RELEASE #14 z APRIL 19 z 2010 MICHIGAN WOMEN’S GYMNASTICS WEEKLY RELEASE MICHIGAN ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS Richard Retyi Women’s Gym Contact 734.763.4423 phone 734.647.1188 fax 220100 1 0 MMICHIGANI C H I G A N GYMNASTICS [email protected] MGoBlue.com 18 BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIPS 19 STRAIGHT NCAA REGIONAL APPEARANCES 2010 BIG TEN CHAMPIONS SCOUTING REPORT WE’RE BAAAAAACK. MICHIGAN RETURNS TO • Michigan returns to nationals NATIONALS FOR 17TH TRIP IN THE LAST 18 YEARS after a one-year absence, advanc- ing to the NCAA Championships #6 Michigan (19-3, 10-1 Big Ten) at for the 17th time in the last 18 sea- sons. The Wolverines entered the the NCAA Championships NCAA Regionals number six in the Gainesville, Florida (Stephen C. O’Connell Center) nation but had a disasterous beam rotation at regionals to drop in the Thursday, April 22 • 7 p.m. (Preliminaries) overall NQS ranking. Friday, April 23 • 6 p.m. (Super Six)
• Three Wolverines - Natalie Saturday, April 24 • 6 p.m. (Individual Event Finals) Beilstein, Kylee Botterman and Jordan Sexton - earned NCAA Follow live updates from the NCAA Championships Regional Individual awards in on Twitter (Michigan_WGym) Morgantown, W. Va. Botterman won the all-around title and shared the floor exercise crown with teammate Live Results: Link available on MGoBlue.com Natalie Beilstein, while Sexton took the uneven bars title (the first bars title of her entire collegiate career). FOUR-TIME DEFENDING BIG TEN CHAMPIONS WRAP THE SEASON AT NCAAS • Michigan head coach Bev Plocki MOREM TITLES THAN ANY OTHER BIG TEN WOMEN’S SPORT earned NCAA Northeast Regional TheTh Michigan women’s gymnastics program has more Big Ten titles than any other school in Coach of the Year honors, while anyan women’s sport in the conference, winning the program’s 18th title this season. Print – assistant coach Scott Sherman was Electronic – named NCAA Northeast Regional Online – Assistant Coach of the Year. FOURFO ALL-BIG TEN SELECTIONS FourFo Wolverines were voted to the 2010 All-Big Ten team. Junior Kylee Botterman and senior • Last year, Kylee Botterman, SaSarah Curtis were named to the first team, while freshman Natalie Beilstein and senior Kelsey Becky Bernard and Sarah Curtis KKnutson were chosen for the second team. Botterman was a finalist for Big Ten Gymnast of the advanced to NCAAs as individual YYear,e while Beilstein was a finalist for Big Ten Freshman of the Year. competitors. Botterman earned All- America first team honors on floor and finished ninth in the Saturday SUSUPER SIX APPEARANCES session. MMichigan has made nine Super Six appearances, taking runner-up honors in 1995 and again in 11999.9 Michigan’s last Super six appearance was in 2005, where Michigan placed fifth. 2010 MICHIGAN WOMEN’S GYMNASTICS SCHEDULE AND RESULTS
DATE OPPONENT TIME/RESULT VAULT BARS BEAM FLOOR TITLE WINNERS Jan. 9 MICHIGAN TRI MEET 1st of 3, 194.875 48.650 49.175 48.225 48.825 Beilstein (V,FX), Botterman (UB,AA) vs. Iowa W, 193.200 vs. Bowling Green W 189.925 Jan. 20 #19 MICHIGAN STATE W, 194.200-193.750 49.075 48.675 47.650 48.800 Beilstein (V, FX), Botterman (FX), Curtis (UB,BB,AA) Jan. 24 at #9 Nebraska L, 194.725-196.025 48.725 49.050 47.950 49.000 Botterman (UB, AA), Knutson (BB) Jan. 29 at Iowa State Tri 1st of 3, 196.000 49.050 48.825 49.050 49.075 Beilstein (FX), Botterman (V, UB, AA) at #14 Iowa State W, 196.000-195.625 Knutson (BB), Sexton (BB) vs. BYU W, 196.000-192.050 Feb. 5 at West Virginia Tri 1st of 3, 196.400 49.250 49.200 48.925 49.025 Beilstein (V), Botterman (UB, BB, FX, AA) at West Virginia W, 196.400-194.475 vs. William & Mary W, 196.400-187.725 Feb. 13 MINNESOTA W, 195.050-189.475 49.200 49.100 48.025 48.725 Beilstein (V), Botterman (FX), Curtis (UB, AA), Knutson (BB) Feb. 19 #5 UTAH W, 195.725-195.100 49.225 48.400 48.800 49.300 Botterman (UB, FX, AA), Knutson (BB) Feb. 27 at #17 Illinois W, 196.775-196.175 49.200 49.175 49.075 49.325 Botterman (V, UB, AA) March 7 at Penn State Quad 2nd of 4, 196.575 49.400 48.750 49.375 49.050 Botterman (UB), Zurales (BB) at #17 Penn State L, 196.575-196.725 vs. Maryland W, 196.575-195.650 vs. Bridgeport W, 196.575-193.200 March 12 #5 GEORGIA W, 196.375-195.800 49.150 49.150 48.775 49.300 Beilstein (V), Botterman (FX), Curtis (AA) Martinez (UB) March 19 at #1 Alabama L, 196.875-197.575 49.350 49.075 49.325 49.125 Botterman (V, AA) March 27 at Big Ten Championships 1st of 7, 196.900 49.125 49.125 49.450 49.200 Beilstein (V) vs. #17 Penn State W, 196.900-196.525 vs. Iowa W, 196.900-195.575 vs. #25 Michigan State W, 196.900-195.350 vs. Minnesota W, 196.900-195.350 vs. #13 Illinois W, 196.900-195.025 at Ohio State W, 196.900-194.700 April 10 at NCAA SE Regional Championships 2nd of 6, 195.800 49.300 49.375 47.975 49.150 Beilstein (FX), Botterman (FX, AA), vs. #6 Stanford L, 195.800-196.775 Sexton (UB) vs. #18 Southern Utah W, 195.800-195.325 at West Virginia W, 195.800-195.100 vs. Kent State W, 195.800-194.825 vs. N.C. State W, 195.800-193.425 18 BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIPS 19 STRAIGHT NCAA REGIONAL APPEARANCES 2010 BIG TEN CHAMPIONS
MICHIGAN TEAM RANKINGS THE COMPETITION AT NCAAS GYMINFO TOP 25 POLL NCAA RANKINGS BIG TEN RANKINGS Michigan will face Alabama, Florida, Team RQS High V UB BB FX V UB BB FX Arkansas, Missouri and Stanford in the 1 .... Alabama ...... 197.250 ...... 197.575 9 10 7 9 2 2 1 1 2 .... Oklahoma ...... 197.170 ...... 197.950 evening session of preliminaries. Michigan 3 .... UCLA ...... 197.060 ...... 197.875 NCAA INDIVIDUAL RANKINGS and the Crimson Tide competed in a dual 4 .... Florida ...... 197.050 ...... 197.550 Vault 18. Kylee Botterman (9.895) meet to end the regular season, while 5 .... Georgia ...... 196.895 ...... 197.900
18. Natalie Beilstein (9.895) 6 ... MICHIGAN ...... 196.600 ...... 196.900 Stanford edged Michigan at regionals. - ..... Stanford ...... 196.600 ...... 196.800 Bars 11. Kylee Botterman (9.895) 8 ....Oregon State ...... 196.545 ...... 196.925 Beam 16. Kelsey Knutson (9.875) 9 .... Arkansas ...... 196.510 ...... 197.025 19. Kylee Botterman (9.870) TOPPING GEORGIA AND UTAH 10 .. Utah ...... 196.485 ...... 196.975 Floor 10. Kylee Botterman (9.910) Michigan has wins over #5 Utah (Feb. 11 .. LSU ...... 196.415 ...... 197.150 All-Around 7. Kylee Botterman (39.485) 19) and #5 Georgia (March 12) this 12 .. Nebraska ...... 196.355 ...... 196.625 16. Sarah Curtis (39.385) 13 .. Illinois ...... 196.255 ...... 196.650 season, as well as nine wins over top-25 14 .. Penn State ...... 196.225 ...... 196.725 programs. Only once in program history 15 .. Missouri ...... 196.085 ...... 196.875 2010 BIG TEN AWARDS has Michigan beaten Georgia and Utah in 16 .. Auburn ...... 196.025 ...... 196.425 17 .. Iowa State ...... 195.890 ...... 196.225 Gymnast of the Year: Brandi Personett (PSU) the same season - back in 2002. 18 .. Southern Utah ...... 195.655 ...... 196.350 Freshman of the Year: Sharaya Musser (PSU) 19 .. Boise State ...... 195.630 ...... 196.550 Coach of the Year: Bev Plocki & Bob Starkell BOTTERMAN ONE OF U-M’S BEST 20 .. Kentucky ...... 195.600 ...... 196.050 21 .. Arizona...... 195.545 ...... 196.175 All-Big Ten First Team Junior Kylee Botterman is the nation’s 22 .. Denver ...... 195.525 ...... 196.075 Kylee Botterman 23 .. Washington ...... 195.380 ...... 195.800 Sarah Curtis seventh best all-arounder, ranking 10th in the nation on floor, 11th on bars, 18th 24 .. Central Michigan...195.365 ...... 196.350 All-Big Ten Second Team on vault and 19th on beam. She has won 25 .. Minnesota...... 195.160 ...... 195.350 Natalie Beilstein Kelsey Knutson 24 individual titles this season. WEEK BY WEEK IN THE POLL 2010 BIG TEN GYMNASTS BEILSTEIN ROCKS VAULT AND FLOOR Rank Avg./RQS OF THE WEEK Preseason 12 - - - Freshman Natalie Beilstein is 18th in the Jan. 11 13 194.875 Jan. 11 Brandi Personett (Penn State) nation on vault and just out of the top-25 Jan. 18 15 194.875 Jan. 18 Allison Buckley (Illinois) on floor, winning nine titles this season. Jan. 25 17 194.600 Jan. 25 Brandi Personett (Penn State) Feb. 1 15 194.950 Feb. 1 Rebecca Simbudhas (Iowa) Feb. 8 Brandi Personett (Penn State) THE FIRST 10.0 IN SIX YEARS Feb. 8 13 195.240 Feb. 15 Brandi Personett (Penn State) Feb. 15 16 195.208 Feb. 22 Brandi Personett (Penn State) Junior Kylee Botterman posted Feb. 22 15 195.275 March 1 Kylee Botterman (Michigan) Michigan’s first 10.0 score since 2004 March 1 12 195.610 March 8 Sharaya Musser (Penn State) when she nailed a perfect score on vault March 8 12 195.950 March 15 Sarah Curtis (Michigan) March 22 Kylee Botterman (Michigan) at Illinois (Feb. 27). The last 10.0 score was March 15 10 196.215 posted by Elise Ray on bars at the 2004 March 22 9 196.425 March 29 6 196.600 2010 BIG TEN FRESHMEN Big Ten Championships. OF THE WEEK HIGHEST ALL-AROUND IN SIX YEARS Jan. 11 Natalie Beilstein (Michigan) Junior Kylee Botterman also posted BIG TEN IN THE POLL Jan. 18 Shanthi Teike (Michigan State) Jan. 25 Natalie Beilstein (Michigan) Michigan’s best all-around score in six Feb. 1 Natalie Beilstein (Michigan) years with a 39.675 at Illinois (Feb. 27). ILL IOWA U-M MSU MINN OSU PSU Feb. 8 Natalie Beilstein (Michigan) Pre. 13 rv 12 24 22 18 11 Feb. 15 Sharaya Musser (Penn State) It tied for the 13th highest all-around J11 23 22 13 17 20 - 18 Feb. 22 Natalie Beilstein (Michigan) score in the history of Michigan women’s J18 25 - 15 19 - - 22 Shanthi Teike (Michigan State) J25 - - 17 22 23 25 19 March 1 Brittnee Martinez (Michigan) gymnastics. The last all-around score that March 8 Sharaya Musser (Penn State) was higher was set by Elise Ray at the F1 23 - 15 21 25 - 17 March 15 Natalie Beilstein (Michigan) F8 20 - 13 22 - - 15 March 22 Sharaya Musser (Penn State) 2004 Big Ten Championships (39.800). F15 20 - 16 22 - - 13 F22 17 - 15 23 - - 14 PLOCKI PICKS UP HARDWARE M1 13 - 12 24 22 - 17 Head coach Bev Plocki earned her 10th M8 13 - 12 - 24 - 18 M15 13 - 10 24 25 - 15
Big Ten Coach of the Year honor (sharing M22 13 - 9 25 - - 17 with Illinois’ Bob Starkell) after leading M29 13 - 6 - 25 - 14 Michigan to its fourth-straight Big Ten title, while also earned NCAA Regional Coach of the Year honors, picking up her fifth regional honor. Plocki earned her 400th-career victory at Big Tens, keeping her third on the wins list for active U-M coaches behind hockey coach Red Berenson and softball coach Carol Hutchins. 18 BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIPS 19 STRAIGHT NCAA REGIONAL APPEARANCES 2010 BIG TEN CHAMPIONS BEILSTEINNATALIE BOTTERMANKYLEE CURTISSARAH Freshman Junior Senior Butler, Pa New Lenox, Illinois Reno, Nevada (Knoch) (Lincoln-Way Central) (Reno)
At Michigan ... NCAA Southeast Regional Floor At Michigan ... Three-time NCAA All-American ... At Michigan ... Three-time All-Big Ten First Team Exercise Champion (2010) ... NCAA Southeast NCAA All-America first team (floor, 2009) ... NCAA (2008, ‘09, ‘10) ... NCAA Championships individual Regional runner-up on vault (2010) ... Big Ten Vault All-America first team (uneven bars, 2008) ... NCAA qualifier (all-around) ... Big Ten Championships Champion (2010) ... Big Ten Championships runner- All-America second team (vault, 2008) ... Two-time Uneven Bars Champion (2008) ... Big Ten NCAA Regional floor champion (2009, ‘10) ... NCAA Championships runner-up on beam, floor and up on floor exercise (2010) ... All-Big Ten Second Regional All-Around champion (2010) ... NCAA the all-around (2010) ... Big Ten Championships Team (2010) ... Six-time Big Ten Freshman of the Regional runner-up on vault and bars (2010) ... Two- Runner-Up on the All-Around (2008) ... Six-time Big Week (Jan. 11, Jan 25, Feb. 1, Feb. 8, Feb. 22, March time Big Ten Floor Exercise Champion (2008, ‘09) Ten Gymnast of the Week (2010: March 15; 2009: 15) .. Took first place in the first four events she ... Big Ten Championships runner-up on beam and Feb. 2, Jan. 12; 2008: Jan. 16, Feb. 20, March 11) ... competed in as a collegiate gymnast (a pair of vault floor (2010) ... Big Ten Championships runner-up in Three-time Academic All-Big Ten (2008, ‘09, ‘10) ... titles and a pair of floor titles). the all-around (2009) ... Three-time All-Big Ten first Four-time U-M Athletic Academic Achievement team (2008, ‘09, ‘10) ... Two-time Big Ten Gymnast honors (2007, ‘08, ‘09, ‘10) ... Two-time U-M Co-MVP of the Week (2010: March 1, March 22) ... U-M co- (2008, ‘09). Freshman (2010) ... NCAA Regionals: Shared the MVP and Coaches’ Award recipient (2009) ... U-M floor title with teammate Kylee Botterman (9.900) Newcomer of the Year award (2008). Senior (2010) ... NCAA Regionals: Took third on and finished runner-up on vault (9.900) ... Big floor (9.875) and fifth in the all-around (39.325) ... Tens: Won vault (9.900) and took runner-up on Junior (2010) ... NCAA Regionals: Won the all- Big Tens: Took runner-up honors in the all-around floor (9.900) ... Alabama: Scored matching 9.875s around (39.550) and floor (9.900) titles, finishing (39.525), also taking second place on vault, beam on vault and floor, taking fourth in each event ... runner-up on vault (9.900) and bars (9.900) ... Big and floor (9.900) ... Alabama: Took fourth in the Georgia: Set a new collegiate best on vault (9.950) Tens: Took runner-up honors on beam and floor all-around with a 39.300, scoring 9.875 on floor ... (9.900) and finished third on vault (9.850) ... Big Big Ten Gymnast of the Week (March 15) ... Georgia: for the win and took second on floor (9.875) ... Penn Ten Gymnast of the Week (March 22) ... Alabama: Won the all-around (39.375)while finishing top State: Scored matching 9.900s on vault and floor Won vault (9.950) and the all-around (39.550) in a three on vault, bars and beam ... Penn State: Set for a pait of top three finishes ... Illinois: Scored a field of eight All-Americans ... Georgia: Won floor season highs on bars (9.900) and in the all-around 9.875 on floor for third ... Utah: Scored matching tying a career-best 9.950 and took second in the (39.450) ... Illinois: Season highs on vault (9.925), 9.875s on vault and floor ... Minnesota: Won her all-around (39.250) ... Penn State: Won bars with bars (9.875)and in the all-around (39.425) ... Utah: fourth vault title with a career-best tying 9.900 ... a career-best 9.950 and took third on vault, beam Won bars and took runner-up in two events and and in the all-around ... Big Ten Gymnast of the the all-around ... Minnesota: Won bars and the all- West Virginia Tri: Won her third vault title and fin- Week (March 1) ... Illinois: Nailed the program’s first around ... West Virginia Tri: Had a pair of runner-up ished runner-up on beam and floor, setting a new 10.0 score since 2004 (a 10.0 on vault), while post- finishes and took third in the all-around ... Iowa vault and beam career best ... Iowa State Tri: Won ing a career-best 39.675 in the al-around - the 13th State Tri: Had five top-five finishes ... Nebraska: her third floor title of the year and competed on highest all-around total in school history ... Utah: Competed in the all-around, tying for third on bars beam for the first time ... Nebraska: Took runner-up Finished among the top four in all events, winning ... Michigan State: Won three event titles (UB, BB, on vault and fourth on floor ... Michigan State: Won bars, floor and the all-around ... Minnesota: Won her AA) ... Michigan Tri: Finished runner-up on bars vault and floor once again, pushing her streak of third floor title of the year ... West Virginia Tri: Won (9.850) and beam (9.825). four titles, setting career highs on bars, beam and consecutive title wins to four ... Michigan Tri: Won the all-around ... Iowa State Tri: Won three events Curtis’ Meet-by-Meet Scores vault (9.875) and floor (9.850) in her first collegiate ... Nebraska: Won bars and the all-around, taking 2010 Season Vault Bars Beam Floor AA meet. runner-up on vault and beam ... Michigan State: Michigan Tri 8.900 9.850 (2) 9.825 (2) 9.750 (4) 38.325 (5) Had three top-three finishes, sharing the floor title Michigan State 9.825 (4) 9.825 (1) 9.875 (1) 9.750 (3) 39.275 (1) Beilstein’s Meet-by-Meet Scores (9.825) ... Michigan Tri: Won the all-around (39.150) and bars titles (9.900), tying a career high on bars. at Nebraska 9.775 (5) 9.850 (3) 9.325 9.775 38.725 (3) 2010 Season Vault Bars Beam Floor AA at Iowa Tri 9.825 (3) 9.800 (3) 9.800 (5) 9.825 (5) 39.250 (2) Michigan Tri 9.875 (1) - - 9.850 (1) - Botterman’s Meet-by-Meet Scores at West Virginia Tri 9.875 (2) 9.850 (2) 9.250 9.775 (5) 38.750 (3) Michigan State 9.875 (1) - - 9.825 (1) - 2010 Season Vault Bars Beam Floor AA Minnesota 9.825 (4) 9.875 (1) 9.750 (3) 9.750 (3) 39.200 (1) at Nebraska 9.800 (2) - - 9.850 (4) - Michigan Tri 9.850 (2) 9.900 (1) 9.700 9.700 39.150 (1) Utah 9.900 (2) 9.850 (1) 9.725 9.900 (2) 39.375 (2) at Iowa Tri 9.850 (2) - 9.825 (3) 9.900 (1) - Michigan State 9.850 (2) 9.225 9.825 (3) 9.825 (1) 38.725 (4) at Illinois 9.925 (2) 9.875 (2) 9.750 9.875 (3) 39.425 (2) at West Virginia Tri 9.900 (1) - 9.850 (2) 9.825 (2) - at Nebraska 9.800 (2) 9.900 (1) 9.800 (2) 9.850 (4) 39.350 (1) at Penn State 9.850 9.900 (3) 9.825 9.875 (4) 39.450 (4) Minnesota 9.900 (1) - 9.200 9.800 (2) - at Iowa Tri 9.875 (1) 9.850 (1) 9.725 9.850 (3) 39.300 (1) Georgia 9.875 (3) 9.850 (2) 9.800 (3) 9.850 (4) 39.375 (1) Utah 9.875 (3) - - 9.875 (4) - at West Virginia Tri 9.825 (3) 9.900 (1) 9.925 (1) 9.900 (1) 39.550 (1) at Alabama 9.850 9.800 9.775 9.875 (4) 39.300 (4) at Illinois 9.675 - - 9.875 (3) - Minnesota 9.875 (2) 9.800 (3) 9.500 (5) 9.875 (1) 39.050 (2) at Big Tens 9.875 (2) 9.850 (5) 9.900 (2) 9.900 (2) 39.525 (2) at Penn State 9.900 (3) - - 9.900 (2) - Utah 9.875 (3) 9.850 (1) 9.800 (4) 9.950 (1) 39.475 (1) at Regionals 9.850 9.825 9.775 9.875 (3) 39.325 (5) Georgia 9.950 (1) - - 9.875 (2) - at Illinois 10.0 (1) 9.900 (1) 9.850 (2) 9.925 (2) 39.675 (1) at NCAA Prelims - - - - - at Alabama 9.875 (4) - - 9.875 (4) - at Penn State 9.900 (3) 9.950 (1) 9.900 (3) 9.750 39.500 (3) at NCAA Super Six - - - - - at Big Tens 9.900 (1) - - 9.900 (2) - Georgia 9.875 (3) 9.700 9.725 9.950 (1) 39.250 (2) Season Highs 9.925 9.900 9.900 9.900 39.525 at Regionals 9.900 (2) - - 9.900 (1) - at Alabama 9.950 (1) 9.875 (3) 9.900 (3) 9.825 39.550 (1) at NCAA Prelims - - - - - at Big Tens 9.850 (3) 9.325 9.900 (2) 9.900 (2) 38.975 Curtis’ Career Bests (Career Titles) at NCAA Super Six - - - - - at Regionals 9.900 (2) 9.900 (2) 9.850 (3) 9.900 (1) 39.550 (1) Season Highs 9.950 - 9.850 9.900 - Vault: 9.950 (4) at NCAA Prelims - - - - - Bars: 9.950 (6) at NCAA Super Six - - - - - Beam: 9.900 (1) Beilstein’s Career Bests (Career Titles) Season Highs 10.0 9.950 9.925 9.950 39.675 Floor: 9.925 (3) Vault: 9.950 (6) AA: 39.600 (10) Bars: - - - Botterman’s Career Bests (Career Titles) Beam: 9.850 Vault: 10.0 (11) Floor: 9.900 (4) Bars: 9.950 (7) AA: - - - Beam: 9.925 (4) Floor: 9.950 (16) AA: 39.675 (11) 18 BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIPS 19 STRAIGHT NCAA REGIONAL APPEARANCES 2010 BIG TEN CHAMPIONS KNUTSONKELSEY KRAMERJACLYN MARTINEZBRITTNEE Senior - CAPTAIN Senior Freshman Ames, Iowa West Hills, New York Colorado Springs, Colorado (Ames) (Half Hollow Hills) (Doherty)
At Michigan ... Big Ten Championship runner-up At Michigan ... Three-time Academic All-Big Ten At Michigan ... Big Ten Freshman of the Week on beam (2010) ... All-Big Ten First Team (2010) (2008, ‘09, ‘10) ... Four-time U-M Athletic Academic (March 1, 2010) ... All-Big Ten Second Team (2008) ... Three-time Achievement honors (2007, ‘08, ‘09, ‘10) ... U-M Academic All-Big Ten (2008, ‘09, ‘10) ... Four-time Scholar Athlete award (2009). U-M Athletic Academic Achievement honors (2007, Freshman (2010) ... NCAA Regionals: Competed ‘08, ‘09, ‘10). Senior (2010) ... Scored 9.750 on floor ... Big Tens: in the all-around, scoring 9.850s on vault and bars Competed on floor ... Alabama: Competed on floor, ... Big Tens: Competed in the all-around, scoring Senior (2010) ... NCAA Regionals: Competed on scoring 9.750 ... Georgia: Scored 9.725 on floor 39.150 ... Alabama: Took fourth on vault (9.875) and bars and beam ... Big Tens: Runner-up on beam ... Penn State: Put up a 9.725 on floor ... Illinois: (9.900) ... Alabama: Won balance beam with a Competed on floor ... Utah: Competed on beam fifth in the all-around (39.100) ... Georgia: Won her career-best 9.950 ... Georgia: Competed on bars and floor ... Minnesota: Competed on floor ... West first collegiate title (bars) with a collegiate-high and beam ... Penn State: Tied for fifth on bars with Virginia Tri: Competed on floor ... Iowa State Tri: 9.875 while also setting a new floor high with 9.825 a season-best 9.825 ... Illinois: Took runner-up on Competed on floor ... Nebraska: Competed on ... Penn State: Nailed a career-best 9.875 on beam, beam with a 9.850 ... Utah: Won her fourth beam beam and floor ... Michigan State: Competed on equaling a career-best 9.850 on vault ... Big Ten title of the year ... Minnesota: Captured her third beam and floor ... Michigan Tri: Earned runner-up beam title of the year with a season-best 9.875 ... on floor (9.775). Freshman of the Week (March 1) ... Illinois: Had a West Virginia Tri: Matched her season high on beam career high in the all-around (39.200) and a career ... Iowa State Tri: Won her second beam title of the best on beam (9.750) ... Utah: Returned to the all- year ... Nebraska: Won beam ... Michigan State: Kramer’s Meet-by-Meet Scores around, scoring season highs on beam and floor Took runner-up on beam (9.850) ... Michigan Tri: 2010 Season Vault Bars Beam Floor AA ... Minnesota: Had a career high on vault ... West Competed on bars and beam. Michigan Tri 9.425 - 9.175 9.775 (2) - Virginia Tri: Set a career high on vault and tied a Michigan State - - 8.900 9.050 - Knutson’s Meet-by-Meet Scores career high on bars ... Iowa State Tri: Competed on 2010 Season Vault Bars Beam Floor AA at Nebraska - - 9.250 9.675 - vault and bars ... Nebraska: Competed in the all- at Iowa Tri - - - 9.675 - Michigan Tri - 9.775 9.700 - - around, scoring a career high on floor ... Michigan at West Virginia Tri - - - 9.675 - Michigan State - 9.625 9.850 (2) - - State: Competed in the all-around, tying for third Minnesota - - - 9.575 - at Nebraska - 9.750 9.850 (1) - - on bars ...Michigan Tri: Competed in the all-around Utah - - 9.475 9.675 - at Iowa Tri - 9.675 9.850 (1) - - at Illinois - - - 9.550 - in her first collegiate meet, tying for runner-up on at West Virginia Tri - 9.800 (4) 9.850 (2) - - at Penn State - - - 9.725 - bars (9.850). Minnesota - 9.700 9.875 (1) - - Georgia - - - 9.725 - Utah - 9.150 9.875 (1) - - at Alabama - - - 9.750 - Martinez’s Meet-by-Meet Scores at Illinois - 9.750 9.850 (2) - - at Big Tens - - - 9.600 - 2010 Season Vault Bars Beam Floor AA at Penn State - 9.825 9.300 - - at Regionals - - - 9.750 - Michigan Tri 9.750 (4) 9.850 (2) 8.900 9.750 (4) 38.250 Georgia - 9.750 9.375 - - at NCAA Prelims - - - - - Michigan State 9.800 9.725 (3) 9.050 9.675 38.250 (5) at Alabama - 9.800 9.950 (1) - - at NCAA Super Six - - - - - at Nebraska 9.700 9.825 9.225 9.775 38.525 (4) at Big Tens - 9.750 9.900 (2) - - Season Highs 9.425 - 9.475 9.775 - at Iowa Tri 9.700 9.700 - - - at Regionals - 9.250 9.125 - - at West Virginia Tri 9.825 (3) 9.850 (2) - 9.725 - at NCAA Prelims - - - - - Minnesota 9.850 (3) 9.775 (5) - 9.700 (4) - at NCAA Super Six - - - - - Kramer’s Career Bests (Career Titles) Utah 9.800 9.000 9.600 9.800 38.200 Season Highs - 9.825 9.950 - - Vault: 9.625 at Illinois 9.825 (4) 9.825 (4) 9.750 9.800 39.200 (5) Bars: - - - at Penn State 9.850 9.275 9.875 (5) 9.150 38.150 Knuston’s Career Bests (Career Titles) Beam: 9.900 (1) Vault: - - - Floor: 9.875 Georgia 9.725 9.875 (1) 9.700 9.825 (5) 39.125 (3) Bars: 9.850 AA: - - - at Alabama 9.875 (4) 9.775 9.775 9.675 39.100 (5) Beam: 9.950 (9) at Big Tens 9.750 9.825 9.850 9.700 39.150 Floor: - - - at Regionals 9.850 9.850 9.650 9.725 39.075 AA: - - - at NCAA Prelims - - - - - at NCAA Super Six - - - - - Season Highs 9.875 9.875 9.875 9.825 39.200
Martinez’s Career Bests (Career Titles) Vault: 9.875 Bars: 9.875 (1) Beam: 9.875 Floor: 9.825 AA: 39.200 18 BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIPS 19 STRAIGHT NCAA REGIONAL APPEARANCES 2010 BIG TEN CHAMPIONS MOODYMAUREEN PEARCEKARI SEXTONJORDAN Senior Junior Senior - CAPTAIN East Lansing, Michigan Ann Arbor, Michigan Weddington, North Carolina (East Lansing) (Huron) (Weddington)
At Michigan ... Runner-up on bars at the Big Ten At Michigan ... Two-time Academic All-Big Ten At Michigan ... NCAA Regional Bars Champion Championships (2009) ... Three-time Academic (2009, ‘10) ... Two-time U-M Athletic Academic (2010) ... Two-time Academic All-Big Ten (2009, ‘10) All-Big Ten (2008, ‘09, ‘10) ... Four-time U-M Athletic Achievement honors (2009, ‘10) ... All-Big Ten sec- ... Two-time U-M Athletic Academic Achievement Academic Achievement honors (2007, ‘08, ‘09, ‘10) ... ond team (2008) ... U-M Unsung Hero Award (2008). honors (2009, ‘10) ... U-M Co-Coaches Award hon- U-M 10.0 Spirit Club award (2009). oree (2008) ... U-M Most Improved Gymnast award Junior (2010) ... NCAA Regionals: Competed on (2009). Senior (2010) ... NCAA Regionals: Scored 9.850 vault ... Big Tens: Competed on vault ... Alabama: following a teammate’s fall on bars ... Big Tens: Tied Vaulted for 9.750 ... Georgia: Vaulted for 9.725 ... Senior(2010) ... NCAA Regionals: Won the bars title for fifth on bars (9.850) ... Alabama: Went 9.800 Penn State: Rounding into late-season form with (9.950) with a career-best score, also competing on bars ... Georgia: Took runner-up on bars with a her fifth-consecutive season high score, a 9.825 on beam and floor ... Big Tens: Tied for fifth on bars 9.850 ... Penn State: Competed on bars ... Illinois: on vault ... Illinois: Raised the bar again with her with a season-high 9.850 and competed on beam Competed on bars ... Utah: Competed on bars ... fourth-consecutive season high score (9.775) ... and floor ... Alabama: Tied a season-high 9.850 on Minnesota: Had a season-high 9.850 ... West Virginia Utah: Put up a season high on vault ... Minnesota: beam, adding 9.800s on bars and floor ... Georgia: Tri: Competed on bars ... Iowa State Tri: Placed in Competed on vault ... West Virginia Tri: Competed Took fifth on bars (9.825) and beam (9.775) ... Penn the top-four on bars for the third time ... Nebraska: for the first time all season on vault ... Iowa State State: Equaled a season-high 9.850 on beam, com- Competed on bars ... Michigan State: Took runner- Tri/Nebraska/Michigan State/ Michigan Tri: Did not peting in three events ... Illinois: Set a new season up on bars and vaulted for the first time all year ... compete. best on bars (9.825) and floor (9.850) ... Utah: Placed Michigan Tri: Tied for fourth on bars with a 9.800. third on bars and fourth on beam ... Minnesota: Pearce’s Meet-by-Meet Scores Took third on bars and fourth on beam ... West Moody’s Meet-by-Meet Scores 2010 Season Vault Bars Beam Floor AA Virginia Tri: Iowa State Tri: Won her first beam title of 2010 Season Vault Bars Beam Floor AA Michigan Tri - - - - - the year ... Nebraska: Competed on bars, beam and Michigan Tri - 9.800 (4) - - - floor ... Michigan State: Finished top five on beam Michigan State - - - - - and floor ... Michigan Tri: Earned runner-up honors Michigan State 9.475 9.775 (2) - - - at Nebraska - - - - - on beam (9.825). at Nebraska - 9.725 - - - at Iowa Tri - - - - - at Iowa Tri - 9.775 (4) - - - at West Virginia Tri 9.450 - - - - Sexton’s Meet-by-Meet Scores at West Virginia Tri - 9.750 - - - Minnesota 9.600 - - - - 2010 Season Vault Bars Beam Floor AA Minnesota - 9.850 (2) - - - Utah 9.625 - - - - Michigan Tri - 9.225 9.825 (2) 9.100 - Utah - 9.750 (5) - - - at Illinois 9.775 (5) - - - - Michigan State - 9.725 (3) 9.050 9.725 (5) - at Illinois - 8.525 - - - at Penn State 9.825 - - - - at Nebraska - 9.225 9.725 9.750 - at Penn State - 8.425 - - - Georgia 9.725 - - - - at Iowa Tri - 9.700 9.850 (1) 9.825 (5) - Georgia - 9.850 (2) - - - at Alabama 9.750 - - - - at West Virginia Tri - 9.800 (4) 9.825 (4) 9.800 (4) - at Alabama - 9.800 - - - at Big Tens 9.700 - - - - Minnesota - 9.800 (3) 9.700 (4) 9.575 - at Big Tens - 9.850 - - - at Regionals 9.750 - - - - Utah - 9.800 (3) 9.800 (4) 9.775 - at Regionals - 9.850 - - - at NCAA Prelims - - - - - at Illinois - 9.825 (4) 9.800 9.850 (5) - at NCAA Prelims - - - - - at NCAA Super Six - - - - - at Penn State - 9.800 9.850 9.800 - at NCAA Super Six - - - - - Season Highs 9.825 - - - - Georgia - 9.825 (5) 9.775 (5) 9.800 - Season Highs 9.475 9.850 - - - at Alabama - 9.800 9.850 9.800 - Pearce’s Career Bests (Career Titles) at Big Tens - 9.850 (5) 9.750 9.800 - Moody’s Career Bests (Career Titles) Vault: 9.925 (1) at Regionals - 9.950 (1) 9.375 9.700 - Vault: 9.900 (1) Bars: - - - Bars: 9.900 Beam: - - - at NCAA Prelims - - - - - Beam: - - - Floor: 9.875 at NCAA Super Six - - - - - Floor: - - - AA: - - - Season Highs - 9.950 9.850 9.850 - AA: - - - Sexton’s Career Bests (Career Titles) Vault: - - - Bars: 9.950 (1) Beam: 9.875 (3) Floor: 9.900 (2) AA: - - - WILSONTRISH Junior - CAPTAIN Naperville, Illinois (Neuqua Valley)
At Michigan ... Big Ten Uneven Bars Champion (2009) ... Big Ten Runner-up on Vault (2009) ... All- Big Ten second team (2008) ... Academic All-Big Ten (2010) ... Two-time U-M Athletic Academic Achievement award (2008, ‘10) ... U-M Coaches and 10.0 Spirit Club award winner (2009).
Junior (2010) ... Out for the season with injury. Wilson’s Career Bests (Career Titles) Vault: 9.575 Bars: 9.925 (5) Beam: 9.675 Floor: 9.800 AA: - - - 18 BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIPS 19 STRAIGHT NCAA REGIONAL APPEARANCES 2010 BIG TEN CHAMPIONS
TAYLOR ZONDERVAN KATIE DID YOU KNOW?? Junior ZURALES KYLEE BOTTERMAN ... Freshman Schoolcraft, Michigan Is the youngest of three collegiate gymnasts. (Schoolcraft) Wheaton, Illinois (Wheaton Warrenville South) Her oldest sister, Dayne, and her middle sister, Marikja, both competed for Illinois. Marijka grad- At Michigan ... A walk-on transfer from Oklahoma uated from Illinois last year after competing with in 2008. At Michigan ... Big Ten Championships runner-up on beam (2010). her team at nationals. Junior (2010) ... NCAA Regionals/Big Tens/ Alabama/Georgia/Penn State/Illinois/Utah/ Freshman (2010) ... NCAA Regionals: Scored a Never won an uneven bars title until this season, Minnesota/West Virginia Tri: Did not compete ... where she now ranks 11th in the nation. Iowa State Tri: Competed for the first time all year 9.800 on vault but injured during her beam routine on floor ... Nebraska/Michigan State/Michigan Tri: ... Big Tens: Took runner-up honors on beam (9.900) Did not compete. while also competing on vault ... Alabama: Had a NATALIE BEILSTEIN ... 9.850 on beam and 9.800 on vault ... Georgia: Took Comes from the same hometown as U-M head Zondervan’s Meet-by-Meet Scores fifth on beam with 9.775 ... Penn State: Won her coach Bev Plocki. The pair grew up in Butler, 2010 Season Vault Bars Beam Floor AA first collegiate title (beam) scoring a season-high Pennsylvania. Plocki’s high school coach became Michigan Tri - - - - - 9.950 on beam and collegiate-best 9.900 on vault Beilstein’s club coach. Beilstein is also the young- Michigan State - - - - - est of three sisters adopted by a family of seven. at Nebraska - - - - - ... Illinois: Set a new season best on beam (9.825) at Iowa Tri - - - 9.475 - ... Utah: Competed on vault ... Minnesota: Took fifth on vault ... West Virginia Tri: Had a career high Won the first four gymnastics events she ever at West Virginia Tri - - - - - competed in as a collegian - winning a pair of Minnesota - - - - - on vault ... Iowa State Tri: Had a career-high on vault and floor titles. Utah - - - - - vault and competed for the first time on beam ... at Illinois - - - - - Nebraska: Competed on vault ... Michigan State: SARAH CURTIS AND JORDAN SEXTON ... at Penn State - - - - - Competed on vault. Michigan Tri: Tied for fourth on Georgia - - - - - vault (9.750) in her collegiate debut. Will both return for a fifth year of competition at Alabama - - - - - next season. Curtis and Sexton suffered season at Big Tens - - - - - Zurales’ Meet-by-Meet Scores ending injuries in back-to-back meets as fresh- at Regionals - - - - - 2010 Season Vault Bars Beam Floor AA men in 2007 and both have decided to seek one at NCAA Prelims - - - - - Michigan Tri 9.750 (4) - - - - more year of collegiate gymnastics. at NCAA Super Six - - - - - Michigan State 9.725 - - - - Season Highs - - - 9.475 - at Nebraska 9.650 - - - - KELSEY KNUTSON ... at Iowa Tri 9.800 (5) - 9.725 - - Suffered a season ending injury in 2008 and Zondervan’s Career Bests (Career Titles) at West Virginia Tri 9.825 (3) - 9.475 - - struggled mightily in 2009 before rebounding Vault: 9.575 Minnesota 9.750 (5) - 8.900 - - in her final year. Knutson has five beam titles in Bars: - - - Beam: - - - Utah 9.775 - - - - 2010 and a runner-up showing at Regionals. Floor: 9.825 at Illinois 9.550 - 9.825 (4) - - AA: - - - at Penn State 9.900 (3) - 9.925 (1) - - Georgia 9.700 - 9.775 (5) - - at Alabama 9.800 - 9.850 - - at Big Tens 9.750 - 9.900 (2) - - at Regionals 9.800 - 9.325 - - at NCAA Prelims - - - - - at NCAA Super Six - - - - - Season Highs 9.900 - 9.925 - -
Zurales’ Career Bests (Career Titles) Vault: 9.900 Bars: - - - Beam: 9.925 (1) Floor: - - - AA: - - - 18 BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIPS 19 STRAIGHT NCAA REGIONAL APPEARANCES 2010 BIG TEN CHAMPIONS MEET-BY-MEET RESULTS MICHIGAN TRI ● JAN 9 ● CRISLER ARENA ILLINOIS DUAL ● FEB 27 ● HUFF HALL Gymnast Vault Bars Beam Floor All-Around Gymnast Vault Bars Beam Floor All-Around Beilstein 9.875 (1) - - 9.850 (1) - Beilstein 9.675 - - 9.875 (3) - Botterman 9.850 (2) 9.900 (1) 9.700 9.700 39.150 (1) Botterman 10.0 (1) 9.900 (1) 9.850 (2) 9.925 (2) 39.675 (1) Curtis 8.900 9.850 (2) 9.825 (2) 9.750 (4) 38.325 (5) Curtis 9.925 (2) 9.875 (2) 9.750 9.875 (3) 39.425 (2) Knutson - 9.775 9.700 - - Knutson - 9.750 9.850 (2) - - Kramer 9.425 - 9.175 9.775 (2) - Kramer - - - 9.550 - Martinez 9.750 (4) 9.850 (2) 8.900 9.750 (4) 38.250 Pearce 9.775 (5) - - - - Moody - 9.800 (4) - - - Martinez 9.825 (4) 9.825 (4) 9.750 9.800 39.200 (5) Sexton - 9.225 9.825 (2) 9.100 - Moody - 8.525 - - - Zurales 9.750 (4) - - - - Sexton - 9.825 (4) 9.800 9.850 (5) - Team Totals 48.650 49.175 48.225 48.825 194.875 Zurales 9.550 - 9.825 (4) - - MICHIGAN STATE ● JAN 20 ● CRISLER ARENA Team Totals 49.200 49.175 49.075 49.325 196.775 Gymnast Vault Bars Beam Floor All-Around PENN STATE QUAD ● MARCH 7 ● REC HALL Beilstein 9.875 (1) - - 9.825 (1) - Gymnast Vault Bars Beam Floor All-Around Botterman 9.850 (2) 9.225 9.825 (3) 9.825 (1) 38.725 (4) Beilstein 9.900 (3) - - 9.900 (2) - Curtis 9.825 (4) 9.825 (1) 9.875 (1) 9.750 (3) 39.275 (1) Botterman 9.900 (3) 9.950 (1) 9.900 (3) 9.750 39.500 (3) Knutson - 9.625 9.850 (2) - - Curtis 9.850 9.900 (3) 9.825 9.875 (4) 39.450 (4) Kramer - - 8.900 9.050 - Knutson - 9.825 (5) 9.300 - - Martinez 9.800 9.725 (3) 9.050 9.675 38.250 (5) Kramer - - - 9.725 - Moody 9.475 9.775 (2) - - - Pearce 9.825 - - - - Sexton - 9.725 (3) 9.050 9.725 (5) - Martinez 9.850 9.275 9.875 (5) 9.150 38.150 Zurales 9.725 - - - - Moody - 8.425 - - - Team Totals 49.075 48.675 47.650 48.800 194.200 Sexton - 9.800 9.850 9.800 - Zurales 9.900 (3) - 9.925 (1) - - NEBRASKA ● JAN 24 ● DEVANEY CENTER Team Totals 49.400 48.750 49.375 49.050 196.575 Gymnast Vault Bars Beam Floor All-Around Beilstein 9.800 (2) - - 9.850 (4) - GEORGIA DUAL ● MARCH 12 ● CRISLER ARENA Botterman 9.800 (2) 9.900 (1) 9.800 (2) 9.850 (4) 39.350 (1) Gymnast Vault Bars Beam Floor All-Around Curtis 9.775 (5) 9.850 (3) 9.325 9.775 38.725 (3) Beilstein 9.950 (1) - - 9.875 (2) - Knutson - 9.750 9.850 (1) - - Botterman 9.875 (3) 9.700 9.725 9.950 (1) 39.250 (2) Kramer - - 9.250 9.675 - Curtis 9.875 (3) 9.850 (2) 9.800 (3) 9.850 (4) 39.375 (1) Martinez 9.700 9.825 9.225 9.775 38.525 (4) Knutson - 9.750 9.375 - - Moody - 9.725 - - - Kramer - - - 9.725 - Sexton - 9.225 9.725 9.750 - Pearce 9.725 - - - - Zurales 9.650 - - - - Martinez 9.725 9.875 (1) 9.700 9.825 (5) 39.125 (3) Team Totals 48.725 49.050 47.950 49.000 194.725 Moody - 9.850 (2) - - - Sexton - 9.825 (5) 9.775 (5) 9.800 - IOWA STATE TRI ● JAN 29 ● HILTON COLISEUM Zurales 9.700 - 9.775 (5) - - Gymnast Vault Bars Beam Floor All-Around Team Totals 49.150 49.150 48.775 49.300 196.375 Beilstein 9.850 (2) - 9.825 (3) 9.900 (1) - Botterman 9.875 (1) 9.850 (1) 9.725 9.850 (3) 39.300 (1) ALABAMA DUAL ● MARCH 19 ● COLEMAN COLISEUM Curtis 9.825 (3) 9.800 (3) 9.800 (5) 9.825 (5) 39.250 (2) Gymnast Vault Bars Beam Floor All-Around Knutson - 9.675 9.850 (1) - - Beilstein 9.875 (4) - - 9.875 (4) - Kramer - - - 9.675 - Botterman 9.950(1) 9.875 (3) 9.900 (3) 9.825 39.550 (1) Martinez 9.700 9.700 - - - Curtis 9.850 9.850 9.775 9.875 (4) 39.300 (4) Moody - 9.775 (5) - - - Knutson - 9.800 9.950 (1) - - Sexton - 9.700 9.850 (1) 9.825 (5) - Kramer - - - 9.750 - Zondervan - - - 9.475 - Pearce 9.750 - - - - Zurales 9.800 (5) - 9.725 - - Martinez 9.875 (4) 9.775 9.775 9.675 39.100 (5) Team Totals 49.050 48.825 49.050 49.075 196.000 Moody - 9.800 - - - Sexton - 9.800 9.850 9.800 - WEST VIRGINIA TRI ● FEB 5 ● WVU COLISEUM Zurales 9.800 - 9.850 - - Gymnast Vault Bars Beam Floor All-Around Team Totals 49.350 49.075 49.325 49.125 196.875 Beilstein 9.900 (1) - 9.850 (2) 9.825 (2) - Botterman 9.825 (3) 9.900 (1) 9.925 (1) 9.900 (1) 39.550 (1) BIG TENS ● MARCH 27 ● ST. JOHN ARENA Curtis 9.875 (2) 9.850 (2) 9.250 9.775 (5) 38.750 (3) Gymnast Vault Bars Beam Floor All-Around Knutson - 9.800 (4) 9.850 (2) - - Beilstein 9.900 (1) - - 9.900 (t2) - Kramer - - - 9.675 - Botterman 9.850 (t3) 9.325 9.900 (t2) 9.900 (t2) 38.975 Pearce 9.450 - - - - Curtis 9.875 (2) 9.850 (t5) 9.900 (t2) 9.900 (t2) 39.525 (2) Martinez 9.825 (3) 9.850 (2) - 9.725 - Knutson - 9.750 9.900 (t2) - - Moody - 9.750 - - - Kramer - - - 9.600 - Sexton - 9.800 (4) 9.825 (4) 9.800 (4) - Pearce 9.700 - - - - Zurales 9.825 (3) - 9.475 - - Team Totals 49.250 49.200 48.925 49.025 196.400 Martinez 9.750 9.825 9.850 9.700 39.150 Moody - 9.850 (t5) - - - MINNESOTA DUAL ● FEB 13 ● CRISLER ARENA Sexton - 9.850 (t5) 9.750 9.800 - Zurales 9.750 - 9.900 (t2) - - Gymnast Vault Bars Beam Floor All-Around Team Totals 49.125 49.125 49.450 49.200 196.900 Beilstein 9.900 (1) - 9.800 (2) 9.800 (2) - Botterman 9.875 (2) 9.800 (3) 9.500 (5) 9.875 (1) 39.050 (2) Curtis 9.825 (4) 9.875 (1) 9.750 (3) 9.750 (3) 39.200 (1) NCAA REGIONALS ● APRIL 10 ● WVU COLISEUM Knutson - 9.700 9.875 (1) - - Gymnast Vault Bars Beam Floor All-Around Kramer - - - 9.575 - Beilstein 9.900 (t2) - - 9.900 (t1) - Pearce 9.600 - - - - Botterman 9.900 (t2) 9.900 (2) 9.850 (t3) 9.900 (t1) 39.550 (1) Martinez 9.850 (3) 9.775 (5) - 9.700 (4) - Curtis 9.850 9.825) 9.775 9.875 (t3) 39.325 (5) Moody - 9.850 (2) - - - Knutson - 9.250 9.125 - - Sexton - 9.800 (3) 9.700 (4) 9.575 - Kramer - - - 9.750 - Zurales 9.750 (5) - 8.900 - - Pearce 9.750 - - - - Team Totals 49.200 49.100 48.025 48.725 195.050 Martinez 9.850 9.850 9.650 9.725 39.075 Moody - 9.850 - - - UTAH DUAL ● FEB 19 ● CRISLER ARENA Sexton - 9.950 (1) 9.375 9.700 - Gymnast Vault Bars Beam Floor All-Around Zurales 9.800 - 9.325 - - Beilstein 9.875 (1) - - 9.875 (4) - Team Totals 49.300 49.375 47.975 49.150 195.800 Botterman 9.875 (3) 9.850 (1) 9.800 (4) 9.950 (1) 39.475 (1) Curtis 9.900 (2) 9.850 (1) 9.725 9.900 (2) 39.375 (2) Knutson - 9.150 9.875 (1) - - Kramer - - - 9.675 - Pearce 9.625 - - - - Martinez 9.800 9.000 9.600 9.800 38.200 (5) Moody - 9.750 (5) - - - Sexton - 9.800 (3) 9.800 (4) 9.775 - Zurales 9.775 - - - - Team Totals 49.225 48.400 48.800 49.300 195.725 18 BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIPS 19 STRAIGHT NCAA REGIONAL APPEARANCES 2010 BIG TEN CHAMPIONS TOP INDIVIDUAL EVENT SCORES INDIVIDUAL EVENT CHAMPIONS VAULT VAULT Rank Score Gymnast Date/Meet Gymnast Score Date/Meet 1. 10.0 Kylee Botterman Illinois 2/27 Natalie Beilstein 9.875 Michigan Tri 1/9 2. 9.950 Kylee Botterman Alabama 3/19 Natalie Beilstein (2) 9.875 Michigan State 1/20 9.950 Natalie Beilstein Georgia 3/12 Natalie Beilstein (3) 9.900 WVU Tri 2/5 4. 9.925 Sarah Curtis Illinois 2/27 Natalie Beilstein (4) 9.900 Minnesota 2/13 5. 9.900 Natalie Beilstein NCAA Regionals 4/10 Natalie Beilstein (5) 9.950 Georgia 3/12 9.900 Kylee Botterman NCAA Regionals 4/10 Natalie Beilstein (6) 9.900 Big Tens 3/27 9.900 Natalie Beilstein Big Tens 3/27 Kylee Botterman (1) 9.850 Iowa State Tri 1/29 9.900 Natalie Beilstein PSU Quad 3/7 Kylee Botterman (2) 10.0 Illinois 2/27 9.900 Kylee Botterman PSU Quad 3/7 Kylee Botterman (3) 9.950 Alabama 3/19 9.900 Katie Zurales PSU Quad 3/7 9.900 Sarah Curtis Utah 2/19 UNEVEN BARS 9.900 Natalie Beilstein Minnesota 2/13 Gymnast Score Date/Meet 9.900 Natalie Beilstein WVU Tri 2/5 Kylee Botterman 9.900 Michigan Tri 1/9 Kylee Botterman (2) 9.900 Nebraska 1/24 Kylee Botterman (3) 9.850 Iowa State Tri 1/29 UNEVEN BARS Kylee Botterman (4) 9.900 WVU Tri 2/5 Rank Score Gymnast Date/Meet Kylee Botterman (5) 9.850 Utah 2/19 1. 9.950 Jordan Sexton NCAA Regionals 4/10 Kylee Botterman (6) 9.900 Illinois 2/27 2. 9.950 Kylee Botterman PSU Quad 3/7 Kylee Botterman (7) 9.950 PSU Quad 3/7 3. 9.900 Kylee Botterman NCAA Regionals 4/10 Sarah Curtis 9.825 Michigan State 1/20 9.900 Sarah Curtis PSU Quad 3/7 Sarah Curtis (2) 9.875 Minnesota 2/13 9.900 Kylee Botterman Illinois 2/27 Sarah Curtis (3) 9.850 Utah 2/19 9.900 Kylee Botterman WVU Tri 2/5 Brittnee Martinez 9.875 Georgia 3/12 9.900 Kylee Botterman Nebraska 1/24 Jordan Sexton 9.950 NCAA Regionals 4/10 9.900 Kylee Botterman Michigan Tri 1/9 BALANCE BEAM Gymnast Score Date/Meet BALANCE BEAM Natalie Beilstein 9.925 WVU Tri 2/5 Rank Score Gymnast Date/Meet Sarah Curtis 9.875 Michigan State 1/20 1. 9.950 Kelsey Knutson Alabama 3/19 Kelsey Knutson 9.850 Nebraska 1/24 2. 9.925 Katie Zurales PSU Quad 3/7 Kelsey Knutson (2) 9.850 Iowa State Tri 1/29 9.925 Kylee Botterman WVU Tri 2/5 Kelsey Knutson (3) 9.875 Minnesota 2/13 4. 9.900 Sarah Curtis Big Tens 3/27 Kelsey Knutson (4) 9.875 Utah 2/19 9.900 Katie Zurales Big Tens 3/27 Jordan Sexton 9.850 Iowa State Tri 1/29 9.900 Kylee Botterman Big Tens 3/27 Katie Zurales 9.925 PSU Quad 3/7 9.900 Kelsey Knutson Big Tens 3/27 9.900 Kylee Botterman Alabama 3/19 FLOOR EXERCISE 9.900 Kylee Botterman PSU Quad 3/7 Gymnast Score Date/Meet Natalie Beilstein 9.850 Michigan Tri 1/9 Natalie Beilstein (2) 9.825 Michigan State 1/20 FLOOR EXERCISE Natalie Beilstein (3) 9.900 Iowa State Tri 1/29 Rank Score Gymnast Date/Meet Natalie Beilstein (4) 9.900 NCAA Regionals 4/10 1. 9.950 Kylee Botterman Georgia 3/12 Kylee Botterman 9.900 WVU Tri 2/5 9.950 Kylee Botterman Utah 2/19 Kylee Botterman (2) 9.875 Minnesota 2/13 3. 9.925 Kylee Botterman Illinois 2/27 Kylee Botterman (3) 9.950 Utah 2/19 4. 9.900 Sarah Curtis Big Tens 3/27 Kylee Botterman (4) 9.950 Georgia 3/12 9.900 Natalie Beilstein Big Tens 3/27 Kylee Botterman (5) 9.900 NCAA Regionals 4/10 9.900 Kylee Botterman Big Tens 3/27 9.900 Natalie Beilstein PSU Quad 3/7 ALL-AROUND 9.900 Sarah Curtis Utah 2/19 Gymnast Score Date/Meet 9.900 Kylee Botterman WVU Tri 2/5 Kylee Botterman 39.150 Michigan Tri 1/9 9.900 Natalie Beilstein Iowa State Tri 1/29 Kylee Botterman (2) 39.350 Nebraska 1/24 Kylee Botterman (3) 39.300 Iowa State Tri 1/29 Kylee Botterman (4) 39.550 WVU Tri 2/5 ALL-AROUND Kylee Botterman (5) 39.475 Utah 2/19 Rank Score Gymnast Date/Meet Kylee Botterman (6) 39.675 Illinois 2/27 1. 39.675 Kylee Botterman Illinois 2/27 Kylee Botterman (7) 39.550 Alabama 3/19 2. 39.550 Kylee Botterman NCAA Regionals 4/10 Kylee Botterman (8) 39.550 NCAA Regionals 4/10 39.550 Kylee Botterman Alabama 3/19 Sarah Curtis 39.275 Michigan State 1/20 39.550 Kylee Botterman WVU Tri 2/5 Sarah Curtis (2) 39.200 Minnesota 2/13 5. 39.525 Sarah Curtis Big Tens 3/27 Sarah Curtis (3) 39.375 Georgia 3/12 WOLVERINE WINNERS BY EVENT Gymnast V UB BB FX AA Natalie Beilstein 6 - - 4 - Kylee Botterman 3 7 1 5 8 Sarah Curtis - 3 1 - 3 Kelsey Knutson - - 4 - - Brittnee Martinez - 1 - - - Jordan Sexton - 1 1 - - Katie Zurales - - 1 - - 18 BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIPS 19 STRAIGHT NCAA REGIONAL APPEARANCES 2010 BIG TEN CHAMPIONS
2010 MICHIGAN WOMEN’S GYMNASTICS ROSTER Name Ht. Yr./Elig Hometown/High School Natalie Beilstein 5-0 Fr./Fr. Butler, Pa. (Knoch) Kylee Botterman** 5-3 Jr./Jr. New Lenox, Ill. (Lincoln-Way Central) Sarah Curtis*** 5-0 Sr./Sr Reno, Nev. (Reno) Kelsey Knutson*** 5-4 Sr./Sr Ames, Iowa (Ames) Jaclyn Kramer*** 5-6 Sr./Sr West Hills, N.Y. (Half Hollow Hills) Brittnee Martinez 5-1 Fr./Fr. Colorado Springs, Colo. (Doherty) Maureen Moody*** 5-5 Sr./Sr East Lansing, Mich. (East Lansing) Kari Pearce** 5-2 Jr./Jr. Ann Arbor, Mich. (Huron) Jordan Sexton*** 5-2 Sr./Sr Weddington, N.C. (Weddington) Trish Wilson** 5-4 Jr./Jr. Naperville, Ill. (Neuqua Valley) Taylor Zondervan* 5-6 Jr./Jr. Schoolcraft, Mich. (Schoolcraft) Katie Zurales 5-4 Fr./Fr. Wheaton, Ill. (Wheaton Warrenville South) *–Letters earned; Class–academic/eligibility
2010 COACHING AND SUPPORT STAFF PRONUNCIATION GUIDE Head Coach: Bev Plocki (21st season) Bev PLOCKI: Plah-key Assistant Coach: Scott Sherman (14th season) Natalie BEILSTEIN: BEEL-st-EYE-n Assistant Coach: Shannon Welker. (Second season) KARI Pearce: KERRY Pearce Volunteer Assistant Coach: Eddie Umphrey (Fourth season) Katie ZURALES: ZURR-al-iss Student Manager: Dena McKenzie (First season) Athletic Trainer: Lisa Hass (19th season)
HEAD COACH BEV PLOCKI ● 21ST SEASON Alma Mater: West Virginia (1987), M.S. (1989)
Awards: NCAA Coach of the Year (1994), Five-time NCAA Regional Coach of the Year (2010, 2000, 1997, 1994, 1992), 10-time Big Ten Coach of the Year (2010, 2008, 2004, 2003, 2000, 1999, 1995, 1994, 1993, 1992)
Championships: Six ALL MEETS CONFERENCE NCAA POSTSEASON Regional Championships YEAR W L T PCT. W L PCT. PLACE REG. NAT. NOTES (2006, 2005, 2003, 2001, 1990 7 15 0 .318 2 10 .167 6th -- -- First season as head coach 2000, 1999, 1997), 17 Big 1991 13 12 0 .520 9 5 .643 3rd -- -- Most U-M wins in 7 seasons Ten Championships (2010, 1992 20 3 0 .870 11 0 1.000 1st 2nd -- First U-M 20-win season 2009, 2008, 2007, 2005, 1993 25 3 0 .893 9 1 .900 1st 4th 9th Second straight Big Ten title 1994 27 1 0 .964 13 0 1.000 1st 3rd 4th Most wins in program history 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 1995 24 2 0 .923 12 0 1.000 1st 2nd T-2nd Fourth straight Big Ten team title 2000, 1999, 1997, 1996, 1996 21 6 0 .778 10 3 .769 1st 2nd 6th Fifth straight Big Ten team title 1995, 1994, 1993, 1992) 1997 20 5 0 .800 9 0 1.000 1st 1st 4th Second regional title for U-M 1998 15 6 0 .714 8 2 .800 2nd 2nd 8th Seven 15+ win seasons in a row 1999 19 4 0 .826 10 1 .909 1st 1st 2nd Best-ever U-M finish at nationals Athlete Honors: Six 2000 22 5 0 .815 9 0 1.000 1st 1st 6th Ninth Big Ten team title national champions, 129 2001 15 7 0 .682 9 0 1.000 1st 1st 3rd Third straight regional title All-American honorees, 45 2002 25 3 0 .893 11 0 1.000 1st 2nd 7th 11th Big Ten team title regional champions, 72 2003 17 6 0 .739 9 1 .900 1st 1st 5th 12th Big Ten team title 2004 14 6 0 .800 8 1 .889 1st 2nd 8th 13th Big Ten team title Big Ten champions, 118 2005 22 2 0 .917 13 0 1.000 1st 1st 5th 14th Big Ten team title All-Big Ten selections, 133 2006 15 5 1 .738 7 3 .700 4th 1st 7th Seventh regional title Academic All-Big Ten honor- 2007 17 5 0 .773 8 2 .800 1st 2nd T-11th 15th Big Ten team title ees, 82 NACGC/W Scholastic 2008 24 1 0 .960 11 0 1.000 1st 2nd T-8th 16th Big Ten team title 2009 19 5 0 .792 10 0 1.000 1st 3rd -- 17th Big Ten team title All-American honorees 2010 19 3 0 .864 10 1 .909 1st 2nd 18th Big Ten team title OVERALL 400 105 1 .792 197 30 .868 17 titles 7 titles 18 BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIPS 19 STRAIGHT NCAA REGIONAL APPEARANCES 2010 BIG TEN CHAMPIONS
VAULT ALL-AMERICANS (28) 13 First Team MMICHIGANI C H I G A N VAULT 15 Second Team 2008: Katie Lieberman (2nd) TEAM RQS: 49.245 (9th NCAA) 2007: Nellie Kippley (2nd) HIGH SCORE: 49.400 (at #17 Penn State, March 7) 2006: Jenny Deily (2nd), Lieberman (2nd) TOP-RANKED VAULTERS: Beilstein (18th), Botterman (18th), Curtis (33rd) 2005: Deily (1st), Lieberman (1st) Vault is Michigan’s best event by national ranking - a stark change from last year’s line-up which was one of the Wolverines’ weakest. Last year, Michigan topped 49.000 just twice. This year, the Wolverines have hit 49.000 in all but two meets. Botterman is a second team All-American on vault and finished runner-up at Big Tens in 2008, while Beilstein is the reigning Big Ten vault champion. Both athletes took runner-up honors on vault at NCAA Regionals Michigan has vaulted the same six athletes in nine-straight meets (once Pearce returned from injury) but the loss of Zurales to injury will push the Wolverines to essentially vault five competitors, inserting an untested vaulter in the number six spot. KARI PEARCE ● Junior ● Ann Arbor, Michigan (Huron) NCAAS VAULTS BEST FOUR VAULTS VAULT NOTES • Career high: 9.925 (1 title) 2009 (n/a) 9.925 Mich. Classic (2008) • Season high: 9.825 (0 titles) 2008 (9.750 - prelim) 9.900 at Maryland (2008) • All-Big Ten Second Team (2008) 9.875 vs. Utah (2008) • Missed first four meets with injury in 2010 9.875 vs. Georgia (2008)
BRITTNEE MARTINEZ ● Freshman ● Colorado Springs Colorado (Doherty) NCAAS VAULTS BEST FOUR VAULTS VAULT NOTES • Career high: 9.875 (0 titles) (First NCAAs) 9.875 at Alabama (2010) • Season high: 9.875 (0 titles) 9.850 at NCAA Regionals (2010) 9.850 vs. Minnesota (2010) 9.850 at Penn State (2010)
##3333 NCAANCAA SARAH CURTIS ● Senior ● Reno,Reno Nevada (Reno) NCAA VAULTS BEST FOUR VAULTS VAULT NOTES • Career high: 9.950 (4 titles) 2009 (9.850 - prelim) 9.950 vs. Georgia (2008) • Season high: 9.925 (0 titles) 2008 (9.650) 9.925 at Illinois (2010) • Three-time All-Big Ten First Team (2008, ‘09, ‘10) 2007 (injured) 9.900 vs. Utah (2010) • Five-time Big Ten Gymnast of the Week 9.900 two times in 2008
##1818 NCAANCAA NATALIE BEILSTEIN ● Freshman ● Butler, Pennsylvania (Knoch) BIG TEN CONFERENCE VAULT CHAMPION NCAA VAULTS BEST FOUR VAULTS VAULT NOTES • Career high: 9.950 (6 titles) (First NCAAs) 9.950 vs. Georgia (2010) • Season high: 9.950 (6 titles) 9.900 five times in 2010 • All-Big Ten First Team (2010) / Freshman of the Year finalist • Five-time Big Ten Freshman of the Week
##1818 NCAANCAA KYLEE BOTTERMAN ● Junior ● New Lenox, Lenox Illinois (Lincoln(Lincoln-Way Way Central) NCAA ALL-AMERICAN ON VAULT NCAA VAULTS BEST FOUR VAULTS VAULT NOTES • Career high: 10.0 (11 titles) 2009 n/a 10.0 at Illinois (2010) • Season high: 10.0 (3 titles) 2008 (9.875) 9.975 Mich. Classic (2008) • Second Team All-American on Vault (2008) 9.950 at Alabama (2010) • Runner-up on vault at 2010 NCAA Regionals 9.950 vs. Minnesota (2008) • Three-time All-Big Ten First Team (2008, ‘09, ‘10)
JACLYN KRAMER ● Senior ● West Hills, N.Y. (Half Hollow Hills) NCAA VAULTS BEST FOUR VAULTS VAULT NOTES • Career high: 9.625 (0 titles) 2009 (n/a) 9.625 vs. Utah (2009) • Season high: 9.425 (0 titles) 2008 (n/a) 9.500 vs. Minnesota (2009) • Walk-on who earned her scholarship 2007 (n/a) 9.425 at Michigan Tri (2010)
ALTERNATES Maureen Moody has vaulted in competition this season but just once (9.475 vs. Michigan State) VAULT NOTES NATALIE BEILSTEIN AND KYLEE BOTTERMAN: Each have just two vault scores apiece lower than 9.850 this year (through 13 meets). Botterman has four vaults of 9.900 or better (including the team’s only 10.0) while Beilstein has six vaults of 9.900 or better (including 9.900 vaults in both postseason meets this year). The duo have combined for nine vault titles in 13 meets, with Beilstein taking the Big Ten title and the duo sharing runner-up honors at Regionals. 18 BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIPS 19 STRAIGHT NCAA REGIONAL APPEARANCES 2010 BIG TEN CHAMPIONS
BARS ALL-AMERICANS (31) 18 First Team MMICHIGANI C H I G A N UNEVEN BARS 13 Second Team 2008: Bernard (1st), Kylee Botterman (1st) TEAM RQS: 49.145 (10th NCAA) 2007: Becky Bernard (2nd) HIGH SCORE: 49.375(at NCAA Regional Championships, April 10) 2006: Bernard (2nd), Jenny Deily (2nd), TOP-RANKED BARS: Botterman (11th), Curtis (30th) Lauren Mirkovich (2nd) Michigan bars has been one of its calling cards for years. The Wolverines have had six Big Ten bars champions in this decade and seven regionals bars champions in the 2000s. Kylee Botterman has won seven bars titles in 13 meets this season - the first seven of her career - to lead all Wolverines. Sarah Curtis has won three bars titles this season and finished in the top three on bars in 10 of 13 meets this year.
KELSEY KNUTSON ● Senior ● Ames, Iowa (Ames) NCAAS BARS BEST FOUR BARS BARS NOTES • Career high: 9.825 (0 titles) 2009 (n/a) 9.825 at Penn State (2010) • Season high: 9.825 (0 titles) 2008 (Injured) 9.825 vs. Mich. State (2009) • Two-time All-Big Ten team (2008, ‘10) 2007 (9.775 - prelim) 9.825 vs. Maryland (2007) 9.800 twice in 2010
MAUREEN MOODY ● Senior ● East Lansing, Michigan (East Lansing) NCAAS BARS BEST FOUR BARS BARS NOTES 2009 BIG TEN BARS RUNNER-UP 2009 (n/a) 9.900 at Big Tens (2009) • Career high: 9.900 (1 titles) 2008 (9.850 - prelim) 9.875 at Penn State (2008) • Season high: 9.850 (0 titles) 2007 (9.375 - prelim) 9.850 four times in 2010 9.850 three times in 2008
BRITTNEE MARTINEZ ● Freshman ● ColoradoColorado SSpringsprings CColoradoolorado (Doherty) NCAAS BARS BEST FOUR BARS BARS NOTES • Career high: 9.875 (1 title) First NCAAs 9.875 vs. Georgia (2010) • Season high: 9.875 (1 title) 9.850 three times in 2010 • Big Ten Freshman of the Week (March 1)
JORDAN SEXTON ● Senior ● Weddington, North Carolina (Weddington) NCAAS BARS BEST FOUR BARS BARS NOTES 2010 REGIONAL BARS CHAMPION 2009 (n/a) 9.950 at Regionals (2010) • Career high: 9.950 (1 title) 2008 (n/a) 9.850 at Big Tens (2010) • Season high: 9.950 (1 title) 2007 (n/a) 9.850 at Georgia (2008) 9.825 twice in 2010
##3030 NCAANCAA SARAH CURTIS ● Senior ● Reno, Nevada (Reno) NCAAS BARS BEST FOUR BARS BARS NOTES 2008 BIG TEN BARS CHAMPION 2009 (9.825 - prelim) 9.950 at Big Tens (2008) • Career high: 9.950 (6 titles) 2008 (9.850 - prelim) 9.900 at Penn State (2010) • Season high: 9.900 (3 titles) 2007 (injured) 9.900 twice in 2008 • Three-time All-Big Ten First Team (2008, ‘09, ‘10) 9.875 at Illinois (2010)
##1111 NCAANCAA KYLEE BOTTERMAN ● Junior ● New Lenox, Illinois (Lincoln-Way Central) NCAAS BARS BEST FOUR BARS BARS NOTES 2010 REGIONAL BARS RUNNER-UP 2009 (n/a) 9.950 at Penn State (2010) • Career high: 9.950 (7 titles) 2008 (9.900/9.850) 9.900 five times in 2010 • Season high: 9.950 (7 titles) 9.900 at NCAA Prelims (2008) • Three-time All-Big Ten First Team (2008, ‘09, ‘10) 9.900 vs. Minnesota (2008)
ALTERNATES The six Wolverines in the line-up have not changed since the start of the season. Michigan hasn’t even exhibitioned a Wolverine on bars all season. The line-up suffered a loss with a season-ending injury to defending Big Ten bars champion Trish Wilson, hurt in the team’s intrasquad. BARS NOTES BOTTERMAN’S RISE ON BARS: Prior to this season, Kylee Botterman had never won an uneven bars title, posting a career-best 9.900 at NCAAs in her freshman year. This season, Botterman has matched that career best five times and set a new high with a 9.950 at Penn State. 18 BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIPS 19 STRAIGHT NCAA REGIONAL APPEARANCES 2010 BIG TEN CHAMPIONS
BEAM ALL-AMERICANS (21) 16 First Team MMICHIGANI C H I G A N BALANCE BEAM 5 Second Team TEAM RQS: 49.150 (7th NCAA) 2006: Thuener-Rego (1st) HIGH SCORE: 49.450 (at Big Ten Championships, March 27) 2005: Elise Ray (1st) TOP-RANKED BEAM: Botterman (16th), Knutson (19th), Sexton (53rd) 2004: Lindsey Bruck (1st), Ray (1st) Michigan’s balance beam team is much improved from last year’s squad, which was only the Big Ten’s fifth best. U-M worked out some kinks on beam through the first three meets of the year before registering the team’s first 49.000+ score. The Wolverines have counted just one fall on beam since February 5, registering three at the NCAA Regional Championships. Individually, Michigan athletes have captured six Big Ten beam crowns in the last 10 Big Ten Championships but have not had an All-American on the event in three seasons.
SARAH CURTIS ● Senior ● Reno, Nevada (Reno) NCAAS BEAM BEST FOUR BEAM BEAM NOTES BIG TEN RUNNER-UP ON BEAM (2010) 2009 (9.725 - prelim) 9.900 vs. Georgia (2008) • Career high: 9.900 (1 title) 2008 (9.725 - prelim) 9.875 three times (2010) • Season high: 9.875 (1 title) 2007 (injured) 9.875 at N.C. State (2008) • Three-time All-Big Ten First Team (2008, ‘09, ‘10) 9.850 at Regionals (2010)
NATALIE BEILSTEIN ● Freshman ● Butler, Pennsylvania (Knoch) NCAAS BEAM BEST FOUR BEAM BEAM NOTES • Career high: 9.850 (1 title) First NCAAs 9.850 at West Virginia (2010) • Season high: 9.850 (1 title) 9.825 at Iowa (2010) • Competed three beam routines in 2010, but not since Feb. 13
##5353 NCAANCAA JORDANJORDAN SEXTONSEXTON ● SeniorSenior ● Weddington,Weddington NN.C.C ((Weddington)Weddington) NCAAS BEAM BEST FOUR BEAM BEAM NOTES • Career high: 9.875 (3 titles) 2009 (n/a) 9.875 at Regionals (2009) • Season high: 9.850 (1 title) 2008 (9.175 - prelim) 9.875 vs. Penn State (2009) 2007 (n/a) 9.875 twice in 2007 9.850 three times in 2010
BRITTNEE MARTINEZ ● Freshman ● Colorado Springs Colorado (Doherty) NCAAS BEAM BEST FOUR BEAM BEAM NOTES • Career high: 9.875 (0 titles) First NCAAs 9.875 at Penn State (2010) • Season high: 9.875 (0 titles) 9.850 at Big Tens (2010) • Competed eight beam routines in 2010 9.775 at Alabama (2010) 9.750 at Illinois (2010)
##1616 NCAANCAA KYLEE BOTTERMAN ● Junior ● New Lenox, Illinois (Lincoln-Way Central) NCAAS BEAM BEST FOUR BEAM BEAM NOTES BIG TEN RUNNER-UP ON BEAM (2010) 2009 (n/a) 9.925 at W. Virginia (2010) • Career high: 9.925 (4 titles) 2008 (n/a) 9.900 three times in 2010 • Season high: 9.925 (1 title) 9.875 vs. Penn State (2009) • Three-time All-Big Ten First Team (2008, ‘09, ‘10)
##1919 NCAANCAA KELSEY KNUTSON ● Senior ● Ames, Iowa (Ames) NCAAS BEAM BEST FOUR BEAM BEAM NOTES BIG TEN RUNNER-UP ON BEAM (2010) 2009 (n/a) 9.950 at Alabama (2010) • Career high: 9.950 (8 titles) 2008 (Injured) 9.925 vs. Georgia (2008) • Season high: 9.950 (5 titles) 2007 (9.625 - prelim) 9.925 vs. Michigan St. (2008) • Two-time All-Big Ten (2008, ‘10) 9.900 at Big Tens (2010)
ALTERNATES With the loss of Katie Zurales to injury, Michigan will turn to Natalie Beilstein or Jaclyn Kramer. Each competed on beam three times this season with Beilstein posting a pair of 9.800+ scores and Kramer posting scores of 9.175, 8.900 and 9.250. BEAM NOTES KELSEY KNUTSON: Kelsey Knutson has had a record year on beam, setting new career highs, winning five titles and rebounding from a challenging junior season where her top score was 9.825 and she won zero titles.
KYLEE BOTTERMAN: With a new career high on beam, Botterman is also the only everyday Wolverine beam competitor without a fall this season. 18 BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIPS 19 STRAIGHT NCAA REGIONAL APPEARANCES 2010 BIG TEN CHAMPIONS
FLOOR ALL-AMERICANS (24) 13 First Team MMICHIGANI C H I G A N FLOOR EXERCISE 11 Second Team TEAM RQS: 49.200 (9th NCAA) 2009: Kylee Botterman (1st) HIGH SCORE: 49.325 (at #17 Illinois, Feb. 27) 2007: Lieberman (1st) TOP-RANKED FLOOR: Botterman (10th), Beilstein (28th), Curtis (36th) 2006: Becca Clauson (2nd) Carol McNamara (2nd) Michigan has been strong on floor exercise all year long. Kylee Botterman is a two-time Big Ten floor champion and an All-American on the event and has won five floor titles this season, finishing runner-up at Big Ten and sharing the NCAA Regional floor title with teammate Natalie Beilstein. Beilstein has won four floor titles this year, finishing runner-up at Big Tens and winning the regional crown with Botterman. The duo have posted 9.900 scores in both postseason meets. Curtis has not won a floor title this year, but she’s quietly posted scores of 9.875 or better in six of the last seven meets, tying for runner-up at Big Tens and third place at Regionals. JACLYN KRAMER ● Senior ● West Hills, N.Y. (Half Hollow Hills) NCAAS FLOOR BEST FOUR FLOOR FLOOR NOTES • Career high: 9.875 (1 title) 2008 (n/a) 9.875 vs. Missouri (2007) • Season high: 9.775 (0 titles) 2008 (n/a) 9.850 at Big Tens (2009) 2007 (n/a) 9.825 at Regionals (2009) 9.775 three times in 2009
BRITTNEE MARTINEZ ● Freshman ● Colorado Springs Colorado (Doherty) NCAAS FLOOR BEST FOUR FLOOR FLOOR NOTES • Career high: 9.825 (0 titles) First NCAAs 9.825 vs. Georgia (2010) • Season high: 9.825 (0 titles) 9.800 at Illinois (2010) 9.800 vs. Utah (2010) 9.775 at Nebraska (2010)
JORDANJORDAN SEXTONSEXTON ● SeniorSenior ● Weddington,Weddington NN.C..C. ((Weddington)Weddington) NCAAS FLOOR BEST FOUR FLOOR FLOOR NOTES • Career high: 9.900 (2 titles) 2009 (n/a) 9.900 Mich. Classic (2009) • Season high: 9.850 (0 titles) 2008 (n/a) 9.850 at Illinois (2010) • Did not compete floor all of 2008 & most of ‘07 2007 (injured) 9.850 twice in 2009 9.825 at Iowa State (2010)
##3636 NCAANCAA SARAH CURTIS ● Senior ● Reno, Nevada (Reno) NCAAS FLOOR BEST FOUR FLOOR FLOOR NOTES • Career high: 9.925 (3 titles) 2009 (9.800 - prelim) 9.925 vs. Minnesota (2008) • Season high: 9.900 (0 titles) 2008 (9.825 - prelim) 9.900 twice in 2010 2007 (Injured) 9.900 three times in 2009 9.875 four times in 2010
##2828 NCAANCAA NATALIE BEILSTEIN ● Freshman ● Butler, Pennsylvania (Knoch) NCAAS FLOOR BEST FOUR FLOOR FLOOR NOTES • Career high: 9.900 (3 titles) First NCAAs 9.900 at Regionals (2010) • Season high: 9.900 (3 titles) 9.900 at Big Tens (2010) • Six-time Big Ten Freshman of the Week 9.900 at Iowa State (2010) 9.875 four times in 2010
##1010 NCAANCAA KYLEE BOTTERMAN ● Junior ● New Lenox, Illinois (Lincoln-Way Central) NCAAS FLOOR BEST FOUR FLOOR FLOOR NOTES FIRST TEAM ALL-AMERICAN (2009) 2009 (9.875/9.700) 9.950 vs. Georgia (2010) REGIONAL FLOOR CHAMPION (2010) 2008 (9.850 - prelim) 9.950 vs. Utah (2010) TWO-TIME BIG TEN FLOOR CHAMPION 9.950 at Big Tens (2009) • Career high: 9.950 (16 titles) 9.925 at Illinois (2010) • Season high: 9.950 (6 titles) ALTERNATES Michigan’s floor line-up has been unchanged all year except for one performance by Taylor Zondervan in January. FLOOR NOTES KYLEE BOTTERMAN: Botterman is looking to become one of three Wolverines to win three Big Ten floor titles in her career. BEILSTEIN, BOTTERMAN, CURTIS: Three Wolverines are AVERAGING better than 9.800 this season on floor, led by Beilstein (9.859), Botterman (9.855) and Curtis (9.818). ALL AROUND ALL-AMERICANS: 13 First Team, 12 second team 18 BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIPS 19 STRAIGHT NCAA REGIONAL APPEARANCES 2010 BIG TEN CHAMPIONS NCAA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS RESULTS
1999 at Salt Lake City, Utah 2004 at Los Angeles, Calif. UU-M-M ATAT NCAANCAA CHAMPIONSHIPSCHAMPIONSHIPS 1. Georgia ...... 196.850 1. UCLA ...... 197.675 Year Round Place Score 2. Michigan ...... 196.550 2. Alabama ...... 197.325 1982...... Preliminaries ...... 10th ...... 136.900 3. Alabama ...... 195.950 3. Utah ...... 196.925 1993...... Preliminaries ...... 9th ...... 193.125 4. Arizona State ...... 195.900 4. Florida ...... 196.850 5. UCLA ...... 195.850 Stanford ...... 196.850 1994...... Super Six ...... 4th ...... 195.150 6. Nebraska ...... 194.800 6. Georgia ...... 196.775 1995...... Super Six ...... t-2nd ...... 196.425 7. Utah ...... 195.475* 7. LSU...... 196.650* 1996...... Super Six ...... 6th ...... 196.375 8. Penn State ...... 194.775* 8. Michigan ...... 196.500* 9. LSU...... 194.475* 9. Arizona State ...... 196.325* 1997...... Super Six ...... 4th ...... 196.500 10. Florida ...... 194.000* 10. Nebraska ...... 196.150* 1998...... Preliminaries ...... 8th ...... 195.425 Stanford ...... 194.000* 11. Oklahoma ...... 195.750* 1999...... Super Six ...... 2nd ...... 196.550 12. West Virginia ...... 191.850* 12. Iowa ...... 194.775* 2000...... Super Six ...... 6th ...... 195.725 2000 at Boise, Idaho 2005 at Auburn, Ala. 2001...... Super Six ...... 3rd ...... 197.275 1. UCLA ...... 197.300 1. Georgia ...... 197.825 2002...... Preliminaries ...... 7th ...... 196.175 2. Utah ...... 196.875 2. Alabama ...... 197.400 2003...... Super Six ...... 5th ...... 196.050 3. Georgia ...... 196.800 3. Utah ...... 197.275 2004...... Preliminaries ...... 8th ...... 196.500 4. Nebraska ...... 196.725 4. UCLA ...... 197.150 5. Alabama ...... 196.500 5. Michigan ...... 196.575 2005...... Super Six ...... 5th ...... 196.575 6. Michigan ...... 195.725 6. Nebraska ...... 196.425 2006...... Preliminaries ...... 7th ...... 196.000 7. Penn State ...... 195.350* 7. Florida ...... 196.225* 2007...... Preliminaries ...... t-11th ...... 195.100 8. Iowa State ...... 195.325* 8. Iowa State ...... 195.975* 9. LSU...... 194.950* 9. LSU...... 195.800* 2008...... Preliminaries ...... T-8th ...... 196.075 10. Oregon State ...... 194.750* 10. Penn State ...... 194.975* 11. BYU ...... 194.500* 11. BYU ...... 194.625* 12. West Virginia ...... 194.175* 12. Oklahoma ...... 194.425* 1982 at Salt Lake City, Utah 1996 at Tuscaloosa, Ala. 1. Utah ...... 148.600 1. Alabama ...... 198.025 2001 at Athens, Ga. 2006 at Corvallis, Ore. 2. Cal State-Flrtn ...... 144.150 2. UCLA ...... 197.475 1. UCLA ...... 197.575 1. Georgia ...... 197.750 3. Penn State ...... 143.100 3. Georgia ...... 196.775 2. Georgia ...... 197.400 2. Utah ...... 196.800 4. Oregon State ...... 143.000 Utah ...... 196.775 3. Michigan ...... 197.275 3. Alabama ...... 196.725 5. Arizona State ...... 142.950 5. Oregon State ...... 196.525 4. Alabama ...... 196.550 4. Florida ...... 196.275 6. UCLA ...... 142.400 6. Michigan ...... 196.375 5. Utah ...... 196.025 5. Nebraska ...... 196.175 7. Florida ...... 140.900 7. Arizona ...... 195.125* Nebraska ...... 196.025 6. Iowa State ...... 194.725 8. Nebraska ...... 138.100 8. Florida ...... 194.825* 7. Florida ...... 195.825* 7. Michigan ...... 196.000* 9. Oklahoma State ...... 137.200 9. Stanford ...... 194.025* 8. Stanford ...... 195.400* 8. LSU...... 195.650* 10. Michigan ...... 136.900 10. Nebraska ...... 193.950* 9. Arizona State ...... 194.775* 9. Arizona State ...... 195.575* 11. Penn State ...... 192.700* 10. Oklahoma ...... 193.875* 10. Oklahoma ...... 195.525* 1993 at Corvallis, Ore. 12. BYU ...... 192.500* 11. Oregon State ...... 193.775* 11. Oregon State ...... 195.150* 1. Georgia ...... 198.000 12. Denver ...... 193.625* 12. Arkansas ...... 194.375* 2. Alabama ...... 196.825 1997 at Gainesville, Fla. 3. Utah ...... 195.825 1. UCLA ...... 197.150 2002 at Tuscaloosa, Ala. 2007 at Salt Lake City, Utah 4. UCLA ...... 194.925 2. Arizona State ...... 196.850 1. Alabama ...... 197.575 1. Georgia ...... 197.850 5. Auburn ...... 194.725 3. Georgia ...... 196.600 2. Georgia ...... 197.250 2. Utah ...... 197.250 6. Arizona ...... 194.075 4. Michigan ...... 196.500 3. UCLA ...... 197.150 3. Florida ...... 197.225 7. Oregon State ...... 193.425* 5. Florida ...... 196.425 4. Utah ...... 196.950 4. UCLA ...... 196.925 LSU...... 193.425* 6. Nebraska ...... 195.250 5. Nebraska ...... 196.425 5. Stanford ...... 196.825 9. Michigan ...... 193.125* 7. Utah ...... 196.025* 6. Stanford ...... 196.025 6. Nebraska ...... 195.975 10. Florida ...... 192.950* 8. Washington ...... 195.975* 7. Michigan ...... 196.175* 7. LSU...... 196.275* 11. Penn State ...... 192.700* 9. Alabama ...... 195.600* 8. LSU...... 195.850* 8. Oklahoma ...... 196.250* 12. Arizona State ...... 192.175* 10. Minnesota ...... 194.775* 9. Minnesota ...... 195.700* 9. Alabama ...... 196.125* 11. Penn State ...... 194.300* 10. Florida ...... 195.675* 10. Denver ...... 195.575* 1994 at Salt Lake City, Utah 12. LSU...... 193.825* 11. Arizona ...... 194.975* 11. Michigan ...... 195.100* 1. Utah ...... 196.400 12. Oregon State ...... 192.925* Oregon State ...... 195.100* 2. Alabama ...... 196.350 1998 at Los Angeles, Calif. 3. Georgia ...... 195.850 1. Georgia ...... 197.725 2003 at Lincoln, Neb. 2008 at Athens, Ga. 4. Michigan ...... 195.150 2. Florida ...... 196.350 1. UCLA ...... 197.825 1. Georgia ...... 197.450 5. UCLA ...... 194.975 3. Alabama ...... 196.300 2. Alabama ...... 197.275 2. Utah ...... 197.125 6. Florida ...... 194.850 4. Utah ...... 196.025 3. Georgia ...... 197.150 3. Stanford ...... 196.750 7. Oregon State ...... 193.625* 5. UCLA ...... 195.750 4. Nebraska ...... 197.125 4. Florida ...... 196.700 8. LSU...... 193.225* 6. Arizona State ...... 195.450 5. Michigan ...... 196.050 5. LSU...... 196.350 9. BYU ...... 192.325* 7. Washington ...... 195.450* 6. Utah ...... 195.300 6. Alabama ...... 196.125 10. Arizona State ...... 190.825* 8. Michigan ...... 195.425* 7. Florida ...... 196.325* 7. UCLA ...... 196.725* 11. Washington ...... 190.525* 9. LSU...... 195.300* 8. Stanford ...... 196.200* 8. Michigan ...... 196.075* 12. New Hampshire ...... 188.450* 10. Penn State ...... 194.625* 9. Arizona State ...... 194.225* Oklahoma ...... 196.075* 11. NC State ...... 194.125* 10. LSU...... 194.000* 10. Arkansas ...... 195.825* 1995 at Athens, Ga. 12. BYU ...... 193.400* 11. Iowa ...... 193.825* 11. Oregon State ...... 195.475* 1. Utah ...... 196.650 12. Auburn ...... 193.525* 12. Denver ...... 194.200* 2. Michigan ...... 196.425 Alabama ...... 196.425 * Preliminary competition scores 4. UCLA ...... 196.150 5. Georgia ...... 196.075 6. Oregon State ...... 194.850 7. Florida ...... 195.425* 8. Penn State ...... 194.150* 9. LSU...... 193.025* 10. BYU ...... 191.925* 11. Nebraska ...... 191.750* 12. West Virginia ...... 189.650* 18 BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIPS 19 STRAIGHT NCAA REGIONAL APPEARANCES 2010 BIG TEN CHAMPIONS NCAA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS TOP SCORES
All-Around Floor Exercise 1. Elise Ray, 2001 ...... 39.625 ...... Super Six 1. Heather Kabnick, 1995 ...... 9.950 ...... Super Six 2. Elise Ray, 2004 ...... 39.575 ...... Preliminaries Wendy Marshall, 1996 ...... 9.950 ...... Super Six Sarah Cain, 2000 ...... 39.575 ...... Preliminaries 3. Elise Ray, 2005 ...... 9.925 ...... Super Six 4. Elise Ray, 2005 ...... 39.550 ...... Super Six Nikki Peters, 1999 ...... 9.925 ...... Preliminaries 5. Elise Ray, 2001 ...... 39.525 ...... Preliminaries Elise Ray, 2001 ...... 9.925 ...... Preliminaries Elise Ray, 2002 ...... 39.525 ...... Preliminaries Bridget Knaeble, 2001 ...... 9.925 ...... Super Six 7. Sarah Cain, 2000 ...... 39.500 ...... Super Six Calli Ryals, 2002 ...... 9.925 ...... Preliminaries Calli Ryals, 2003 ...... 39.500 ...... Super Six 7. Becca Clauson, 2005 ...... 9.900 ...... Super Six 9. Wendy Marshall, 1996 ...... 39.475 ...... Super Six Wendy Marshall, 1995 ...... 9.900 ...... Super Six Calli Ryals, 2002 ...... 39.475 ...... Preliminaries Wendy Marshall, 1996 ...... 9.900 ...... Preliminaries 11. Heather Kabnick, 1995 ...... 39.425 ...... Super Six Sarah Cain, 1998 ...... 9.900 ...... Preliminaries 12. Elise Ray, 2005 ...... 39.400 ...... Preliminaries Heather Kabnick, 1998 ...... 9.900 ...... Preliminaries Bridget Knaeble, 2001 ...... 39.400 ...... Super Six Sarah Cain, 1998 ...... 9.900 ...... Event Finals Heather Kabnick, 1998 ...... 9.900 ...... Event Finals Vault Bridget Knaeble, 1999 ...... 9.900 ...... Preliminaries 1. Heather Kabnick, 1995 ...... 9.975 ...... Preliminaries Nikki Peters, 1999 ...... 9.900 ...... Super Six Heather Kabnick, 1995 ...... 9.975 ...... Super Six Sarah Cain, 2000 ...... 9.900 ...... Preliminaries Sarah Cain, 2000 ...... 9.975 ...... Preliminaries Sarah Cain, 2000 ...... 9.900 ...... Super Six 4. Wendy Marshall, 1995 ...... 9.950 ...... Preliminaries Sarah Cain, 2000 ...... 9.900 ...... Event Finals Wendy Marshall, 1995 ...... 9.950 ...... Super Six Elise Ray, 2001 ...... 9.900 ...... Super Six Nikki Peters, 1996 ...... 9.950 ...... Preliminaries Janessa Grieco, 2002 ...... 9.900 ...... Preliminaries Lisa Simes, 1996 ...... 9.950 ...... Super Six Calli Ryals, 2002 ...... 9.900 ...... Event Finals Nikki Peters, 1997 ...... 9.950 ...... Preliminaries Calli Ryals, 2003 ...... 9.900 ...... Preliminaries Beth Amelkovich, 1997 ...... 9.950 ...... Super Six Calli Ryals, 2003 ...... 9.900 ...... Super Six Nikki Peters, 1997 ...... 9.950 ...... Super Six Christine Michaud, 2001 ...... 9.950 ...... Super Six NNCAACAA NATIONAL CHAMPIONS Uneven Bars 1993 Beth Wymer Uneven bars 10.000 1. Beth Wymer, 1993 ...... 10.000 ...... Event Finals 1994 Beth Wymer Uneven bars 9.950 2. Elise Ray, 2004 ...... 9.975 ...... Event Finals Beth Wymer, 1993 ...... 9.950 ...... Preliminaries 1995 Beth Wymer Uneven bars 9.950 Beth Wymer, 1994 ...... 9.950 ...... Event Finals 2001 Elise Ray* All-Around 39.525 Beth Wymer, 1995 ...... 9.950 ...... Event Finals 2002 Elise Ray Balance Beam 9.925 Nikki Peters, 1997 ...... 9.950 ...... Preliminaries 2004 Elise Ray Uneven bars 9.975 Nikki Peters, 1997 ...... 9.950 ...... Super Six Nikki Peters, 1999 ...... 9.950 ...... Super Six * Tied with UCLA’s Onnie Willis Elise Ray, 2001 ...... 9.950 ...... Super Six 9. Elise Ray, 2004 ...... 9.925 ...... Preliminaries Sarah Cain, 1999 ...... 9.925 ...... Event Finals Nikki Peters, 1999 ...... 9.925 ...... Event Finals Calli Ryals, 2003 ...... 9.925 ...... Super Six Team Scores Uneven Bars 1. 2001 Super Six ...... 197.275 1. 1997 Super Six ...... 49.425 Balance Beam 2. 2005 Super Six ...... 197.575 2. 1998 Prelim...... 49.400 1. Beth Wymer, 1994 ...... 9.925 ...... Super Six 2005 Prelim...... 197.575 3. 2008 Prelim...... 49.375 Elise Ray, 2001 ...... 9.925 ...... Preliminaries 1999 Prelim...... 196.575 Elise Ray, 2002 ...... 9.925 ...... Event Finals 3. 1999 Super Six ...... 196.550 Balance Beam 4. Elise Ray, 2005 ...... 9.900 ...... Preliminaries 4. 2001 Prelim...... 196.525 1. 2001 Super Six ...... 49.250 Elise Ray, 2004 ...... 9.900 ...... Event Finals 5. 2004 Prelim...... 196.500 2. 1999 Prelim...... 49.225 Elise Ray, 2004 ...... 9.900 ...... Preliminaries 1997 Super Six ...... 196.500 3. 2002 Prelim...... 49.200 Beth Wymer, 1994 ...... 9.900 ...... Preliminaries Beth Wymer, 1994 ...... 9.900 ...... Event Final Vault Floor Exercise Beth Wymer, 1995 ...... 9.900 ...... Super Six 1. 1996 Prelim...... 49.475 1. 2005 Super Six ...... 49.400 Karina Senior, 1999 ...... 9.900 ...... Preliminaries 2. 1995 Prelim...... 49.450 2. 1999 Prelim...... 49.375 Elise Ray, 2002 ...... 9.900 ...... Preliminaries 2000 Prelim...... 49.450 2001 Super Six ...... 49.375 Calli Ryals, 2002 ...... 9.900 ...... Preliminaries Becca Clauson, 2003 ...... 9.900 ...... Preliminaries < Kevin and Maureen – Easter 1999
By Richard Retyi
ne month before the start of her junior season, Maureen music. Her dad loved classic rock. “Anything with guitars,” Maureen jokes. Moody’s father was diagnosed with metastatic pancreatic He would comb through CDs while Maureen was at school and when she cancer and told he had less than six months to live. The returned, he would sit her down and cue the tunes. months that followed were a celebration of their relation- “He’d stand in the living room and act out my routines,” Maureen laughs. ship and showed the everlasting bonds between a daugh- “You can do this here, then do this move here. If it was up to him, I would M
ter and her dad. have done 10 tumbling passes.” O C O . “I never felt less ambitious in my entire life. I didn’t want to come back.” What other 14-year-old had her floor exercise music cut by one of the leg- E U
This is how senior gymnast Maureen Moody felt after the death of her father, endary Allman Brothers? Lacking the equipment and know-how, Maureen’s L B
unsure if she would ever compete in gymnastics again. father asked a family friend, one of the Allman Brothers now living in O Maureen sits in my office the afternoon before the start of her final semes- Okemos, to put together her floor music. Imagine, one of the architects of G M ter, less than six months after the death of her father and one season removed Southern Rock working on little Maureen Moody’s floor music for gymnas- from the most emotional chapter in her gymnastics career. tics competitions. The Moody family is tight knit, both immediately and with extended rel- The tale isn’t actually true. Maureen’s dad spun this fiction at the time atives. Maureen, her father Kevin, her mother Nancy and her older brother and the mythology stuck until the day Maureen sat in my office and recalled Nolan are about as close as a family can be. They have huge family gather- those nights in the living room auditioning selections for her floor music. An ings with 24 aunts and uncles and countless cousins, all living in the state of Allman brother (small “b”) living in Okemos did edit her music, but it was Michigan, and the Moodys talk on the phone all the time. neither Duane (who died in 1971) nor Gregg. “I was a gullible teen,” Maureen and her father had an especially close relationship which her Maureen wrote in an e-mail the day after we met, adding that she smiled gymnastics helped solidify. Gymnastics can be a difficult sport for a father to thinking of her dad laughing on the inside as he pulled one over on his get actively involved in, but Maureen and her dad found common ground: 14-year-old daughter.
13 Father and daughter in 1995. >
Kevin, Maureen and Nancy at the 2007 Big Ten Championship. >
When Maureen got the phone call offering a scholarship to the be around for a long time. He vowed to attend every one of Maureen’s meets University of Michigan, the entire family (even brother Nolan, then a soph- and be in the stands for all of Nolan’s games that year. His treatment weakened omore pitcher on the Michigan State baseball team) celebrated. Her father him substantially but every time they spoke, all Maureen heard was her ener- was so proud to have two Big Ten athletes as children. getic father. Maureen still had bouts of homesickness in her first few months in Ann “He did his best not to let Maureen see or hear anything bad,” says Arbor even though her parents lived just an hour away in East Lansing. It Maureen’s mom, Nancy. helped that her dad was a night owl. If school, gymnastics or college life Nancy used all of her strength to help her husband deal with his illness stressed her out, Maureen knew she could pick up the phone and call her while also supporting her children through their own struggles. Even while dad, no matter the hour. He felt the same way, often calling her in the dealing with the loss of her husband, Nancy helped Kevin put on a brave face evening if work was bothering him or just to talk about his day. That was for Maureen, always putting her children first. their relationship. Father and friend. “We talked almost every day,” says Maureen’s first meet in front of her dad was in January at Michigan Maureen. He was at every meet, home or away, watching her compete all State in her hometown of East Lansing. Everyone in Jenison Field House over the country. In Oregon, Utah, Georgia and countless cities through- knew little Maureen Moody and she wanted to do especially well in front out the Midwest, Maureen’s dad watched his daughter shine under the of her dad. “I was more nervous than normal,” says Maureen. “It was an
M bright lights. emotional meet.” G
O If she was frustrated with a certain skill, he would throw his arm around She didn’t want to be asked about her father every day. She thought about B
L her and say, “You’ll be fine. You’ll get it. You always do!” Whether she stood him enough on her own. Maureen had long conversations with close friend U
E on the podium or fell, he was always there with a hug. and former gymnast Claire Flannery and turned to writing to help focus on . C
O Everything about gymnastics reminds Maureen of her dad. Every time some of the positives. She did a weekly team blog on MGoBlue.com and
M she practices floor she thinks of him, the sound of guitars bouncing off the wrote in her journal, sorting through the chaos. Her father made nine of her walls in the training facility. Floor exercise was his favorite event and her dad first 10 meets leading up to Big Tens, missing a meet against Florida to watch confessed to tearing up during some of her performances. Nolan pitch in Daytona Beach. The proud father was in the stands to watch Maureen stand on the podium against N.C. State, Iowa State and Penn State. Then in March, four months after his diagnosis, her father’s failing health Thanksgiving 2008 is when everything changed. Home for the long forced him to stay home for the first time. weekend, Maureen spent her holiday break at the hospital, where together The Wolverines were in Champaign trying to earn their third straight the family heard the overwhelming, tragic news. They cried and held each Big Ten title, while back at home, her dad watched the live broadcast on TV. other, but took Kevin’s lead, resolving that he would beat the odds and they He cursed out loud when he realized that they hadn’t shown Maureen’s per- would all make the most of his time left. formance on bars, but when her 9.900 score popped up on the screen and Until his death eight months later, he never made it seem like he wouldn’t the announcers mentioned her career high, he cheered. He grabbed his
14 < Mo and Mom at the 2008 NCAA Regionals in Cor- vallis, Ore.
< A Wolverine in green? When it comes to her brother Nolan, Maureen (temporarily) sheds the maize and blue.
> The Moody family photo (January 2009).
phone and quickly texted his congratulations. At the end of the meet, with week, at a service packed with family and friends and full of flowers and tokens the championship trophy in hand, Maureen checked her phone, saw the text of affection, his life was celebrated and honored. Maureen’s coaches and team- and called her biggest fan. mates were there to support her. Michigan earned a berth to the NCAA Regional Championships in Maureen was devastated. She didn’t want to come back to school. Arkansas but her father stayed home to see Nolan pitch against Northwestern in “My grades weren’t great my junior year,” she says, “and I figured in the the historic opener of MSU’s new McLane Baseball Stadium. Michigan had state I was in, they probably weren’t going to get any better.” made the last 16 NCAA Championships and the family had plans to see But the two-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree figured she could work Maureen compete in Nebraska for a national title. The weekend was bittersweet through her final academic year and graduate. It wasn’t the academics that for her father. Nolan christened McLane Stadium by throwing the first Spartan worried her. no-hitter in more than 16 years, but Maureen and the Wolverines ended their “I never felt less ambitious in my entire life,” Maureen says. “Being a part season with a third-place finish, missing out on a chance at nationals. of a team takes enthusiasm and passion and I didn’t have any of that.” Maureen returned to Ann Arbor for spring classes and drove home every She loved her teammates and she loved the sport, but everything about weekend and as many weekdays as she could. She sat in the stands with her gymnastics reminded Maureen of her dad. She had long talks with her mom parents and watched all of Nolan’s starts. Through cold, rain, wind and swel- and her brother and they talked her through a lot of her problems. With the tering heat, she sat next to her father watching her brother’s final season of fall semester fast approaching, Maureen decided to return for her final year. M
college baseball, soaking up every minute she could get with her dad. Even then, with her car packed and ready to go in the morning, it took her O C all day, a long ride and a supportive conversation with her mom before she . E U
mustered up the courage to head back. L B
To spend more time with him, Maureen moved home for the summer at Her coaches and teammates made her return a lot easier. Since Maureen O the end of the term. In July, Nolan was signed by the Detroit Tigers and hadn’t trained much in the summer, her conditioning and gymnastics G M reported to Florida to join the organization’s rookie ball team. Sadly, her lagged behind many of her teammates. They gave her extra leeway to work father’s health took a turn for the worse the day Nolan left, and he was taken into competition shape and let her progress at a slower pace. Before long, to the hospital hours after Nolan’s departure. Five days later, Nolan returned she was caught up. to Lansing and the family lived in the hospital for several days. “It’s going to be hard not to share this season with my dad,” says “He used every reserve to wait until the kids were done with their years,” Maureen, reflecting on her final year of gymnastics. “On days when I think says Nancy about her husband’s brave fight. more about him or get sad, gymnastics is cathartic. I know I’m doing some- Doctors tried in vain to help Maureen’s dad understand the battle was near- thing that made him happy.” Maureen wipes a tear from her cheek and sits ly over but it took Maureen and her brother’s reassurance that they were going silently for a moment. to be okay before their father accepted the verdict and came home to spend his “It’s going to be different,” she says, “but I’m going to try and enjoy every final week. Kevin Moody passed away peacefully at home on July 19. Later that minute of it.” Her dad wouldn’t want it any other way.
15 The New Lenox Patriot: System Print Window Page 1 of 2
Source: The New Lenox Patriot
Without fault on vault LWC grad hits perfect 10 for Michigan
by Chris Murphy
March 10, 2010
When looking at Kylee Botterman's record as a gymnast, it is impossible to find a scratch on it.
She was a national vault champion, two-time regional champion and three-time state champion in high school for the United Gymnastics Academy. She received a scholarship to the University of Michigan where, as a junior, she is a three-time NCAA All-American, an NCAA regional floor exercise champion, a two-time Big Ten floor exercise champion, an all-around runner-up at the 2009 Big Ten Championship, a two-time All-Big Ten first team member, all while being a part of two Big Ten team championships.
"She's the kind of a kid that every coach wants to have in their program," Michigan coach Beverly Plocki said of the New Lenox native. "She is very competitive, easy to coach, brings a smile and a great attitude to practice every day and she really knows how to turn it on in a competition."
The word "perfect" comes to mind when viewing Botterman's gymnastics' resume, but it's only whispered because that word cannot be tossed around lightly in the field of sports. After talking to her and learning her character, however, there are few other adjectives for which to describe her.
A high honor roll graduate from Lincoln-Way Central, Botterman always seems to think of her family.
When asked what were the three things in her life she could not live without, "God, friends and family," was Botterman's response, along with "My dad would want to read that." If you ask Botterman about gymnastics, her two older sisters, Dayne and Marijka, who she competed with, are the first things she talks about.
"Gymnastic classes started when I was 4 years old," Botterman said. "I have two older sisters that did gymnastics, so I followed in their footsteps. Six out of seven kids on my mom's side did gymnastics, so it wasn't a surprise when I was put in it."
Botterman's footsteps took a different path than her older sisters, however, taking her to Ann Arbor instead of the University of Illinois in Champaign, where ironically she would make history.
On Feb. 27 there was no other word to describe Botterman but "perfect," as she scored a 10.00 on vault, the first at Michigan in since 2004, against Illinois in Champaign. Botterman also had a career-high all-around score of 39.675, which is currently the third highest in the country this season. Her performance earned her yet another award for her trophy case in the form of the Big Ten Women's Gymnast of the Week.
"She's been very close to getting a 10, but for whatever reason this time she dropped out of the sky and really stuck the landing cold," Plocki said. "I was glad to see the judges weren't afraid to give her the 10."
Around 30 judges in the crowd also weren't afraid to give Botterman a 10.
"My entire family was there; all my aunts and uncles along with most of my cousins," Botterman said. "I had a crowd of like 30 there for me and after I stuck it, I heard my parents chanting '10.' "
The 20-year-old has come a long way since her freshman year when she made a goal sheet of personal and team goals for her career at Michigan. She had to overcome a torn labrum requiring surgery after her freshman season, an injury which cost her six months of training.
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Upon leaving Champaign, however, Botterman was able to check off "get a 10" on her goal sheet.
On Botterman's goal sheet for after college is to work in sales. It is not a matter of if, but, rather, a matter of when she will cross that off her list.
"I actually just had an interview for an IT sales company in Detroit," Botterman said.
Botterman could be crossing that off the list soon making for the perfect beginning of a new career.
An Impressive Resume
As A Wolverine Botterman Is:
*A 3-time NCAA All-American
*An NCAA regional floor exercise champion
*A 2-time Big Ten floor exercise champion
While In High School She Was:
*National vault champion
*3-time state champion
*Regional and state all-around champion
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Senior Curtis chooses Wolverines and emerges as a leader
By Stephen Nesbitt Daily Sports Writer On February 17th, 2010
Senior Sarah Curtis stood up, smiled to the crowd, accepted a bouquet of flowers and hopped onto the awards podium last Saturday. She had completed that routine four consecutive times, beaming with each announcement.
In her final home Big Ten meet for the No. 16 Michigan women’s gymnastics team, Curtis took the all-around crown, placing in the top three spots in three events.
“She puts 100 percent of herself into everything that she does,” Michigan coach Bev Plocki said of the senior. “She is a very passionate gymnast. When she walks into the doors of the gym she puts everything into her gymnastics. She also puts all of herself into her academics.”
