How Wojcik, Ray-Statz Have Connected as U-M's Freshman NCAA Gymnastics Champs
5/8/2019 12:38:00 PM | Women's Gymnastics, Features
By Steve Kornacki
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Natalie Wojcik became only the second University of Michigan freshman women's gymnast to win an NCAA title. Wojcik won the balance beam last month at the nationals in Fort Worth, Texas, with a 9.95 score.
One of the congratulatory responses she received was from the only other Wolverine to win a national championship as a freshman. Elise Ray, who tied for the NCAA all-around championship in 2001 and is now the successful head coach at the University of Washington, connected with Wojcik on social media.
Wojcik said, "She posted on Instagram: 'Welcome to the club!'Â I admire her a lot. We've never actually met but I've read a lot about her."
Known now as Elise Ray-Statz, she won a bronze medal at the 2000 Olympics with the U.S. team and also was a three-time NCAA champ in the uneven bars as well as claiming that title in the balance beam as a sophomore.
Wojcik, from Douglassville, Pennsylvania, wasted no time making an impact for the Wolverines. The All-American also was the Big Ten champion in the all-around and floor exercise, and was the NCAA Regional champion in floor exercise.
She had to wait to see that her score held up as the best in Fort Worth, and when LSU's Sarah Finnegan came in at 9.9375 for second place, Wojcik realized she was the champion on the balance beam.
"I was just so excited," said Wojcik, "and the balance beam is my favorite event, too."
That accomplishment capped a fabulous freshman season.
"I didn't really know what to expect coming in," said Wojcik, who was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year. "I just wanted to find my place on the team and discover my role. The coaches did a great job of helping me and all the freshmen get adjusted in our freshman year."
Where did she make the biggest strides?
"I think I cleaned up my form a lot in a lot of events," said Wojcik, "and I upgraded my floor routine. Just fixing little mistakes was my biggest improvement."
There also were adjustments required in going from club competitions and high school to the collegiate level.
"It's the focus on the team," she said. "We talk about that a lot here at Michigan: 'The team. The team. The team.' You learn that if you make a mistake in the lineup, the team will have your back. Someone is going to step up."
Bev Plocki has coached five different gymnasts – Kylee Botterman, Ray, Joanna Sampson, Beth Wymer and Wojcik -- to nine NCAA championships. Wojcik credited Plocki, in her 30th season, with helping her get off to a quick start.
"She's very knowledgeable, very reliable and very encouraging," Wojcik said. "She's also very caring toward all of us."
Wojcik also scored a 9.95 during the season in two other events, the uneven bars and floor exercise, and always sought coaching advice on how to pick up the additional five-hundredths of a point to attain perfection.
"I'm a perfectionist and want to make it perfect in any way possible," said Wojcik. "I'm trying to help out the team by getting every point possible."
She did attain the elusive 10.0 in the vault at a meet on Feb. 23.
"Yes!" Wojcik said. "That's always been a goal of mine. I was so excited getting that 10."
Wojcik and Plocki
The Wolverines won Plocki's 24th Big Ten championship with a perfect 9-0 conference regular season and also won the Big Ten Tournament.
"That's something (Plocki) takes a lot of pride in," said Wojcik. "The upper classmen and everyone on the team told us that's our meet. So, we went in with the mindset that it was something we wanted to win. We weren't going to be happy until we did it, and took a lot of pride in that championship and also the regular season as well. That showed consistency."
Michigan is a regular top-10 finisher in the NCAA meet and finished tied for second in 1995. What might be attainable for next year's team?
"I mean, we'd love to be national champion," said Wojcik. "Our goal next year will definitely be to make it to the 'Four on the Floor' (which has replaced the "Super Six" as the NCAA's championship round). We'll strive for that next year."
Wojcik will be central to any team accomplishments. She's already a highly-decorated college gymnast, and achieved previous success while in high school. Plenty of trophies and ribbons have come her way, and she was asked what she does with all of them.
"I have them set up in my room at home," said Wojcik, "and now I have some in my room here, too."
Wojcik also had a great first year academically, and said she's considering a major in psychology.
"I'm interested in sports psychology," she said, noting the benefits of talking with Michigan's athletic department counselors. "It's interesting to work on that side of sports."
Wojcik's been very involved coaching in Special Olympics since she was 8.
"I have an uncle (P.J. Oakes) with special needs which is kind of what interested me," said Wojcik. "As well as one of my coaches had special needs."
She's contributing in many ways, and off to a great start at Michigan.
Players Mentioned
