Best of the Decade: Top Wolverines in Every Sport 2010-19
12/31/2019 12:40:00 PM | Baseball, Field Hockey, Football, General, Men's Basketball, Men's Cross Country, Men's Golf, Men's Gymnastics, Ice Hockey, Men's Lacrosse, Men's Soccer, Men's Swimming & Diving, Men's Tennis, Men's Track & Field, Softball, Women's Basketball, Women's Cross Country, Women's Golf, Women's Gymnastics, Women's Lacrosse, Rowing, Women's Soccer, Women's Swimming & Diving, Women's Tennis, Women's Track & Field, Volleyball, Water Polo, Wrestling, Features
As we prepare to enter the third decade of the century, MGoBlue.com takes a look back at some of the student-athletes that defined the last 10 years of Michigan Athletics.
BASEBALL | Jacob Cronenworth
Cronenworth (2013-15) capped a three-year, two-way career by earning a Perfect Game third team All-America nod as well as a spot on the ABCA All-Mideast Region first team. The infielder/pitcher's 2015 season also included All-Big Ten second team accolades, Big Ten Tournament Most Valuable Player and Big Ten All-Tournament team honors on Michigan's Big Ten Tournament championship team. He finished his U-M career with a batting average of .312 with 10 home runs, 117 RBI and 42 stolen bases, as well as a 2.76 earned-run average and 27 saves. Cronenworth is tied for the single-season saves record with 12, his 27 career saves rank second in Michigan annals, and he is ranked 13th in career hits with 211. Cronenworth was selected by the Tampa Bay Rays in the seventh round of the 2015 MLB First-Year Player Draft.
Honorable Mention: Carmen Benedetti, Tommy Henry, Karl Kauffmann, Ryan LaMarre
MEN'S BASKETBALL | Trey Burke
In 2013, Burke (2012-13) became the second Wolverine in program history to earn National Player of the Year honors, joining Cazzie Russell (1966). Burke would walk away with John R. Wooden, Naismith, Oscar Robertson, Associated Press, NABC and Sports Illustrated National Player of the Year awards. After his dramatic game-tying three-pointer against Kansas, Burke helped U-M reach its first Final Four in 20 seasons, earning All-Tournament honors. Burke scored 727 points (18.6 per game), the fifth-best single-season total in U-M history, and dished out a single-season school-record 260 assists (6.67 per game). As a freshman, Burke earned All-America recognition as he helped guide the Wolverines to their first Big Ten regular-season crown in 26 seasons, averaging 14.8 points per contest and dishing out 156 assists, breaking a 27-year-old record for assists by a Michigan freshman. In total, Burke scored 1,231 points and recorded 416 assists during his remarkable two-year career in Ann Arbor.
Honorable Mention: Tim Hardaway Jr., Nik Stauskas, Moritz Wagner, Derrick Walton Jr.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL | Katelynn Flaherty
Flaherty (2015-18) graduated as Michigan's all-time leading basketball scorer -- man or woman -- with 2,776 points. She hit 410 three-pointers, a Michigan record, to make her one of two players in NCAA history to make at least 400. She was Michigan's 2018 Female Athlete of the Year, a three-time All-Big Ten first teamer and earned All-America honorable mention twice from the Women's Basketball Coaches Association.
Honorable Mention: Cyesha Goree, Naz Hillmon, Hallie Thome, Jenny Ryan, Siera Thompson
FIELD HOCKEY | Rachael Mack
Mack (2010-13) was the first four-time NFHCA All-American in Michigan history, earning first team recognition as a senior in 2013 -- the same year she was named the Big Ten Player of the Year, the unanimous Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year and NFHCA West Region Player of the Year. She is the Wolverines' all-time leading scorer with 73 goals, 20 assists and 166 points, including a career-high 21 markers as a senior to lead the Big Ten and rank third nationally. As a freshman, Mack was named the Big Ten Tournament MVP after posting 10 points over three games, including a semifinal hat trick against Penn State, to lead U-M to the 2010 tournament crown.
Honorable Mention: Guadalupe Fernandez Lacort, Sam Swenson, Lauren Thomas, Katie Trombetta
FOOTBALL | Denard Robinson
Robinson rewrote the Michigan and NCAA record books at the quarterback position. Across 49 games played from 2009-12, he made 37 starts, including two at running back. He set NCAA records in single-season (1,702 in 2010) and career (4,495) rush yards by a quarterback, and in 2010, he became the first player with 2,500 pass yards and 1,500 rush yards in a single season. Known for his untied shoelaces and penchant for a big play, Robinson is U-M's all-time leader in total touchdowns (91) with six of the top nine single-game offensive outputs under his belt. He finished his career just 45 rushing yards shy of Mike Hart for the all-time program record and ranks third in career rushing touchdowns (42) and fourth in touchdown passes (49). Over the course of his career, Robinson had 17 games with three touchdowns or more, and his career average of 219.3 yards of total offense per game is the second-highest in program history. With a career average of 7.31 yards of offense per play, no one has topped his 10,745 career yards of total offense in Michigan history, nor his single-season best of 4,272 yards in 2010. Robinson led U-M to memorable wins like the 2012 Sugar Bowl, a 40-34 victory over Ohio State in 2011, and the first "Under the Lights" game in Michigan Stadium against Notre Dame.
Honorable Mention: Devin Bush, Jake Butt, Taylor Lewan, Jourdan Lewis, Jabrill Peppers
MEN'S GOLF | Kyle Mueller
Mueller (2015-18), named a GCAA PING All-American (second team) in 2018 and a 2017 honorable mention, did not miss a start in four years at Michigan, playing in 50 consecutive events. He finished his career with 25 top-10 finishes and six individual titles -- tying the record for the most in U-M history. He made four NCAA postseason appearances (three team, one individual) and won the 2018 NCAA Regional in Columbus, Ohio. He is the first player to lead U-M in scoring in each of his four seasons, including a school-record 70.76 (2017-18) as well as a Michigan- and career-record average of 71.71. He holds school records for lowest single round (63, -7), 36-hole (135, -7) and 54-hole (198, -15) tournament records as well as all four single-season class scoring average records. He became the first Wolverine to earn four All-Big Ten selections.
Honorable Mention: Nick Carlson, Lion Kim, Chris O'Neill, Matt Thompson
WOMEN'S GOLF | Elodie Van Dievoet
Van Dievoet (2016-19) played in 39 events over her four-year career. Along the way, she became U-M's first women's golfer to earn WGCA All-America honors and was the program's first golfer to win the Big Ten individual title at the conference championships. During Van Dievoet's time as a Wolverine, U-M made two NCAA regional appearances and advanced to back-to-back NCAA finals, where she recorded the highest U-M individual finish in 2017 (tied for fourth). She set the U-M single-season scoring record (73.09 in 2016-17) and a U-M Big Ten Tournament record (210, -6). Her 75.13 career scoring average ranks second all-time, and she holds the U-M mark for most career sub-par rounds (18).
Honorable Mention: Ashley Bauer, Grace Choi, Ashley Kim, Ashley Lau
MEN'S GYMNASTICS | Sam Mikulak
One of the best men's gymnasts in the modern era of NCAA and USA Gymnastics, Mikulak (2011-14) was a seven-time NCAA individual champion, 17-time All-American and six-time Big Ten champion, also while helping Michigan win two NCAA team titles (2013, 2014). Since graduation, Mikulak has won six U.S. all-around championships, has appeared in a pair of Olympic Games (2012, 2016), and has captured a pair of bronze medals at the FIG World Championships.
Honorable Mention: Syque Caesar, Chris Cameron, Stacey Ervin, Anthony McCallum
WOMEN'S GYMNASTICS | Nicole Artz
Artz (2014-17) was one of the most decorated gymnasts in Michigan's history, leading the program to four consecutive Big Ten championships. She was named Big Ten Gymnast of the Year in 2017 and Big Ten Freshman of the Year (2014). She was an AAI Award finalist -- given to the sport's top gymnast -- and was an eight-time All-American. She won six Big Ten individual titles and was a four-time NCAA regional champion. A four-time All-Big Ten selection, she was named Northeast Regional Gymnast of the Year twice (2015, 2017). Artz also was a two-time CoSIDA Academic All-American, making the second team as a senior in 2017 after third team honors in 2016.
Honorable Mention: Kylee Botterman, Olivia Karas, Joanna Sampson, Natalie Wojcik
ICE HOCKEY | Carl Hagelin
A four-year player for Michigan, Hagelin (2008-11) totaled 152 points (61 goals, 91 assists). A captain for the Wolverines, he led the team in scoring twice and earned the Hal Downes Trophy as the team MVP twice. Hagelin played in four NCAA Tournaments and in two Frozen Fours, earning second-team All-America honors in 2011. Internationally, Hagelin won a silver medal with Sweden at the 2008 World Juniors and a silver medal with Sweden at the 2014 Olympics in Sochi. Drafted by the New York Rangers in 2007, Hagelin won two Stanley Cups with the Pittsburgh Penguins (2016, 2017). He has played more than 500 NHL games and currently is a member of the Washington Capitals.
Honorable Mention: Kyle Connor, Quinn Hughes, Dylan Larkin, Zach Werenski
MEN'S LACROSSE | Brent Noseworthy
Noseworthy (2016-19) is U-M's all-time leading scorer with 102 career goals and second-leading point-getter (119 points). He also owns the Michigan single-season records for points (48) and goals (41). A two-time Tewaaraton Award watch list honoree, Noseworthy was a 2018 All-Big Ten honoree and Inside Lacrosse All-American as a junior. He also was selected by teams in three professional leagues: Boston Cannons (Major League Lacrosse), Atlas LC (Premier Lacrosse League) and Buffalo Bandits (National Lacrosse League).
Honorable Mention: Nick DeCaprio, Kyle Jackson, Ian King, Mikie Schlosser
WOMEN'S LACROSSE | Mira Shane
A four-time letterwinner, Shane (2016-19) left Michigan as the winningest goalie in program history with 24 career victories. The Princeton, New Jersey, native has her name etched in the Wolverine record book as the career leader in saves (360) and save percentage (.451), and set the single-game saves record (18) in 2019. She is the first Michigan women's lacrosse player to be named a Tewaaraton Award nominee and earned IWLCA All-Region second team honors.
Honorable Mention: Kim Coughlan, Molly Garrett, Madison Richardson, Anna Schueler
ROWING | Felice Mueller
Mueller (2009-12) won a silver medal at the 2012 NCAA Championships in Michigan's first varsity eight (1V8), helping the team place second overall for its best-ever finish. She was Big Ten Rowing Athlete of the Year, U-M Female Athlete of the Year, and a Pocock first team All-American after her senior season. Mueller was a two-time first team All-Big Ten choice (2011-12) and led two other teams which finished second at the Big Ten Championships, collecting bronze (2011) and silver (2010) medals with her boat. She was a three-year varsity eight rower, a two-time CRCA first team All-Region selection, and finished her career with three top-15 NCAA finishes.
Honorable Mention: Kendall Brewer, Jessica Eiffert, Caroline Hendershot, Kate Wright
MEN'S SOCCER | Jack Hallahan
Hallahan (2016-19) came to Michigan from Redditch, England, and left as one of the best players to ever wear the maize and blue. He finished his Michigan career ranked second in career points (73), third in goals (26), tied for third in assists (21) and tied for eighth in minutes played (6,269). In 2018, he became the fourth man in program history to earn All-America honors and was a semifinalist for the MAC Hermann Trophy, given to the NCAA's best player. He is the only player in program history to earn first team All-Big Ten honors in three consecutive years.
Honorable Mention: Tyler Arnone, Francis Atuahene, Robbie Mertz, Jackson Ragen
WOMEN'S SOCCER | Nkem Ezurike
A native of Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia, Ezurike (2010-13) is the only NSCAA first team All-America honoree in the history of the program. Ezurike holds the program record for goals (49) and points (118). She was a semifinalist for the 2013 MAC Hermann Trophy -- awarded annually to the best player in the NCAA -- and was a three-time NSCAA All-Great Lakes Region selection in her time as a Wolverine. She also was a four-time All-Big Ten selection.
Honorable Mention: Haley Kopmeyer, Sarah Stratigakis, Meghan Toohey, Shelina Zadorsky
SOFTBALL | Sierra Romero
The first four-time NFCA All-American in Michigan history, Romero (2013-16) earned first-team honors each of her last three seasons and was twice a top-three finalist for the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year (2014, '15) before winning the top honor in 2016. She was the inaugural winner of the espnW Softball Player of the Year in 2015, a three-time Big Ten Player of the Year (2013, '14, '16) and four-time unanimous selection to the All-Big Ten first team. Romero completed her collegiate career as the NCAA record holder in career runs (302) and grand slams (11). She is the only player in NCAA history to record 300 runs, 300 hits and 300 RBI. She ranks fourth all-time in career RBI (305) and slugging percentage (.882) and eighth in home runs (82) and walks (225).
Honorable Mention: Megan Betsa, Amanda Chidester, Sierra Lawrence, Jordan Taylor
MEN'S SWIMMING AND DIVING | Connor Jaeger
Jaeger (2011-14) was a two-time U-M Male Athlete of the Year, winning the honor in 2013 and 2014. In the water, he was a three-time NCAA champion, sweeping the 500- and 1,650-yard freestyles in 2013 to help Michigan take home the team title. He was a 10-time NCAA All-American and nine-time Big Ten champion, and was twice named Big Ten Swimmer of the Year. He represented the United States in the 2012 and 2016 Olympics, winning a silver medal in the 1,500-meter freestyle at the 2016 Games in Rio.
Honorable Mention: Felix Auböck, Dylan Bosch, Bruno Ortiz, Kyle Whitaker
WOMEN'S SWIMMING AND DIVING | Siobhán Haughey
Coming all the way from Hong Kong, Haughey (2016-19) was a 14-time NCAA All-American, 11-time All-American (honorable mention) and 16-time Big Ten champion during her stay in Ann Arbor. She holds 10 school records (six individual, four on relays) and was the female recipient of the Big Ten Medal of Honor in 2019. A Hong Kong national record-holder, she swam at the 2016 Olympics and already has qualified for the 2020 Olympics.
Honorable Mention: Ali, Gabby and Catie DeLoof, Maggie MacNeil, G Ryan, Miranda Tucker
MEN'S TENNIS | Evan King
King (2010-13) is the winningest player in Michigan men's tennis history, with a 116-34 career singles record and a 79-48 career record in doubles. A two-time Big Ten Athlete of the Year (2012, 2013), King was a three-time ITA All-American (2011-13). He was named All-Big Ten all four years in Ann Arbor, was the ITA Regional Rookie of the Year in 2010 and Senior of the Year in 2013. He played in three NCAA Tournaments (2011-13) in singles -- reaching the national quarterfinals as a senior -- and qualified for doubles twice (with Jason Jung). The pair was nationally ranked all four years at Michigan, while King got as high as No. 9 in the NCAA in singles rankings. In his professional career, King reached No. 185 in ATP singles rankings and No. 118 in ATP doubles.
Honorable Mention: Jason Jung, Alex Knight, Jathan Malik, Alex Petrone
WOMEN'S TENNIS | Kate Fahey
Fahey (2016-19) concluded her career as Michigan's all-time women's tennis leader in singles wins (132) and winning percentage (.815) while ranking second with three All-America honors. She finished her senior season ranked No. 3, the best ranking in school history and the only time a Wolverine has finished in the top five. She reached the quarterfinals of the 2017 NCAA Singles Championship and finished runner-up on the doubles court with Brienne Minor in 2019. She was named Michigan's 2019 Female Athlete of the Year, was named the Big Ten Athlete of the Year twice and was a four-time All-Big Ten selection. She swept the singles and doubles titles at the ITA Midwest Regional Championships twice and reached the championship match of the 2018 Fall National Championships.
Honorable Mention: Emina Bektas, Brienne Minor, Denise Muresan, Ronit Yurovsky
MEN'S TRACK/CROSS COUNTRY | Mason Ferlic
MEN'S FIELD | Joe Ellis
With a national title, a school record, five All-America honors and six Big Ten titles to his name, Ferlic (2012-16) highlighted the decade for Michigan on the track. Ferlic closed out his historic career with a national title in the NCAA Championships 3,000-meter steeplechase in 2016, winning the race by nearly four seconds in a career-best 8:27.16 -- the No. 2 time in school history. The national title was among his five All-America awards, including all four years in the steeplechase and an additional honor in the distance medley relay. He was the anchor leg of the DMR team that broke the school record in 2016. At the Big Ten level, he won two straight steeplechase crowns in 2015 and 2016 and swept the indoor and outdoor 5,000-meter titles in both seasons.
In cross country, Ferlic won two All-America honors, a regional title, three All-Big Ten honors and three All-Region accolades. He was twice a top-25 finisher at the NCAA Championships, placing 22nd in 2013 and 14th in 2014. He was the leader of teams that finished 11th and ninth in 2014 and 2015, respectively, at the NCAA meet. In 2015 he was the NCAA Great Lakes Regional champion and the runner-up at the Big Ten meet. In so doing, he led the Wolverines to their first Big Ten team title since 1998 and their second NCAA Great Lakes Regional team title in three years.
Ellis (2016-19) was a mainstay on the national stage for nearly his entire career in his two signature events, the indoor weight throw and the outdoor hammer throw. Before his time at Michigan concluded in 2019, he had racked up two school records, five All-America awards and three Big Ten titles. Three of his All-America honors came in the weight throw, in which he finished seventh (2017), fifth (2018) and sixth (2019), and was perennially ranked top-10 nationally. Only three other men in Michigan indoor history can claim a streak of three top-eight finishes in a single event. Ellis also achieved two Big Ten titles in 2018 and 2019 and a school record in that event. Outdoors, he was twice an eighth-place finisher in the hammer throw and claimed the conference title in that event in 2017. He also owns the school record in the hammer throw.
Honorable Mention (Track): Ali Arastu, Ben Flanagan, Craig Forys, Taylor McLaughlin
Honorable Mention (Field): Steven Bastien, Grant Cartwright, Jack Lint, Andrew Liskowitz
Honorable Mention (Cross Country): Jack Aho, Aaron Baumgarten, Ben Flanagan, Devin Meyrer
WOMEN'S TRACK/CROSS COUNTRY | Erin Finn
WOMEN'S FIELD | Kiley Tobel
Though her Michigan career was often sidetracked by injury, Finn (2014-19) still turned in a stretch as a Wolverine that is among the school's all-time greats in any sport. On the track, she accumulated seven All-America honors in three different events -- among them three national runner-up finishes -- as well as seven individual Big Ten titles and a USTFCCCA Regional Athlete of the Year award in 2014. Her best performance at the NCAA level came in 2016, when she was the runner-up at the indoor national championships at both 3,000 and 5,000 meters. She followed up a year later with another national runner-up showing at 5,000 meters. She claimed three Big Ten 10,000-meter wins, three 5,000-meter crowns, and a 3,000-meter victory. She owns school records indoors at 3,000 and 5,000 meters and outdoors at 5,000 and 10,000 meters.
In cross country, Finn was an All-American three times -- including a 19th-place finish in 2015 with only one shoe for much of the race -- a three-time Big Ten champion and the 2016 NCAA Great Lakes Regional champion. That 2016 regional title led into a runner-up finish at the NCAA Championships, both as a team and as an individual. Three times Finn led the Wolverines to top-six finishes at the NCAA Championships, three times to NCAA Great Lakes Regional team titles and once to a Big Ten team crown. Individually, she was second (2016), 19th (2015) and 30th (2013) at the NCAA meet, and the Big Ten champion in all three of those years.
No female field event athlete at Michigan earned more All-America plaudits during the 2010-2019 decade than did pole vaulter Tobel (2011-14). During her career, Tobel was an All-American four times, including both indoors and outdoors in 2012. She finished eighth overall at the 2012 NCAA Indoor Championships, marking her highest finish at the national meet. At the Big Ten level, she was a six-time top-five finisher in the event, including a stretch of three consecutive silver medals in 2012 and 2013. She remains the school record-holder in the pole vault, both indoors and outdoors.
Honorable Mention (Track): Rebecca Addison, Cindy Ofili, Jaimie Phelan, Jillian Smith
Honorable Mention (Field): Erin Busbee, Aaron Howell, Claire Kieffer-Wright, Emily and Erin Pendleton
Honorable Mention (Cross Country): Avery Evenson, Jamie Morrissey, Shannon Osika, Gina Sereno
VOLLEYBALL | Lexi Zimmerman
Zimmerman (2007-10) filled the record book during her four-year career as a Wolverine and is the only player in program history to finish as a three-time All-American. The setter holds school records for single-season (1,685) and career (5,903) assists. She also is second in Michigan history for career assists in the NCAA Tournament (427), was a three-time member of the All-Big Ten first team and was named Academic All-Big Ten.
Honorable Mention: Abby Cole, Jennifer Cross, Jenna Lerg, Carly Skjodt
WATER POLO | Allison Skaggs
Skaggs (2014-17) helped the Wolverines return to national prominence with three CWPA championships and an NCAA fourth-place finish in her time at Michigan. She was a second team All-American and the CWPA Player of the Year in 2017. Skaggs was named an All-America honorable mention the other three seasons. A four-time All-CWPA selection, Skaggs added a CWPA Tournament MVP, CWPA Rookie of the Year and seven CWPA weekly honors to her credit. She finished with 173 goals and 50 assists in 141 career games.
Honorable Mention: Kiki Golden, Alison Mantel, Maddy Steere, Ali Thomason
WRESTLING | Kellen Russell
A two-time NCAA champion at 141 pounds (2011, '12) and a three-time All-American, Russell (2008-09, 2011-12) claimed 71 of 72 matches over his final two seasons en route to a 134-12 career record, tying for eighth place on Michigan's all-time wins list. His career win percentage of .918 ranks second in program history. Twice named Michigan's Male Athlete of the Year (2011, '12), Russell also claimed four Big Ten titles at 141 pounds, becoming just the 11th four-time Big Ten champion in conference history and the first in Michigan history. He was named the Co-Most Outstanding Wrestler of the Big Ten Championships as a senior (2012) and Big Ten Freshman of the Year in 2008.
Honorable Mention: Myles Amine, Adam Coon, Stevan Micic, Alec Pantaleo
