The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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DECEMBER 2017 THE WOLVERINE 17 INSIDE MICHIGAN ATHLETICS Junior midfielder Abby Kastroll has made an impact on the U-M women's soccer team ever since she arrived on campus. She played in all 21 games (17 starts) as a freshman in 2015 and was named the team's Rookie of the Year. Kastroll started 19 games as a sophomore in 2016 and finished fourth on the team with 14 points. Despite missing seven games due to injury this season, she ranked fourth on the team with nine points (three goals and three assists). Here are a few other things you may not know about her: Nickname: "One time our coach was on the whiteboard explaining our defense and yelled out, 'We'll park 'The Bus' right here!' No one has called me 'The Bus' ever since, but it's just kind of a funny story." Favorite restaurant in Ann Arbor: "They're all so good, but I really like Aventura — whenever my parents come to town, that's where we go. I go to Jolly Pumpkin a lot with my teammates, too." Best meal she can cook by herself: "I only do it once a year because it's time consuming, but I make this really good beef stew — it's my great grandma's recipe. I told my teammates they could only have a bite last time I made it, but they were willing to pay for it. I'll probably make it again in three weeks." Sports she plays besides soccer: "In the offseason, some of us go and play squash — it has to be squash, though, not racquetball." Hobbies: "I'm a big spikeballer. There has to be a net in the ground, and everyone stands in a circle around it to play. There's actually a dirt ring in front of our house where grass doesn't grow anymore where we play. We're pretty avid spikeballers." Favorite TV show: "I love 'The Office.'" Favorite movie: "'Captain Phillips' was a great one." Dream vacation: "My dream vacation would be to get into an RV and drive through California and go through all the national parks. Once I get to the bottom of California, I'd scoot my way over to Utah and mountain bike there." Favorite venue she's been to: "I went to Alaska once and stayed in the middle of the woods in a cabin, and we took a boat to a big glacier in the middle of a lake. We also went to a bear-viewing area, and the national park only lets 50 people in per day, and we happened to be one of them. I was within an arm's distance of wild black bears feeding on salmon — the only thing between us and the bears was a railing." Favorite professional athlete: "[Former Pittsburgh Steelers safety] Troy Polamalu. He had a great attitude and was always smiling. I remember watching him while I was growing up and he would always make a big play whenever his team needed one. It's fun to watch a guy who's so positive — he had crazy hair, too." Role model: "I look up to my dad a lot. Whenever I need advice, I go to him and he provides a perspective that I don't always see. He says you can make a bad situation better if you look at it from a different angle." Why she chose Michigan: "I actually didn't know much about Michigan since I was from Florida. They told me they were interested, so I Googled them and that was the first time I saw the block M. I saw school spirit here, that was a big attraction. I love schools that value athletics and education, and Michigan is the best combo for that." What she hopes to do after soccer: "I'm in the business school right now, so I'd like to do something in marketing. I'd like to move out West and work for an adventure apparel company, like adidas, Nike, Colombia or Patagonia." Her overall experience at Michigan: "It's been all smiles. Every time I come back to campus from a break, I have this permanent smile for two days. I love the environ- ment, classes and the friends I've made. It's a unique experience that I know I'll only have for four years, so I try and love every second of it." — Austin Fox Kastroll missed seven games due to injury this fall, but started all 11 she played in and contributed nine points. PHOT0 COURTESY MICHIGAN ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS Getting To Know Women's Soccer Junior Midfielder Abby Kastroll Michigan Sportula $ 15 95 SALE! (Reg $24.95) Plus $6.50 S&H NC, IN & MI Residents add sales tax THE WOLVERINE PO BOX 2331 DURHAM, NC 27702 1-800- 421-7751 Visit our online store: TheWolverineOnDemand.com Only A Few Remaining! Item #1220