Michigan Wolverines women's gymnastics explained

Michigan Wolverines Women's Gymnastics
University:University of Michigan
Conference:Big Ten
Location:Ann Arbor, Michigan
Arena:Crisler Center
Nickname:Wolverines
Founded:1976
Coach:Bev Plocki
Tenure:30th
Capacity:12,707
National Champion:2021
Fouronthefloor:2021
Supersix:1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2011
Ncaa Regionals:1982, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2021, 2022
Ncaa Tourneys:1982, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023
Conference Champion:1982, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023

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 has won 27 Big Ten championships and advanced to 31 NCAA Women's Gymnastics Championships, including sixteen consecutive appearances from 1993 to 2008. In 2021, the Wolverines won the program's first-ever team national title.

History

The Michigan Wolverines women's gymnastics team was formed in 1976. In its 42-year history, the team has had six coaches.[1]

Newt Loken, head of the men's gymnastics team from 1948 to 1983, was hired to be the first women's coach and served one season. Anne Cornell and Scott Ponto both served short tenures before Sheri Hyatt for five seasons starting in 1980. Under Hyatt, the program won its first Big Ten conference championship and qualified to its first NCAA tournament, both in 1982.

Hyatt was followed in 1985 by Dana Kempthorn, and then in 1990 by current head coach Bev Plocki. Plocki has led the Wolverines to twenty-six Big Ten titles, 30 NCAA tournament appearances, 26 NCAA Women's Gymnastics Championships, including sixteen consecutive championship berths from 1993 to 2008.[2]

The Wolverines have had five 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.[3] In 2011, Kylee Botterman won the NCAA all-around championship. In 2013, Joanna Sampson won the NCAA championship on floor exercise.[4] In 2019, Natalie Wojcik won the NCAA championship on balance beam.[5]

The Wolverines have qualified for the NCAA Championships 31 times. They have qualified to the Super Six team finals ten times:[6] Since the format of the NCAA Championships changed starting in 2019, the Wolverines have qualified to the Four on the Floor team finals one time. In 2021, the team won their first NCAA Championship with a program-best score of 198.2500.

Coaches

Head coaches

NameSeasonsW – L – T
1Newt Loken19761–1
2Anne Cornell1977–19786–6
3Scott Ponto197919–3
4Sheri Hyatt1980–198451–26–1
5Dana Kempthorn1985–198942–76
6Bev Plocki1990–present847–267–4

Coaches for the 2022–23 season

NamePositionSeasons
Bev PlockiHead coach1990–present
Scott ShermanAssistant coach1996–present
Maile'ana Kanewa-MarianoAssistant coach2019–present
Cali Harden HagerAssistant coach2023–present

Championships

Super Six Appearances

colspan=3 align=center style=";
Michigan Wolverines Super Six Appearances
YearFinishScore
4th 195.150
2nd 196.425
6th 196.375
4th 196.500
2nd 196.550
6th 195.725
3rd 197.275
5th 196.050
5th 196.575
6th 196.425

Four on the Floor appearances

colspan=3 align=center style=";
Michigan Wolverines Four on the Floor Appearances
YearFinishScore
1st 198.250

Individual champions

colspan=3 align=center style=";
Michigan Wolverines Individual Champions
NameYearEvent
Beth Wymer1993UB
Beth Wymer1994UB
Beth Wymer1995UB
Elise Ray2001AA
Elise Ray2002BB
Elise Ray2004UB
Kylee Botterman2011AA
Joanna Sampson2013FX
Natalie Wojcik2019BB

Facilities

Michigan's home competitions are held at the 12,707-seat Crisler Center. In 2002, the 22000square feet 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 17000square feet of training space; the remaining 5000square feet contains a training room, coaches offices, a locker room, a team lounge, and a study area.[7]

Roster

2023–2024 Roster

align=center bgcolor="00274C"Namealign=center bgcolor="00274C"Yearalign=center bgcolor="00274C"Hometownalign=center bgcolor="00274C"Club
Carly Bauman SR West Des Moines, IA Chow's Gymnastics and Dance Institute
Kayli Boozer FR Texarkana, Texas North East Texas Elite
GR Plainfield, IL Aspire Gymnastics Academy
Lily Clapper SO Ann Arbor, MI Gym America
Reyna Guggino SR Tampa, FL Tampa Bay Turners
Ava Jordan FR Indianapolis, IN DeVeaus' School of Gymnastics
Ashley Lane JR Carrollton, TX Metroplex Gymnastics
Farah Lipetz SO Northport, NY Infiniti Elite Gymnastic
McCaleigh Marr GR Newtown Square, PA First State Gymnastics
Kaylen Morgan SO Huntsville, NC Everest Gymnastics
Naomi Morrison SR Chandler, AZArizona Dynamics
Jenna Mulligan SR Fruit Cove, FL Gymnastics Unlimited
Paige Thaxton SO Westland, MI Michigan Academy of Gymnastics
Abigael Vides JR Spring, TX World Champions Centre
Jacey Vore JR Fishers, IN Jaycie Phelps Athletic Center
Gabby Wilson GR Ypsilanti, MI Olympia Gymnastics Academy

Past Olympians

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Women's Gymnastics Head Coaching Records. 1 August 2018.
  2. Web site: Michigan Women's Gymnastics Year-by-Year Results. 4 September 2015.
  3. Web site: Michigan Women's Gymnastics All-Time National Champions. mgoblue.com. 2009-12-14.
  4. Web site: Sampson Wins National Title on Floor. mgoblue.com. 2013-04-22.
  5. Web site: Michigan's Season Ends in NCAA Championships Semifinal . Ben . Blevins . April 19, 2019 . April 19, 2019 . . MGoBlue.com.
  6. Web site: Michigan Women's Gymnastics Year-by-Year Results. mgoblue.com. 2009-12-14.
  7. Web site: Donald R. Shepherd Women's Gymnastics Training Center. mgoblue.com. 2009-12-14.