Wolverine Quartet Tabbed Captains for 2016 Season
11/2/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Gymnastics
Nov. 2, 2015
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan women's gymnastics team announced today (Monday, Nov. 2) that it will have two senior captains and two junior captains for the 2016 season.
Briley Casanova and Lindsay Williams were selected as the two senior captains. Each of the two juniors, Nicole Artz and Talia Chiarelli, were chosen as team leaders as well.
2016 Team Captains
"It is an honor," said Casanova. "We had a different system of voting and everyone was involved. It was nice to be recognized by my peers. Hopefully I can make the team better."
Casanova was a consistent performer for Michigan last year, hitting on each of her last 27 routines. She was the runner-up at the Big Ten Championships on balance beam with a 9.900. Williams also showed consistency, hitting on 32 of her 34 routines. She had her best year collegiately last season and also performs well in the classroom as a two-time Academic All-Big Ten pick.
"It means a lot to me to be named a captain," said Williams. "I think that is a reflection of the fact that your teammates can confide in you and that they trust and respect you."
Both juniors are returning All-Americans. Artz is well decorated with first team All-America honors in the all-around and balance beam last year. She was the NCAA Northeast Region Gymnast of the Year after winning three Big Ten titles. Chiarelli was also a first team All-American on two events last year with the balance beam and floor exercise.
The leadership structure was established for this season based on four individuals showing exemplary leadership skills required to fill a captain position.
The team competed in its first intrasquad of the year last Friday, posting a positive outcome at this stage of training. U-M will look to continue to build momentum heading into the home exhibition meet on Sunday, Dec. 6, against Eastern Michigan at 2 p.m.
