The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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66 THE WOLVERINE JANUARY 2018 BY ANDREW VAILLIENCOURT W ith snow falling in Ann Arbor, it's time for Michigan's winter sports teams that have not started yet to get un- der way — each one with high expecta- tions and Big Ten championship dreams. Here's a preview of the five remain- ing winter Olympic sports, including a projection on where each is expected to finish both in the Big Ten and nationally: MEN'S GYMNASTICS First Event: Jan. 13, Windy City Invita- tional (at Chicago) Big Ten Predicted Finish: Top three NCAA Best-Case Scenario: Top six nationally Coach's Expectations: "I'm really ex- cited because we have a good freshman class and we have some upperclassman that haven't reached their full poten- tial, but it appears that they're going to now," head coach Kurt Golder said. "So we'll be getting it on both ends, the ex- isting team stepping up more than they have and the freshman group that just came in living up to our expectations." Top Athlete: Junior Anthony McCal- lum is a two-time defending NCAA vault champion and is looking to add another title to his legacy this year. McCallum, also the owner of a Big Ten vault champi- onship (2016), has a chance to enter elite company and become only the third three-time NCAA vault champion ever, and the first in the modern era. "It's possible that he could win four consecutive NCAA titles on vault, so fans will see one of the nation's best that performs at world caliber," Golder said. "It adds a lot of inspiration on a daily basis. They're in the middle of practice and they're bumping elbows with a two-time NCAA champion, who sets the bar pretty high. All the guys want to strive to be like that." Athlete To Watch: Michigan enters the year with a group of freshmen that were formed the No. 1-ranked recruiting class in the country, led by Cameron Bock. "[Bock], I think, has potential to be a U.S. Senior National Team member and represent our country in international competition and hopefully down the road some world and Olympic competi- tion," Golder said. Don't Miss: Jan. 27 vs. Oklahoma and Feb. 3 vs. Ohio State. The Sooners were NCAA champions last season, while Ohio State won the Big Ten and finished as the NCAA runner-up, so Michigan starts its season off about as tough as possible. WOMEN'S GYMNASTICS First Event: Jan. 5, vs. No. 4 Alabama Big Ten Predicted Finish: First NCAA Best-Case Scenario: Top six Coach's Expectations: Michigan beat Eastern Michigan in an exhibition meet in early December, leaving coach Bev Plocki optimistic about the upcoming year. "Overall, we were really excited about what we saw," Plocki said. "We definitely came away with a lot of things we want to continue to work on and improve. We pretty have the same goals and ex- pectations year in and year out. "We feel like every year we have the talent and ability to be able to — if we can avoid the injury bug — win the Big Ten, win regionals and be at the Super Six [at the NCAA Championships] and to even win a national championship. When you get to the Super Six the door is wide open for any team that's there to be able to win on the right day." Top Athlete: Junior Olivia Karas is a two-time NACGC/W All-American, was the Big Ten Freshman of the Year in 2016 and earned the Big Ten floor championship in 2017. Athlete To Watch: Senior Brianna Brown is back in action this year and is a three-time NACGC/W All-American, including second-team laurels in the all-around in 2015 and 2016. She did the beams, bars and floor in the exhibition. "She's doing very, very well on those three events," Plocki said. "She's one that if she can commit herself to getting her confidence back in vault, she's really as- piring to be an all-arounder again and I know she has that capability." Don't Miss: Jan. 5 vs. Alabama. The Crimson Tide are perennial national title contenders and made it to the Super Six last season. The meet in Ann Arbor, televised by ESPNU, will be the first of the year for both squads. MEN'S TRACK AND FIELD First Event: Jan. 13, Wolverine Invita- tional (Ann Arbor, Mich.) Big Ten Predicted Finish: Top three NCAA Best-Case Scenario: Top 20 Coach's Expectations: "We had a bit of a stumble last year, but hopefully we can get back to where we can chal- lenge to be in the top five on the men's side [in the Big Ten] and hopefully move even further up," head coach Jerry Clay- ton said. "We have a good nucleus com- ing back, especially indoors. "The area that's coming back the stron- gest would be the weight throw, and hopefully we can step it up in the shot put and a few other events. On the track, there's definitely some excitement there." Top Athlete: Fifth-year senior weight thrower Grant Cartwright is the leader of the weight throwers. He is the school re- cord holder for weight throw, was a 2017 first-team All-American after earning runner-up honors at the NCAA Indoor Championships and the 2017 Big Ten champion. He was the conference and region's Indoor Field Athlete of the Year. Athlete To Watch: Junior sprinter Tay- lor McLaughlin is the team leader on the track. He's a two-time All-American, holds the school record in the 400 me- ters and is a Big Ten champion in hurdles. Don't Miss: The Power Five Invita- tional Feb. 2-3 in Ann Arbor, Mich. Mich- igan will host Indiana, Minnesota, Duke, Louisville, Miami (Fla.), North Carolina State, Virginia, Baylor, Stanford and Vanderbilt in a huge early season meet. WOMEN'S TRACK AND FIELD First Event: Jan. 13, Wolverine Invita- tional (Ann Arbor, Mich.) Big Ten Predicted Finish: First NCAA Best-Case Scenario: Top 10 Coach's Expectations: "We're very young," head coach James Henry said. OLYMPIC SPORTS UPDATE U-M's Winter Teams Are Ready For Action Last year, junior Anthony McCallum became the first gymnast in program history to win back-to-back NCAA vault titles. He was the sixth in program history to win consecutive national championships in any event. PHOTO COURTESY MICHIGAN ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS