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2006 Wolverine Season Preview

Despite the loss of five letterwinners, including a pair of All-Americans in Chelsea Kroll and Elise Ray, the Wolverines return five student-athletes with All-America credentials and add a trio of talented freshmen to the mix.

“We have a balanced team in all four events,” says head coach Bev Plocki. “We have more depth across the board and our team has the ability to equal our successes from last year and defend our Big Ten and regional titles.”

Returning for their final seasons at Michigan are Becca Clauson, Jenny Deiley and Lauren Mirkovich, who have combined for 11 All-America honors in their careers. Deiley highlights the list with eight All-America citations -- including three in 2005 – while Mirkovich looks to defend her NCAA Regional crown on the uneven bars and build on her two All-America honors. Clauson was an All-American on the balance beam in 2003 and will defend her share of the Big Ten Conference floor exercise title. Lindsey Bruck has earned All-America honors in each of her first seasons at Michigan, while 2005 Big Ten Freshman of the Year Katie Lieberman looks to build on her resume after a debut campaign in which she earned All-America accolades on vault.

Freshmen Becky Bernard and Tatjana Thuener-Rego have the potential to contribute in the all-around in their debut campaigns. Thuener-Rego excels on vault and floor, while Bernard’s specialties are bars and beam. Freshman Huneth Lor is a solid competitor who has the ability to make an immediate impact on bars, beam, and floor.

VAULT
Deiley and Lieberman earned All-America honors on vault in 2005, while Bruck returns with the third best team average. Thuener-Rego and Bernard look to factor into the mix as well, while Clauson, who did not vault all of last season, is working on a new vault and could contribute. Carol McNamara will round out the group.

BARS
Bruck, Deiley and Mirkovich were All-Americans on bars in 2005 and look to keep Michigan’s bars lineup one of the best in the nation. Last year’s leadoff, Nellie Kippley, had some of her best routines in the postseason and looks to build on her high scores at the end of the season. Bernard has the talent to turn heads and will make an immediate impact, while McNamara is perfecting a new release move and should score well on a consistent basis once the season begins.

BEAM
Bruck returns with the best average RQS this season, while Clauson, Deiley and McNamara are also back in the Wolverines’ beam lineup. Bernard, Kippley and Lor will have opportunities to compete as well.

FLOOR
The event that has the most potential is floor, where Bruck, Clauson and Deiley return as with the top three averages from last season. Clauson is defending Big Ten Conference co-floor champion, while Bruck is always solid on floor and Deiley is known for her strong routines. Thuener-Rego has been very impressive in the fall and a number of Wolverines have the talent to contribute immediately barring injury.

THE SCHEDULE
Once again, Michigan’s schedule is full of the best programs in the nation, including defending national champion Georgia and Super Six competitors Utah and Nebraska.

The Wolverines will also host New Hampshire and Big Ten rivals Michigan State, while taking trips to Denver and Southern Utah. "We’re looking forward to some phenomenal competitions with Utah and Georgia at Crisler Arena," says Plocki. "We will also make some fun away trips at Denver and at Southern Utah over spring break, which gives us a chance to visit some nice places and compete in front of great crowds.

We also like our schedule because the Big Ten Championships are in East Lansing this season and the NCAA Regionals are in Ann Arbor. We hope this makes it a little easier on us at the end of the season and hopefully we feel fresher in April."

Michigan looks to capture a record eight straight Big Ten titles after winning 13 of the last 14 Big Ten championships. Penn State, who finished 10th in the nation in 2005, will likely be among the contenders for the Big Ten crown, as will Minnesota, who finished 25th in 2005.
The Wolverines open the 2006 season at Nebraska on Friday, January 13th.

Top RQS Averages (2005)

* 2006 Season Preview was adapted, with permission, from the 2006 Michigan Media Guide.

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