The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/888498
82 THE WOLVERINE NOVEMBER 2017 BY AUSTIN FOX WOMEN'S SWIMMING SEEKS ITS THIRD CONSECUTIVE BIG TEN TITLE During the 2017-18 season, Michi- gan will be attempting to do some- thing it hasn't done in two decades — win three consecutive Big Ten titles for the first time since 1996-98. With a strong mixture of veterans and youngsters, the Wolverines may be in position to accomplish the feat. "If I were to try and name every single person I'm excited for, I'd be reading off a long list," head coach Mike Bottom said with a laugh. "It's an exciting group because the team is bonded together and having so much fun." Bottom explained that one of the main reasons he has such high expec- tations for this year's team is due to the help he has around him. "We have [assistant coach] Dr. Josh White and [assistant coach] Rick Bishop on our staff, and they are great coaches for middle distance," he said. "They do such a good job of preparing the swimmers to do well in that area — they're a big reason our distance freestyle is so strong. "[Senior freestyler/backstroker] Gabby DeLoof is a big part of that success as well." While DeLoof — a 2017 All-Ameri- can in the 200-yard freestyle and 800- yard freestyle relay — is perhaps the most accomplished Wolverine on the roster, Bottom said he's also look- ing forward to coaching some of the team's newcomers. "We have a good freshman crew coming in," he explained. "[Distance swimmer] Sierra Schmidt is com- ing in from the national team, and we're excited about her. [Sophomore breaststroker] Miranda Tucker is a transfer [from Indiana, where she was a two-time All-American] and another newcomer who we have high expectations for. [Freshmen] Christy Cutshaw and Nikki Canale are two divers we can't wait to watch." While Bottom obviously expects his squad to accomplish great things in the pool this season, he took a slightly different approach when asked what needs to happen this year for him to deem it a success. "Everybody has to get better — ev- ery single person," he said. "It's not just in the pool, but in the classroom as well. Our team last year had eight Big Ten distinguished honors, which is a lot — that's a 3.7 grade-point av- erage or better. "We have athletes who are ma- joring in so many different areas in school, and that's certainly part of it — getting better in the classroom while continuing to excel in the pool." OLYMPIC SPORTS Winter Is Coming Swimming And Wrestling Prepare For Action With High Hopes Senior Gabby DeLoof has been part of three Big Ten champion relay squads and four that have earned All-America honorable mention accolades. PHOTO COURTESY MICHIGAN ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS