The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/544673
and her teammates this offseason. "We have goals that we didn't meet — we want to win the Big Ten and makes NCAAs — and last year showed that we have the talent, but we have to have more confidence in ourselves," she said. "We have to be tougher mentally and never give up. "This past year, I did whatever my coaches needed me to do, and I'm al- ways going to play the role they need me to play. "I had great teammates, and I wouldn't have had the year I had with- out them. They gave me so much con- fidence, even if I had a bad game they would tell me to keep shooting. I had a good freshman year, but I can play better and I can help this team play better." ❏ Michigan's Other Top Female Rookies 1. Brianna Brown, gymnastics — Named the Big Ten Women's Gymnastics co-Freshman of the Year, Brown placed fourth in the all-around at the cham- pionship meet (39.550), and was second on the balance beam (9.900) and third on uneven bars (9.925). Brown earned second-team All-America honors in the all-around (39.325). 2. Caroline Anderson, water polo — Anderson set a program record for as- sists in a season with 56 and led the team with nine hat tricks. Her 52 markers, second on the team in 2015, also rank as the second-best tally ever produced by a Michigan freshman. Showing even more versatility, the Palo Alto, Calif., attacker added 47 steals, her all-around performance earning CWPA all-conference honorable mention distinction. 3. Ani Sarkisian, soccer — A Big Ten All-Freshman selection, Sarkisian started all 20 games for the Wolverines, ranking second on the team with 20 points. The Cresskill, N.J., native's 12 assists led the Big Ten, and ranked as the fifth-best effort in Michigan history and the top freshman mark ever. 4. Megan Kim, golf — A starter in eight of Michigan's 10 tournaments, Kim was the top Wolverine finisher in three events, including the Big Ten Champi- onships (13th with a four-over-par 220). She carded a team-best three rounds under par during the season and ranked second with a 76.04 scoring average — second all-time by a U-M freshman. 5. Clara Smiddy, swimming and diving — A heralded recruit from Miami, Smiddy won the 200-yard individual medley (1:56.74) at the Big Ten Cham- pionships, and took second in the 100- (51.83 seconds) and 200-yard back- stroke events (1:51.76), becoming the only Wolverine to claim an individual title this season. A first-place finisher in six individual events and seven relays during the regular season, Smiddy was also a four-event NCAA honorable mention All-American. — Michael Spath