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November 17, 2007

Getting to know... Kylee Botterman!

Similar to Wolverine senior Katie Lieberman, Kylee Botterman was born into a household full of gymnasts. Her older sisters Danye and Marijka compete for the University of Illinois. Kylee has followed her sisters' shoes into NCAA gymnastics, but has already made a name for herself separate from her sisters' legacy. As a three-time Illinois state champion in the all-around (2004-2006) and a top 10 finisher in the all-around at L10 Nationals (2004, 2006, 2007), she is poised to have an immediate impact on all four events for the Wolverines. However, her strength will likely be on the vault and floor exercise, where she placed 4th and 2nd respectively at the 2007 L10 Nationals. Botterman hails from New Lenox, Illinois, where she graduated from Lincoln-Way Central High School and was a Level 10 standout with Gym-Kinetics.

Kylee shared with us some of the initial challenges she encountered in transitioning from high school to college, her floor routine music, as well as her personal goals for the upcoming season.

On what attracted her to the University of Michigan...
"The girls, the coaches, the gym, and the campus. I loved it all!"

On some of the challenges that she has encountered thus far in adjusting to college gymnastics (training-wise)...
"The conditioning circuits."

On some of the challenges that she has encountered thus far in balancing both academics and gymnastics...
"I have to spend my time efficiently at the academic center...every day after practice, I am there to get my work done."

Her favorite event...
"Bars"

On what her new floor exercise routine will be like...
"[the music is] a mix of Gwen Stefani and a little Missy Elliot."

On whether she has a particular nickname...
"Ky"

On what she is looking forward to the most about the upcoming season...
"I can't wait to run out of the tunnel and onto the floor when they announce our team!"

On what she likes the most about college thus far ...
"Probably just the experience of meeting so many different people."

On her personal goal for the upcoming season...
"I want to give my 100% best this season and help the team in every way that I can."

On the type of profession that she is interested in pursuing after graduation....
"I'm in sports management right now ... so maybe something to do with the business and marketing side of sports."

To learn more about Kylee, check out her athlete bio!

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