Season Review: 2016 Michigan Women's Gymnastics
4/20/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Gymnastics
April 20, 2016
• Team Captains: Nicole Artz, Briley Casanova, Talia Chiarelli, Lindsay Williams
• Record: 23-8 overall, 6-3 Big Ten Conference regular season (Tie-3rd place)
• Big Ten Championships: Champion
• NCAA Regional: 3rd Place
The 2016 season marked the 40th year of University of Michigan women's gymnastics, coinciding with the 150th year of Michigan Athletics. Team 40 captured its 22nd Big Ten championship, coming from behind in the final rotation to top Nebraska for the title. The Wolverines ended the year with a third-place finish at the NCAA Regional in Ann Arbor, just missing out on qualifying for the NCAA Championships as a team.
Michigan was ranked No. 1 for the first two weeks of the regular season after winning the Cancun Classic to start the year. The Wolverines' 5-0 start to the season included a win over No. 9 Georgia in the home opener. U-M finished 23-8 overall.
Team Highlights
• Michigan set a school record on bars at the NCAA Regional as four straight individuals scored 9.950 to close out the meet. The team finished with a 49.650 to break the previous record of 49.625 by the 2004 team at the Big Ten Championships. The 9.950 was a career high for Lindsay Williams, Olivia Karas and Brianna Brown.
• The Wolverines were one of the top floor exercise teams in the country all year, finishing with the fifth-best Regional Qualifying Score of 49.480. U-M was ranked No. 1 on floor for three weeks during the season and was in the top three for the first 10 weeks. Junior Nicole Artz (3rd) and Karas (tie-7th) each ranked in the top 10 nationally on floor.
• At the Big Ten Championships, Michigan trailed Nebraska by 49.225 going into its best event and came through in a big way on floor with a 49.450 to win the Big Ten title for the 22nd time. Junior Talia Chiarelli clinched the title for Michigan with a 9.900 with roommate and classmate Nicole Artz still left to compete. Artz went out with a big smile and put on a show, tying her career best with a 9.975 to give her Big Ten titles on floor and balance beam. Brown tied for the win on uneven bars with a career-high 9.950.
• U-M started the season with a win at the Cancun Classic. At the Iberostar Hotel and Resort, Michigan's stars shined brightly. Nicole Artz won the all-around title with a 39.525 after scoring 9.95 on floor and 9.90 on bars. Olivia Karas made her college debut in style with three 9.900 scores or better for a 39.475 all-around score. Talia Chiarelli competed in three events and scored 9.85 or better on all three.
• Michigan dedicated its season to Chip Hills, the father of student assistant coach Cailee Hills, with its "Flip for Chip" slogan. Chip passed away from pancreatic cancer in November. He was a joyous person and was known to show up to Michigan meets in maize and blue overalls.
Individual Highlights
• Junior Nicole Artz earned her sixth career All-America honor, tying for sixth place on floor in the first semifinal session of the NCAA Championships. She received second team accolades. Artz won two Big Ten titles (beam and floor) and one NCAA Regional title (beam). She ranked in the top 10 nationally in the all-around (tie-10th), beam (tie-7th) and floor (3rd) while also ranking tied for 20th on bars. She won 19 event titles and scored 9.900 or better on 21 routines. An elementary education and language arts major, Artz was named the top junior student-athlete at Michigan with the Bates/Deskins Award.
• Freshman Olivia Karas burst onto the college scene as not only one of the top freshman gymnasts but also one of the top gymnasts overall. She ranked in the top 10 nationally in the all-around (tie-10th), vault (tie-2nd) and floor (tie-7th) while winning 12 event titles. She was the Big Ten Freshman of the Year after winning nine Freshman of the Week and three Gymnast of the Week honors. She scored a 9.900 or better on a team-high 22 routines.
• Sophomore Brianna Brown was a second team All-American in the all-around for the second straight year after finishing eighth in the second semifinal session at the NCAA Championships. She tied for the win on bars at the Big Ten Championships and finished the year ranked tied for 25th nationally on the event.
• Junior Talia Chiarelli competed her floor routine at the NCAA Championships and added a tucked full to her routine. A consistent performer on three events for the Wolverines, the sport management major won the NCAA Regional title on floor. She was Big Ten Specialist of the Week four times.
• Senior Lindsay Williams had a fantastic final year at Michigan after starting as a walk-on. She ranked in the top 50 nationally on both bars and beam while also competing floor. The Big Ten Sportsmanship Award winner who has a full ride for graduate school at Michigan State set career highs on all three of her events during her last season.
Seniors (from left) Lindsay Williams, Austin Sheppard and Briley Casanova
Honors and Awards
Nicole
Artz
Brianna
Brown
Talia
Chiarelli
Olivia
Karas
Austin
Sheppard
Lindsay
Williams
All-America
Nicole Artz - 2nd team (floor)
Brianna Brown - 2nd team (all-around)
NACGC/W Regular-Season All-America
Nicole Artz - 1st team (beam, floor), 2nd team (all-around)
Olivia Karas - 1st team (vault, floor), 2nd team (all-around)
NCAA Regional Awards
Regional Champion: Nicole Artz (beam), Talia Chiarelli (floor)
Northeast Region Coach of the Year: Bev Plocki
Northeast Region co-Assistant Coaches of the Year: Dave Kuzara, Scott Sherman
Big Ten Conference
Big Ten Champion: Nicole Artz (beam, floor), Brianna Brown (bars)
Freshman of the Year: Olivia Karas
All-Big Ten Championships Team: Nicole Artz, Brianna Brown, Olivia Karas
Sportsmanship Award: Lindsay Williams
All-Big Ten (1st Team): Nicole Artz, Brianna Brown, Talia Chiarelli, Olivia Karas, Austin Sheppard, Lindsay Williams
Big Ten Athlete of the Week
Gymnast: Nicole Artz (Jan. 5, Jan. 11, Feb. 9, March 7); Olivia Karas (Jan. 18, Feb. 1, March 14)
Event Specialist: Talia Chiarelli (Jan. 5, Jan. 11, Jan. 18, Feb. 9); Lindsay Williams (Feb. 15)
Freshman: Olivia Karas (Jan. 5, Jan. 11, Jan. 18, Jan. 25, Feb. 1, Feb. 15, Feb. 29, March 7, March 14)
CoSIDA Academic All-America
At-Large (3rd Team): Nicole Artz
Academic All-Big Ten
Nicole Artz, Jr., elementary education and language arts
Brianna Brown, So., LSA/undeclared
Talia Chiarelli, Jr., sport management
Austin Sheppard, Sr., health and fitness
Lindsay Williams, Sr., earth and environmental science
Communications Contact: Ben Blevins
Players Mentioned
