The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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16 THE WOLVERINE SEPTEMBER 2018 INSIDE MICHIGAN ATHLETICS MICHIGAN'S TOP PERFORMERS Women's gymnastics sophomore Lauren Farley: On July 18, she served as a role model for young females at a Kanakuk sum- mer camp in Branson, Mo. Farley had attended the Christian-based event when she was a child, and endured a week and a half of training to become a counselor for 10-year-old girls at the function. The Dallas native helped mentor the children in a variety of activities, including archery, tubing and tumbling. Farley is no stranger to events like this — she also made weekly visits to C.S. Mott Children's Hospital in Ann Arbor throughout last season. Former track and field/cross country runner Ben Flanagan: On July 26, he was honored as one of four national Division I Scholar Athletes of the Year by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Associ- ation. Flanagan took home the national 10,000-meter title June 6 in Eugene, Ore., while also maintaining a 3.90 GPA during his ongoing pursuit of a master of social work degree in interpersonal practice and mental health. Former baseball pitcher Troy Miller: He signed a professional free agent contract with Major League Baseball's Toronto Blue Jays July 25. Miller was utilized mainly as a reliever during his three seasons in Ann Arbor and compiled his best campaign this past year as a junior. The righty posted a 3.37 ERA in 19 appearances in 2018, while starting two contests. He struck out 29 batters in 34 2 /3 innings and held opposing hit- ters to a minuscule .197 batting average. Women's basketball graduate assistant coach Jenny Ryan: On July 31, she was added to U-M women's basketball coach Kim Barnes Arico's staff. Ryan played for the Wol- verines from 2010-13, leading the team to consecutive NCAA Tournament ap- pearances during her final two seasons in Ann Arbor. Her 698 career rebounds rank 12th in program history, and she earned third-team All-Big Ten honors her senior year while tallying 10.2 points, 5.1 assists and 4.2 boards per contest. Women's lacrosse senior midfielder Ariana Vespa: She was pegged to the 2018 Zag Sports Division I Academic Honor Roll, the In- tercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association announced July 23. To be eligible, a student-athlete must be ei- ther a junior, senior or graduate student, and have earned a cumulative 3.50 GPA or higher. In addition to the accolade, Vespa has also been recognized as a two-time Big Ten Distinguished Scholar, an Academic All-Big Ten honoree and a U-M Athletic Academic Achievement Award recipient. — Austin Fox Sitting Down With Michigan Basketball Freshman Ignas Brazdeikis Canadian five-star prospect Ignas Brazdeikis of Mono (Ontario) Orangeville Prep is on campus and already practicing with Michi- gan's basketball team, looking the part of an immediate contribu- tor. He sat down after an August practice to talk about his new life in Ann Arbor. The Wolverine: How would you sum up your experience in Ann Arbor so far in the few weeks you've been on campus? Brazdeikis: "The attention to de- tail in every single thing we do is looked at. You can't take boxing out off … nothing. It's just all about go- ing as hard as you can. "The [upperclassmen] have been a real help so far, especially [redshirt junior] Charles Matthews to me be- cause we're at a similar position and he's a really experienced player, a great player. He's teaching me a lot right now. I'm just learning every single day and trying to soak in ev- erything I can." The Wolverine: Teammates say you and junior point guard Zavier Simpson are two of the biggest trash talkers on the team. Who's better? Brazdeikis: "That's my kind of game. I love that. Every time I get a bucket I'll get in someone's face … that's just the kind of player I am. "Me and him have been on the same team, so we work really well together talking smack. We get in opponents' heads all the time, so it's a lot of fun." The Wolverine: What's been the biggest adjustment you've had to make on the floor so far? Brazdeikis: "Probably when I catch the ball, it's whether to shoot or drive, or when. They close a lot faster than high school basket- ball. I was just adjusting to whether I have to shoot or attack. Now I'm finally getting the gist of that and shooting a lot faster. "Then Coach Yak [assistant Luke Yaklich] has been on me every single practice on defense. It's definitely difficult because there are such high-level players. I'm guarding Charles Matthews every single practice, but it's good. I'm really competing out there and definitely learning a lot." The Wolverine: What position do they have you playing in the early going? Brazdeikis: "Coach B [John Beilein] and I were talking, and he sees me playing a lot of the two [shooting guard] and the four [power forward] this year, switching between those two positions. He wants me to be position-less and play every position I can." The Wolverine: How are you five freshmen — David DeJulius, Co- lin Castleton, Brandon Johns and Adrien Nunez — getting along? Ignas Brazdeikis: "We love each other. We do everything to- gether — homework, study together, eat together. It's definitely great between all of us. "I feel we have the same goals as the seniors, and that's winning the championship." — Chris Balas Brazdeikis arrived on campus this summer and has already begun practicing with the Wolverines. PHOTO COURTESY MGOBLUE.COM