Michigan Wolverines women's gymnastics

The Michigan Wolverines women's gymnastics team represents the University of Michigan and competes in the Big Ten Conference. Under head coach Bev Plocki, the team won 16 Big Ten championships in 20 years and advanced to 16 straight NCAA championship tournaments from 1993 to 2008.

History

The Michigan Wolverines women's gymnastics team was formed in 1976. In its 34-year history, the team has had six coaches as follows

• Newt Loken (1976). Loken was the head coach of Michigan's men's gymnastics team for 36 years from 1948 to 1983. Loken served as the first coach of the women's gymnastics team in 1976, coaching the women Wolverines to a record of 1-1.
• Anne Cornell (1977–1978). Cornell took over as coach in 1977 and led the Wolverines to a 6-6 record over two years from 1977 to 1978.
• Scott Ponto (1979). Ponto was Michigan's head coach for one season in which he led the Wolverines to a 19-3 record for an .864 winning percentage.
• Sheri Hyatt (1980–1984). Hyatt served as the head coach for five years from 1980 to 1984. She led the Wolverines to a 51-26-1 record and the program's first Big Ten championship and first NCAA tournament berth in 1982.
• Dana Kempthorn (1985–1989). Kempthorn was the Wolverines head coach for five years from 1985 to 1989. She led the team to a 42-76 record.
• Bev Plocki (1990–present). Plocki took over as head coach in 1990 and is in her 21st season with the program. Through the end of the 2009 season, Plocki had led the team to a record of 381-102-1 (.788 winning percentage). Under Coach Plocki, the team has won 16 Big Ten championships in 20 years and advanced to 16 straight NCAA championship tournaments from 1993 to 2008.

The Wolverines have had two gymnasts who have won NCAA individual championships. Beth Wymer won the NCAA championship in the uneven bars three consecutive years from 1993 to 1995. Elise Ray won the NCAA all-around championship in 2001 (tied with UCLA's Onnie Willis), the balance beam championship in 2002 and the uneven bars in 2004.^[1]

The Wolverines have had seven seasons in which they have been ranked in the Top 5 programs in the NCAA.^[2] Those seasons are as follows:

• 1994: The team compiled a record of 27-1 (.964 winning percentage) and finished #4 in the NCAA tournament with a score of 195.150.
• 1995: The team compiled a record of 24-2 (.923 winning percentage) and finished tied for the #2 spot in the NCAA tournament with a score of 196.425.
• 1997: The team compiled a 20-5 record and finished #4 in the NCAA tournament with a score of 196.500.
• 1999: The team compiled a 19-4 record and finished #2 in the NCAA tournament with a score of 196.550.
• 2001: The team compiled a 15-7 record and finished #3 in the NCAA tournament with a score of 197.275.
• 2003: The team compiled a 17-6 record and finished #5 in the NCAA tournament with a score of 196.050.
• 2005: The team compiled a 22-2 record (.917 winning percentage) and finished #5 in the NCAA tournament with a score of 196.575.

Facilities

Michigan's home competitions are held at the 13,751-seat Crisler Arena. In 2002, the 22,000-square-foot (2,000 m²) Donald R. Shepherd Women's Gymnastics Training Center was dedicated. The Shepherd Center is the practice and training home of the women's gymnastics team. The facility has 17,000 square feet (1,600 m²) of training space; the remaining 5,000 square feet (460 m²) contains a training room, coaches offices, a locker room, a team lounge, and a study area.^[3]

First-team All-Americans

In addition, 24 Michigan gymnasts have received recognition as first-team All-Americans.^[4] The program's first-team All-Americans are as follows:

• 2009: Becky Bernard - uneven bars
• 2009: Kylee Botterman - floor exercise
• 2008: Kylee Botterman - uneven bars
• 2006: Katie Lieberman - floor exercise
• 2006: Lauren Mirkovich - uneven bars
• 2006: Tatjana Thuener-Rego - balance beam
• 2005: Katie Lieberman - vault
• 2005: Lauren Mirkovich - uneven bars
• 2003: Elise Ray - uneven bars, balance beam
• 2004: Lindsey Bruck - balance beam
• 2004: Jenny Deiley - vault
• 2004: Elise Ray - uneven bars, balance beam, all-around
• 2003: Becca Clauson - balance beam
• 2003: Jenny Deiley - all-around
• 2003: Calli Ryals - floor exercise, all-around
• 2002: Janessa Grieco - floor exercise
• 2002: Elise Ray - vault, uneven bars, balance beam, all-around
• 2002: Calli Ryals - balance beam, floor exercise, all-around
• 2001: Janessa Grieco - vault
• 2001: Elise Ray - uneven bars, balance beam, floor exercise, all-around
• 2001: Karina Senior - vault
• 2000: Sarah Cain - vault, uneven bars, floor exercise, all-around
• 2000: Janessa Grieco - vault
• 2000: Shannon MacKenzie - balance beam
• 2000: Christine Michaud - vault
• 1999: Sarah Cain - uneven bars
• 1999: Bridget Knaeble - floor exercise
• 1999: Nikki Peters - uneven bars, floor exercise
• 1999: Karina Senior - balance beam
• 1998: Sarah Cain - floor exercise
• 1998: Heather Kabnick - vault, floor exercise, all-around
• 1998: Nikki Peters - uneven bars
• 1997: Beth Amelkovich - balance beam
• 1997: Kathy Burke - balance beam
• 1997: Sarah Cain - uneven bars, all-around
• 1997: Heather Kabnick - floor exercise
• 1997: Andrea McDonald - balance beam
• 1997: Nikki Peters - vault, uneven bars
• 1996: Wendy Marshall - balance beam, floor exercise, all-around
• 1996: Nikki Peters - vault
• 1995: Heather Kabnick - vault
• 1995: Wendy Marshall - vault, balance beam, all-around
• 1995: Beth Wymer - uneven bars
• 1994: Beth Wymer - uneven bars, balance beam
• 1993: Beth Wymer - uneven bars, all-around
• 1992: Beth Wymer - uneven bars, all-around

References

1. ^ "Michigan Women's Gymnastics All-Time National Champions". mgoblue.com. http://www.mgoblue.com/sports/w-gym/spec-rel/052609aac.html. Retrieved 2009-12-14. 
2. ^ "Michigan Women's Gymnastics Year-by-Year Results". mgoblue.com. http://www.mgoblue.com/sports/w-gym/spec-rel/052609aab.html. Retrieved 2009-12-14. 
3. ^ "Donald R. Shepherd Women's Gymnastics Training Center". mgoblue.com. http://www.mgoblue.com/facilities/gym-training-center.html. Retrieved 2009-12-14. 
4. ^ "Michigan Women's Gymnastics -- NCAA Honors". mgoblue.com. http://www.mgoblue.com/sports/w-gym/spec-rel/032904aaa.html. Retrieved 2009-12-14. 

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