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March 21, 2008

The senior spotlight is on ... Nellie Kippley!

Nellie Kippley has earned several accolades over her four year career as a Michigan Wolverine. She is an NCAA All-American on vault (2007) and a two-time team captain (2007, 2008). However, you may not know that Nellie is a two-time U-M Big Ten Sportsmanship Award honoree (2006, 2007) and a three-time U-M Coaches Award recepient (2005, 2006, 2007). Nellie's quiet confidence in the gym and on the competition form has earned her the respect of not only her teammates and coaches but also Michigan fans, young and old.

Off the floor, Nellie is a psychology major and a 2007 U-M Athletic Academic Achievement honoree. 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 Nellie's accomplishments over the past four years.

Taking a Look Back: 2005-2008

During her freshman year at Michigan, Nellie earned a spot in the bars, beam, and floor lineups and averaged a 9.782 on floor over the course of the season. While she may not have won an event title that year, her scores consistently contributed to the team total. Her best regular season meet was at home vs. Iowa, where Nellie posted a 9.825 on bars, 9.825 on beam, and 9.875 on floor. She also posted a then-career best 9.85 on bars during the NCAA Super Six. In recognition of her contribution to the team that season, Nellie was awarded the Coaches' Award at the annual post-season banquet.

In her sophomore season, Nellie consistently competed on bars and beam for the Wolverines. She also earned a spot in the floor lineup during the first half of the season. She earned her first event title on beam at Southern Utah, where she posted a 9.925. She followed up that win with another event title the next week at Denver (9.875). Nellie also shined in the team's home meet versus Georgia that year, where she posted a 9.800 on bars and 9.85s on beam and floor. At the 2006 Big Ten Championships, she was recognized as the U-M Big Ten Sportsmanship Award honoree. Moreover in recognition of her contribution to the team that season, Nellie was awarded the Coaches' Award at the annual post-season banquet.

Nellie's junior year was a year of firsts. She became a team captain, a contributor in the vault lineup, and an all-around competitor. Nellie competed in the all-around for the first 7 meets of the 2007 season and posted 5 all-around totals of 39.0 or higher. She earned three event titles in her junior year - one on beam vs. Nebraska and Illinois (9.825) and two on floor (vs. Southern Utah and Denver). Her best regular season meet was at home vs. Nebraska and Illinois, where Nellie scored a 9.85 on vault, a 9.80 on bars, a 9.825 on beam, and a 9.875 on floor for a career high 39.350 all-around total.

During the postseason, Nellie continued to shine. At the 2007 Big Ten Championships, she placed second on vault and beam and received All-Big Ten Second Team and the U-M Big Ten Sportsmanship Award honors. During the NCAA Championships preliminary session, Nellie posted a career high 9.90 on vault to earn NCAA All-America Second Team honors. In recognition of her contribution to the team that season, Nellie was awarded the Coaches' Award at the annual post-season banquet.

This season, we've had the pleasure of watching Nellie compete consistently on floor and sometimes on the vault. In her second year as a team captain, she has earned two event titles on floor and maintained a 9.812 average on the event.

A Senior's Reflections:

We asked Nellie to reflect on her career thus far and 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?

The funniest memories are always hard to come up with because the funny things are usually in the moment.  I would have to say seeing the reactions of Elise and Chelsea during my freshman year when we pulled pranks on them.    

What is your fondest memory of your collegiate career?

My fondest memories are times with my teammates.  Teammates are such a huge part of what your four short years of college are experienced.  The times I spent with them both working hard in the gym and having fun outside of the gym will be with me always. 
            -When I think of memories with my teammates I will always remember Big Tens of 2007.  This was the most emotional meet I have ever been a part of and is one of the moments I was proudest of teammates. 

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

My greatest accomplishment of my college career is knowing I have contributed to the success of the program.  This accomplishment is not a one time thing, it is an everyday honor.  Not everyone gets to put on a leotard with a block M on the front of it and perform for the University of Michigan.

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

My experience at the University of Michigan is more than I could ever have imagined.  There are many things that I have learned and will take with me and use in many years to come.  I take with me great experiences and memories with my teammates and my time at the University of Michigan.

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

Some advice I would give to someone who is interested in NCAA gymnastics is go for it!!  College gymnastics teaches you what it really means to be on a team and fight to win for a school that you have such great pride for. 

What are your plans after the 2008 postseason?

Following this year, I will be taking a year off to apply for dental school.  I would love to get married and have a family with four or five children sometime down the road.   

Nellie's message to her family, friends, teammates, and fans:

I want to thank my teammates both past and present for all of the support you have given me throughout my four years.  I also want to thank the coaches and Lisa for believing in me, being there for me at all times, and encouraging me to continue to strive for something greater.  Finally, I want to thank my family for all of their support and sacrifices they gave in order for me to fulfill one of the greatest dreams of my life.  You were always there for me in the good times and bad and allowed me space to grow and develop.  I love you!!

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