ing me he would take good care of him like he was his own, and the class and humility you [have] shown ME during this difficult process of transferring is a credit to you and your program. Thank you to the University of Michigan always. Go Blue." Asiasi's first catch was a three-yard touchdown against Penn State. PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN