Artz, Karas Share MVP Honors
4/30/2017 12:00:00 AM | Women's Gymnastics
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan women's gymnastics team held its annual banquet on Sunday (April 30) at Weber's Inn in Ann Arbor with senior Nicole Artz and sophomore Olivia Karas receiving Co-Most Valuable Performer Awards.
Artz, an elementary education and language arts major, had a fantastic senior season to earn the team's Co-Most Valuable Performer award. The senior highlighted her season with a perfect 10.0 on floor exercise against Illinois (Jan. 22). She finished the year as a second team All-American on the uneven bars and floor. Artz was also named the Big Ten Gymnast of the Year and Northeast Region Gymnast of the Year. She ended her U-M career as the Big Ten champion in the all-around and the NCAA Regional champion on beam.
Also earning Most Valuable Performer was Karas. A Chicago native, Karas continued her strong college career after a huge freshman season last year. Karas was a second team All-American on vault and in the all-around. She ended the year ranked among the top 50 nationally in the all-around (23rd), vault (T-19th) and floor (T-38th) to earn regular-season All-Big Ten first team accolades. She was also recognized for her academic endeavors with an Academic All-Big Ten award and U-M Honors Academic Achievement award. The sophomore finished the season scoring 9.900 or better on 15 routines, including five on vault, two on bars, two on beam and six on floor.
A senior team captain, Artz also earned the team's Chip Hills Spirit Award after showing strong leadership skills and never-ending support for her teammates. The Scholar Athlete Award also went to Artz, who led the team in the classroom as well, earning Academic All-Big Ten honors and U-M Academic Achievement High Honors. She was the female 2017 Big Ten Medal of Honor recipient, given to the top senior student-athlete at Michigan.
The Coaches Award and the Specialist Award went to sophomore Emma McLean from Clarkston, Michigan. McLean was a hard worker and displayed a positive attitude for the Wolverines. She competed on vault, bars and floor during the season. She was the NCAA Regional champion and the Big Ten champion on vault. McLean was also All-Big Ten first team and Academic All-Big Ten.
Junior transfer Paige Zaziski was given the Unsung Hero Award. Zaziski was a valuable addition to the U-M roster not only in competition but also in team leadership. She garnered three NCAA Regional titles (all-around, vault and bars) and was All-Big Ten first team. The junior was also a two-time Big Ten Event Specialist of the Week (Feb. 6, Mar. 13) after scoring 9.900 or better on bars seven times and floor once. She also brought an infectious positive attitude and work ethic to the gym every day.
The team's Most Improved award went to junior Lauren Marinez. She was added to the bars and floor rotations after competing solely on beam in 2016. Marinez earned All-Big Ten second team and Big Ten Event Specialist of the Week (Jan. 23). The junior was tied for 47th nationally on beam and won two individual event titles on the season. A consistent performer for the Wolverines, Marinez scored 9.900 or better on five routines, including two on bars, two on beam and one on floor.
The Newcomer Award went to freshman Lexi Funk from Aurora, Illinois. Funk was a two-time Big Ten Freshman of the Week (Feb. 20, Mar. 13) and U-M Academic Achievement award recipient. She scored 9.900 or better on three routines, including two on beam and one on floor. Funk competed the all-around in the second half of the season and led off three events.
2016-17 AWARD RECIPIENTS
Most Valuable Performer: Nicole Artz, Olivia Karas
Newcomer of the Year: Lexi Funk
Coaches Award: Emma McLean
Unsung Hero: Paige Zaziski
Most Improved: Lauren Marinez
Specialist Award: Emma McLean
Scholar-Athlete Award: Nicole Artz
Albert "Chip" Freeman Hills Spirit Award: Nicole Artz
Communications Contact: Ben Blevins
Players Mentioned