The Journey to A2
For Sarah Curtis, it was the academics and women’s gymnastics program at the University of Michigan were enough to make her to reject other top-notch schools like Stanford, UNC, Alabama, Arizona and Oregon State – most of which were closer to home – and choose Ann Arbor.
“I chose Michigan for it’s great combination of everything that was important to me,” Curtis said. “I’m huge on academics, and this is obviously one of the most prestigious universities, and there is also a very good gymnastics team. They really had the whole package, unlike every other school that I was looking at.”
The day before former Michigan assistant coach Joanne Bowers came to visit her in Reno, Curtis received a call from her front-runner, Stanford, saying the university had insufficient funds to offer her a scholarship for her freshman year.
When Bowers invited her to visit the University of Michigan that August, Curtis who was interested in Michigan's pharmaceutical program accepted. And Michigan’s calling card for her academically was the pharmaceutical program.
“When Joanne came I wasn’t really thinking about Michigan too much,” Curtis said. “But in light of what Stanford said, I told her, ‘Sure, I’ll take a trip there.’ ”
To make things easier, she took a call from Oregon State — the university she followed growing up — the day before stopping at Michigan. They said that they only had one scholarship left, and that she needed to make a decision soon so the money would not be wasted. Resenting the added pressure, Curtis stepped away from the offer.
Finishing her stretch of East Coast visits, she stepped onto the Michigan campus.
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“It was just one of those things where I really could already tell that I fit here in Ann Arbor, ” Curtis said. “I felt that I was really here, right where I was supposed to be. It was a hard decision to make, but I finally made the call.”
Life as a Wolverine
After arriving at Michigan for her freshman year, Curtis jumped right into a position in the all-around behind then-junior Nellie Kippley, taking third in her first two meets and surpassing Kippley for second place in her third meet.
But disaster struck as Curtis took a tumble and ruptured her Achilles’ tendon during warm- ups for a home matchup against Denver. The injury required surgery, effectively ending her season and leaving her future as a gymnast in question.
“How do I describe my freshman year? Turmoil,” Curtis said. “Not being able to compete when I could have been a stronger contributor to our team was disappointing, but it kind of let me find my niche on the team.”
The highly touted prospect recovered from an unsuccessful freshman campaign to set her high marks as a second-year gymnast and was named the team’s co-most valuable gymnast. She now carried a new mentality.
“Every time you put on the block ‘M’ leotard, you never take it for granted,” Curtis said. “You never know what’s going to happen.”
Curtis was named team captain as a junior, and currently ranks seventh in team history with 23 all-around scores posted over the elite 39.000 mark, even after missing almost an entire year.
“I think Sarah has matured into a real leader of this team,” Plocki said. “She isn’t an extremely vocal person, but she definitely is a lead-by-example type of athlete. She is one of the hardest workers, doesn’t ever complain, she competes like she practices, and she practices like she performs.”
Curtis has gained three U-M Athletic Academic Achievement honors, and has been named twice as an Academic All-Big Ten athlete, and earned a spot on the All-Big Ten first team after her sophomore and junior years.
For a career full of gaudy results, the team element has risen above her own feats: in her tenure Michigan has gone 32-2 in Big Ten performances, the two losses coming during her injury absence in 2007.
“My goals coming here were to do well in school here, enjoy school, and still participate in gymnastics at the same time,” Curtis said.
Just as the team’s motto is "Mission: Possible," with Curtis's successful career, her personal maxim could read, ‘Mission: Accomplished’.
Printed from www.michigandaily.com on Tue, 13 Apr 2010 09:50:42 -0400
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Senior gymnast competes through injury-plagued years
By Stephen Nesbitt Daily Sports Writer On February 24th, 2010
Expectations have always been high for senior captain Kelsey Knutson — she was raised that way — but after being hampered with injuries in her first three years at Michigan, each performance is a blessing.
Right now, the three-time Iowa high-school “Gymnast of the Year” is healthy — and taking advantage.
Against No. 5 Utah last Friday, she posted a season-high score of 9.875 on the beam to win her fourth title of the season, and led No. 16 Michigan to an upset victory.
“She has been a rock for us on beam all year long,” Michigan coach Bev Plocki said after the win. “The ironic thing is that she had struggled on the beam all during the fall, and she really kind of put it together right before the season.”
Knutson recalled the difficulties and the improvement that followed.
“Bev even joked to me today, asking if I knew that I was ranked eighth in the country (on beam),” Knutson said. “She asked, ‘Would you have thought you would have been ranked that high in November?’ I just laughed. I was still struggling in the fall, trying to get consistent with my routine.”
But the first three years on the Michigan women’s gymnastics team were a tumultuous ride, filled with highlights and awards, but also injuries.
Going Blue
It all started with a litte girl, a leotard and a passion for gymnastics.
Hailing from Ames, Iowa, home of Iowa State University, Knutson grew up watching gymnastics nearby, and her journey began very early in life.
At the age of six, she started attending the Cardinal Gymnastics Academy, and she was hooked.
“In a very short time, we started going there five days a week, an hour and a half one way,” her father, Dan Knutson, said. “So I drove two days and Carol (her mother) drove three.”
From that experience, Knutson came into contact with the current coaches of No. 1 Oklahoma and Iowa State. Because of those connections, choosing to attend the University of Michigan was difficult.
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After visiting Ann Arbor, Knutson was ready to make a decision to become a Wolverine, and she hasn't regretted it since.
“I think my parents were a little bit surprised when I chose Michigan, because it was a little out of my comfort zone,” Knutson said.
Slips and Falls on the Beam
As soon as Kelsey joined the team, she was placed on the beam lineup with high hopes of improving the team’s overall consistency, but immediately, injuries began to wear on her body.
She came to Ann Arbor with ailing knees, but her grim outlook worsened once a wrist injury required minor surgery, and back problems plagued her as well.
But in her first performance as a freshman, a day before her 19th birthday, Kelsey’s hit a team-high 9.875 routine on the beam to take third out of 30 gymnasts, an impressive debut.
However, at the end of the 2007 season, Knutson needed reconstructive surgery on one knee, and after a successful sophomore campaign — being named to the All-Big Ten second team — she tore her ACL and MCL in warm-ups for regionals and had to undergo another surgery.
And after already undergoing five gymnastics-related operations, nothing was certain, and doubts weighed on her mind.
But after several months of contemplation, Kelsey was determined to get back on the beam.
“I have such a strong passion for the sport of gymnastics,” Knutson said, “And being a college gymnast was something I had aspired to be all my life. I didn’t want to end my career without trying everything I could to end it on the right note.”
During junior year Kelsey only performed a few times, and she had to adjust and relearn her routine to adapt to her injury-riddled body.
“Gymnasts are kind of a weird breed,” her father said. “They are going to have to train and rehab anyway … if they feel strong enough they’re going to try to keep performing. As a parent, you just don’t want them to get hurt, especially if they’re already hurt.”
However, this year, in her second year as a team captain, Knutson has shrugged off injuries to remain stable as the most consistent Wolverine on the balance beam.
Supporting On the Road
Since their daughter came to Ann Arbor, Kelsey’s parents have been fixtures in the Crisler Arena seats.
Sitting just below the press table on the west side of the floor, Dan is the first to explode from his seat after a performance to applaud the Wolverine gymnasts, and the one who ribs the judges the loudest for inconsistent scoring.
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“We ’ve probably missed as many meets as are on one hand in her four years, ” Carol Knutson said.
Kelsey admits that when she committed to Michigan she was worried that her parents would be unable to attend her meets.
“But my big brother reassured me that if I went to Michigan they would be at every meet, not just the home ones, ” Knutson said. “And they have been driving across the country to see me and support the team, from Georgia, to Penn State, and Oregon and everywhere in between.”
They haven’t missed a thing, from her first performance to her career-high 9.925 performance to upset No. 1 Georgia during her sophomore year.
As the phone rang with a call from this Daily reporter, Carol was laying out a map plotting out a trip to Penn State for a March 7 matchup — a 14-hour drive.
“There don’t seem to be any flights into State College from Iowa,” Dan said with a laugh. “So, it looks like we’ll be taking another road-trip.”
Needless to say, when Michigan scheduled a meet at Iowa State earlier this year it was a sigh of relief, as was Kelsey’s beam title that same night.
Printed from www.michigandaily.com on Mon, 08 Mar 2010 10:22:34 -0500
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Former walk-on earns her stripes as a Wolverine
By Stephen J. Nesbitt Daily Sports Writer On March 17th, 2010
From walk-on to starter, senior Jaclyn Kramer has become a fixture on the Michigan women’s gymnastics team since arriving on campus in the fall of 2006.
Performing well in the clutch is a valuable asset, yet those who do don't always receive credit. Recognized or not, Kramer has been there when she was most needed in the last four years.
During a pregame salute to the team’s graduating class on Senior Night at Crisler Arena last Friday, Michigan coach Bev Plocki praised Kramer’s attitude and performance.
“We talk a lot about our depth and the importance of athletes who are ready to go into the lineup whenever called upon, sometimes at a moment’s notice,” Plocki said. “Jackie has played that role on many occasions."
As Kramer stood in front of a record crowd before taking on No. 5 Georgia in her final home meet, her three coaches — the three people to whom she had to prove her worth — flanked her. She realized that her biggest critics had become her biggest fans.
Landing in A2
While considering college routes that had her going to Brown University and conference rival Penn State prior to her senior year of high school, Kramer admits that her visit to Ann Arbor is what clinched things.
“Michigan had really great academics and gymnastics, which was definitely what I was looking for,” Kramer said. “The campus was beautiful and all the girls on the team were just tremendous. I came here and loved it right away.”
As her freshman year got underway, the West Hills, N.Y. native jumped right into the rotation. Despite her walk-on status, Kramer began competing on the balance beam and the floor for the Wolverines, and started strong.
When the team faced off against even some of the best squads in the nation, the young athlete answered the call.
“It was a really exciting year because I didn’t really expect to compete, coming in as a walk- on,” Kramer said. “I just wanted to help out the team. So it was really cool to be able to contribute to the team in that way.”
In a late -season matchup against No. 16 Missouri, Kramer put together the meet of a lifetime.
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She set two career bests by winning her first collegiate event title with a 9.900 on the beam, followed by a 9.875 for her floor routine.
The night ended in a close loss, the outgoing senior is still nostalgic for the event.
“I remember that we already had a fall on the beam,” Kramer said. “I had to hit my beam routine in order to not count the fall, and I did. The feeling of nailing my routine and having my team’s back was amazing. I had never even gotten a 9.9 in high school, and it’s one of those things you see on TV and only dream of getting.”
For Kramer, dreams were becoming a reality. At this point, she had three years left and one goal remaining.
Fighting for Funds
Kramer was unable to find a spot in the lineup to perform during her sophomore campaign, but she remained undeterred in trying to earn a scholarship and remain on the squad.
After not competing during her second year, Kramer came back with a different mindset as a junior, and set to work, training with double the effort to find a way back into the rotation.
And at the beginning of the season, she found a starting job.
“In 2009, as a team we were decimated by injury,” Plocki said. “Jackie as a sophomore stepped into our lineup in as many as three events. She did a great job and the team did not skip a beat, qualifying all the way to the national championships.”
Within weeks, Kramer had accomplished her goal. Because of her success during her junior year, Jackie was offered a scholarship for the remaining two years of her career at Michigan.
Winding Down Right
For the senior, though gymnastics has taken up a major portion of her life, nothing has gotten in the way of her academic ventures.
Kramer will leave Michigan with hopes of attending law school in the fall en route to eventually becoming a lawyer.
"She has been accepted to several schools,” Plocki said, nudging Kramer who stood beside her. “But she is still awaiting her letter to Michigan before she makes any final decisions.”
But before she looks to her not-so-distant future, Kramer is focusing on the remainder of the season.
With less than two weeks left until the Big Ten Championships, Kramer expects to make a few improvements.
“My personal performance hasn’t been as good as it should be this year,” Kramer said. “I’m trying to work on that to finish up senior year really strong. As a team we’re doing very, very well, and we have a lot of potential … but there is definitely room for improvement. ”
http://www.michigandaily.com/print/53799 4/5/2010 http://www.cstv.com/printable/schools/ncaa/sports/w-gym/spec-rel/0218...
Long-Term Investment Beilstein posted a career-high 9.900 against Minnesota on Feb. 13, and she ranks 15th in the nation in vault
Feb. 18, 2010
By Amy Farnum NCAA.com
Like a diamond in the rough, Michigan freshman Natalie Beilstein shines more brilliantly the more polished her gymnastics become.
Standing just five-feet tall, Beilstein hails from Butler, Pa. -- the same hometown as Michigan head coach Bev Plocki - and impressed the Wolverines' head coach early on. The two not only share a hometown, but Plocki's high school coach was the youngster's club coach, although Beilstein did not know of the connection before a meeting at the gym one day.
"I'd known of her for awhile, and watched her compete and thought she was a little trickster - she's like a toy," said Plocki. "She came to camp one summer here, and she could do just about anything you asked her to do tumbling or vaulting-wise."
Plocki saw Beilstein's potential, while Beilstein knew Michigan's coach could really help her improve her gymnastics.
"I knew I was good on floor and vault, but I wasn't top-notch on beam and bars," said Beilstein. "(Plocki) really broke down every little detail for me on beam, and I pretty much had to start over, which is a difficult thing for a gymnast. I knew if I worked hard I could eventually make the beam line-up, which I did in three meets. She's really helped my confidence as a gymnast, and I know the more I practice, the better I get."
Beilstein hard work has already paid off with four vault titles in UM's first six meets, and four Big Ten Freshman of the Week awards this season. She posted a career-high 9.900 against Minnesota on Feb. 13, and she ranks 15th in the nation in the event.
"We saw something in her that we really felt she would develop into a great college athlete," said Plocki. "So far, she's proven me correct.
"She's been a delight to have in the gym - she's happy every day, she makes people laugh, she's hardworking, but has a great aura about her. She has come such a long way from September until now on both balance beam and bars that she has actually been competing in our beam lineup and doing a very good job. She's trying to learn a new release move on the bars, but I don't know how long that will take. I foresee her in the future as being a strong all-arounder."
Plocki is not the only person that has seen Beilstein's potential, not just as an athlete, but as a person throughout her life. Mother Mary and father Joe brought Natalie home at four months old to join their family of four sons at the time. The Beilsteins knew they wanted a big family, so in addition to having four biological children, the couple also adopted a son and two daughters. The siblings range in age from 24 to nine with an eight year difference between the six eldest and the family's youngest daughter.
"Having a big family was always exciting - there was always something to do," said Natalie. "And, there was always someone to turn to if you were having a bad day."
Mary said Natalie was always an active child, and they knew she was going to be very short, an asset in gymnastics.
"My sons all took gymnastics, and they were going to be too tall for it, but it's good for hand-eye coordination for other sports," said Mary. "(Natalie) was only two years old and out there mimicking everything they did and the coach finally said, 'Natalie, why don't you come and do this with us?' Pretty soon, the coach said they were putting her in a class, and then they put her on a team."
A proud mother, Mary still chokes up remembering the day she found out Michigan was going to offer Natalie a gymnastics scholarship. The Beilsteins have only missed one gymnastics meet this season, and plan on being in Ann Arbor when the Wolverines host No. 5 Utah, and their daughter is certainly excited for the opportunity.
"As a freshman, going against these big teams is really exciting," said Beilstein. "In club, you already knew what to expect. I've watched these girls on TV, but have no idea until I get out there what they're going to do. I love it. I love the challenge and I love the pressure, and trying to show off that I'm the best and our team is the best."
Michigan hosts Utah on Feb. 19 - the first of five opponents that competed at the 2009 NCAA Championships. UM will also take on Illinois, Penn State, Georgia and Alabama to close out the regular season.
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