W Gym freshman Natalie Wojcik wins NCAA Championship on Balance Beam
The B1G Regular Season Champion & B1G Champion Michigan Wolverines advanced out of the NCAA Ann Arbor Regional at Crisler two weeks to the first-ever NCAA "Elite 8" (it doesn't have an official name yet).
During this past week of practice senior Emma McLean tragically injured her arm and was unable to finish her career. That wound up costing Michigan in the NCAA Semifinals on Friday. The Wolverines came close but finished 3rd of 4 teams in the semifinal meet where the top two advance. 7 Michigan posted a 197.2000, finishing behind 2 UCLA (197.6750) and 3 LSU (197.5125) but beating 6 Utah (196.7250) and avenging a regular loss to the Red Rocks.
Freshman Natalie Wojcik is Sierra Romero of W Gymnastics. She's gonna have a championship-filled career. Natalie was named B1G Gymnast of the Week 4 times and B1G Freshman of the Week 7 times.
In the biggest meet of the regular season she finally got the perfect 10 she's deserved all season long on vault. She was robbed of at least 4 10.0s during the regular season by my unbiased count.
Natalie's 9.95 on the balance beam stood through both Friday semifinal sessions and made her the NCAA National Champion. Shockingly only the 9th individual National Champion in the program's decorated history.
She's only our second-ever freshman National Champion (Elise Ray, 2001).
The heart and soul of Michigan's program these last 4 years, Olivia Karas, also took home some hardware in the final meet of her career. She was a First Team All-American on Floor Exercise (9.9250) and a Second Team All-American on Uneven Bars (9.9000), Balance Beam (9.8750) and the All-Around (39.5375) to finish her impressive career with 6 All-Americans.
Juniors Lexi Funk & Mad Dog Osman both scored 9.8500 on beam and were Second Team All-Americans as a result for the first time both of their careers.
Michigan finished the 2019 season with a 28-9-1 (9-0 B1G) record, their 6th straight B1G Championship and their 3rd straight B1G Regular Season Championship.
GO BLUE!!!!
Thanks WD for another great write up, you really are an asset to the blog and Michigan sports in general. Cheers. (LOL, I might get negged for saying it... but my comment stands)
April 22nd, 2019 at 10:29 AM ^
The Olympic sports should make WD an honorary captain.
WD - you are prolific into the wee hours of the night! Thanks for these updates on all of these non-revenue sports. You do a great job keeping us all informed. You deserve at least a few accolades before the UM fan from Sydney mocks you per his normal condescending routine. IMO, there is no one who can replace you on this board. Keep up the good work!
April 21st, 2019 at 11:56 AM ^
I am still of the opinion that the closest UM Fan From Sydney has been to Australia is when he once handled a Midnight Oil CD at his local Best Buy.
Unfortunate for Michigan to end up in a stacked semi bracket. They would have finished 2nd if they were in the other bracket and made the finals. Regardless, they had a wonderful season and it's great to see Natalie win a national title.
Go Blue!
Glad to see the trailer park trash MyKayla Skinner not win shit.
Her entitled racist ass can take this fat L.
Hail to the Victor! Go Blue!
April 22nd, 2019 at 10:09 AM ^
YAY!!!!