U-M Student-Athlete Spotlight: Grace Hemmer
1/8/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Lacrosse
Following the signing of U-M's third recruiting class, all nine members are being featured in a student-athlete spotlight, breaking down each future Wolverine, on and off the field.
Grace Hemmer is a two-time varsity letter winner (2013, '14) and will play her final season at New Trier High School (Winnetka, Illinois) this spring. In her two seasons on varsity, the right-handed midfielder has recorded 48 goals and 17 assists.
As a junior in 2014, Hemmer registered 26 goals and 13 assists, en route to earning All-Conference and All-State second team accolades.
Hemmer received her first varsity letter as a sophomore in 2013. She contributed 22 goals and four assists and was named the team's Rookie of the Year. She also received All-Conference and All-State honorable mention honors.
As a freshman (2012), Hemmer was an integral member of the junior varsity team at New Trier.
Hemmer also competed for the True Lacrosse club team, and a two-time member of New Trier's varsity field hockey team (2013, '14). As field hockey team captain in 2014, Hemmer led her team to the state title.
In addition to her accomplishments on the lacrosse field, Hemmer is also a three-year Honor Roll student.
ACCORDING TO GRACE
 | Grace Hemmer Midfield Kenilworth, Ill. New Trier High School |
What attracted you to the University of Michigan?
"When I visited I instantly fell in love with the school spirit of the University of Michigan. It is also the perfect distance from home and still in the Midwest. I loved everything about the unofficial visit and I wanted to be a part of Michigan's community. Michigan has the perfect balance of challenging academics and top-notch athletic programs."
What are your thoughts about continuing to help Michigan build its women's lacrosse program?
"I'm so excited to help build the program and make Michigan women's lacrosse a highly-competitive program. I can't wait to represent the school and be a part of Team 3."
What do you like about Michigan/Ann Arbor from what you've seen so far?
"The school spirit made me fall in love with Ann Arbor instantly -- experiencing the Michigan vs. Notre Dame football game in the Big House was unbelievable. I love that U-M has so many excellent sports teams and that the community of Ann Arbor and the students of U-M celebrate these teams. Everyone is obsessed with the University of Michigan and the good vibes are felt all over Ann Arbor."
What is your favorite lacrosse moment of all-time?
"Last season my team beat our high school rivals, Loyola Academy, by one goal. My team had been working for that all year long and it was amazing to be able to experience beating them for the first time in five years. I also ended up scoring what happened to be the game-winning goal in a game that ended at 8-7. That game was by far my all-time favorite lacrosse, and possibly high school, memory."
How did you first get involved in lacrosse?
"My dad played lacrosse as did most of my friends dads. All of the kids started playing together in fifth grade, influenced by our dads, and have been on the same teams ever since. I come from a small town of 1,000 people (Kenilworth), but many of the top boys and girls lacrosse players from the Chicagoland area have come from this town in the last decade. Kenilworth is lacrosse crazy!"
Do you have any talents or hobbies that you're willing to share?
"I'm really good at braiding hair, which is one of the most random talents. Due to this talent, I find myself braiding all my teammates' hair before every game. I'm also in glass art and I consider that to be one of my hobbies along with photography."
Who is your role model, and why?
"Michael Jordan is my role model because it's amazing that even though he was cut from his high school basketball team he went on to be phenomenal in the NBA. I've looked up to him throughout my athletic career due to his work ethic, accomplishments and ferocious competitiveness."
What do you enjoy doing when you're not playing lacrosse?
"I enjoy playing field hockey or playing on my intramural basketball team with my best friends. I also love hanging out with my friends and family. Going out to eat with my friends is one of my favorite things."
Favorite food ... Domino's Pan Pizza or Chipotle
Favorite band/artist ... Luke Bryan
Favorite movie ... Step Brothers
Favorite TV show ... Friday Night Lights/Grey's Anatomy
Favorite book ... The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks
Favorite subject/class taken ... Psychology
Favorite professional athlete ... Patrick Kane
Favorite place to visit/vacation ... Vail, CO
Favorite sport besides lacrosse ... Field Hockey
Favorite holiday ... Fourth of July
• Previous Spotlight: Carly Heine
