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March 21, 2008

The senior spotlight is on ... Katie Lieberman!

When Katie Lieberman steps onto the competition floor next week at the 2008 Big Ten Championships, she will have the opportunity to do what only three other U-M gymnasts (Beth Wymer, Nikki Peters, Lisa Simes) have done before her - win a Big Ten Championship each of her four years at Michigan. Katie's explosive power on vault and floor has earned her numerous accolades over the past three years, including three NCAA All-America citations, three Big Ten Championship titles, and Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors. Off the floor, Katie is a biology major and is a two-time NACGC/W Academic All-American (2006, 2007) and a two-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree (2006, 2007).

In anticipation of Senior Night and the upcoming postseason, we wanted to give you, the fans, an opportunity to reflect on each of the members of the Wolverine Class of 2008. Here is a look back at Katie's accomplishments over the past four years.

Taking a Look Back: 2005-2008

In her freshman year at Michigan, Katie immediately earned a spot in the vault lineup. In fact, her first event title on vault came during her second meet. By mid-season, Katie also earned a spot in the bar lineup. She would also compete on occassion on floor. Her best regular season meet that season was versus Iowa, where Katie posted a 9.9 on vault and a 9.85 on bars. At the 2005 Big Ten Championships, she earned her first Big Ten title on vault with a 9.90, All Big Ten Second-Team honors, and Big Ten Freshman of the Year. Katie continued this success at Nationals, placing fourth in their preliminary session on vault to earn NCAA First-Team All-America honors.

In her sophomore year, Katie continued her success on the vault. She earned five event titles on vault over the course of the season, posting a season high 9.90 against MSU. In adition to her role on vault, Katie competed on bars during the first half of the season and on floor during the second half of the season. Her best meet during the regular season was against MSU, where she placed first on vault (9.9) and fourth on floor (9.875). At the 2006 Big Ten Championships, Katie earned her second consecutive vault title and placed second on floor to earn All Big Ten Second-Team honors. At NCAA Nationals, her 9.850 on vault during the preliminary session earned Katie her second NCAA All-America acknowledgment (second-team). In recognition of her contribution to the team that season, Katie was awarded the Unsung Hero award at the annual post-season banquet.

Katie's junior year built upon her sophomore year's successes. She earned spots in both the vault and floor lineup all season and was added to the bars lineup towards the end of the regular season. She tallied four event titles on vault and averaged a 9.838 during the regular season. Her best meet during the regular season was against Maryland, where Katie placed first on vault (9.90), fifth on bars (9.775), and second on floor (9.875). At the 2007 Big Ten Championships, Katie won her first Big Ten Championship on floor with a 9.90 and received her third straight All Big Ten Second Team honors. Her success continued at the NCAA Championships, where she placed third in prelims on floor and earned NCAA First-Team All-America honors on the event.

In her senior year, Katie has continued to excel on vault and floor. With one meet to go in the regular season, she has earned 4 individual event titles (2 on vault and 2 on floor). Her best meet thus far was last weekend, when she placed first on vault and floor with dual 9.90s.

A Senior's Reflections:

Recently, we asked Katie to share with you some of her fondest and funniest memories during her tenure at U-M.

What is one of your funniest memories from your collegiate career?

There are too many funny memories to single any one of them out, haha!  Any time our team is hanging out together, we always have a great time and some really funny memories.  We recently had TiVo put in the gym, and so we have caught a lot of funny moments on tape, which has been a lot of fun.  Each day there is always some priceless video captured of someone either tripping or falling, or doing something crazy in the gym.  Another funny memory was during my freshmen year, when one of my teammates (Nellie) and I pulled a couple of pranks on two of the seniors.  Even though they continued to tell us that they would get us back somehow, they never did!  I guess we were just too good, haha!  Also, our Mock Rock skit was pretty funny during my freshman year.  We put our legs through the sleeves of a sweatshirt and did some dances to some old songs such as the Electric Slide and the Cha Cha slide.     

What is your fondest memory of your collegiate career?

I would definitely have to say 2007 Big Tens.  That year was one of our most difficult seasons because our team had three season-ending injuries within the first couple of meets of the season.  But this year was and will always be the most memorable seasons of my collegiate career.  Our team rallied together throughout the year and at Big Tens, we pulled it all together and gave it our all.  Through all the adversity that we faced this year, we won the Big Ten Championship by less than two tenths over Penn State.  It was amazing and was such an emotional night for all of us.  We couldn’t have been any happier that night!  That will be one of my greatest memories that meet really showed the strength and determination of our team!  Also, I will have to say our Big Ten rings for that year are pretty sweet! 

What would you say is your greatest accomplishment in your collegiate career?

To start off, I would say that simply being part of such an amazing team and wearing the “block M” for the past four years would be one of the greatest accomplishments for me.  Another one of the best accomplishments during my collegiate career was our team making it to Super Six my freshman year and our team winning Big Tens my freshman and junior year.  Also, winning the Big Ten Freshman of the Year Award was pretty exciting.  Another great accomplishment during my collegiate career would be winning three Big Ten titles and qualifying to vault finals at NCAA’s my freshman year as well as qualifying and competing at floor finals at NCAA’s my junior year.  However, I would have to say that all of our team accomplishments during my collegiate career are of more importance to me.  During the remainder of this season, I’m hoping that there will be more team accomplishments to add to this list.

What do you take away from your experience with UM Gymnastics?

I think I have grown as a person both inside and outside of the gym throughout these past four years at Michigan.  I have learned how to somewhat better communicate, how to prioritize and balance many things in my life, and I think I have maybe learned some leadership skills as well.  I have also learned many life skills that will help me in the future and that my experience at Michigan has made me a stronger person.  Also, I will take away many strong friendships and memories of these past four years.  It has been a great experience here at Michigan and I am thankful for the opportunity that was given to me to be a part of this University for four years.    

What advice would you give a young gymnast interested in NCAA gymnastics?

You should never give up and always follow your dreams.  You should dream big because you never know what you are fully capable of accomplishing.  You should always work hard because it will pay off in the end.  Always believe in yourself and even when the road ahead of you gets tough, you can push through it and in the end, you will become a stronger person.  Also, always make sure you are having fun and love what you do.  And lastly, being committed to a team is one of the most rewarding experiences you can ever have.

What are your plans after the 2008 postseason?

I am going to Bolivia in June for a medical internship for four weeks, which I am really excited about.  I get to follow around a doctor each week in the pediatric field, and I will be staying with a family.  I am really excited to learn more about and experience a different culture.  I will be back in Ann Arbor in August for another year to work as a volunteer research assistant at the UM hospital and my hope is to go to medical school in the fall of 2009.

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