Wolverines Announce Captains for 2023 Season
10/13/2022 10:00:00 AM | Women's Gymnastics
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Graduate student Natalie Wojcik along with seniors Sierra Brooks, Nicoletta Koulos and Gabby Wilson were voted captains of the 2022-23 University of Michigan women's gymnastics team.
Wojcik was the 2022 AAI Award winner, which has been dubbed the Heisman Trophy of women's gymnastics and is given annually to the nation's top senior collegiate gymnast. She was a two-time WCGA All-America honoree and a four-time WCGA Regular Season All-America honoree in her senior season, bringing her career total to six WCGA All-America honors and 12 WCGA Regular Season All-America citations. Wojcik earned the individual regional title on the uneven bars and was the Big Ten individual champion on the balance beam in 2022. Wojcik also eclipsed 100 career scores of 9.900 or better, ending her senior campaign with 110. She is a three-time All-Big Ten honoree, a three-time WCGA Scholastic All-American and two-time Big Ten Distinguished Scholar.
"I am truly humbled to be named a team captain alongside Gabby, Sierra, and Nicoletta," said Wojcik. "I admire the dedication of each member of Team 47 and value their individual contributions that lead to our success as a whole. In my four years at Michigan, we have continued to build a team culture that I am incredibly proud to be a part of, and I am excited to work together this season to reach our fullest potential while continuing our championship legacy."
Brooks, a two-time captain, heads into her senior season coming off three first team WCGA All-America honors and three first team WCGA Regular Season All-America nods in the 2022 season, bringing her career total to six WCGA All-America honors and seven WCGA Regular Season All-America citations. The junior all-arounder was both the Regional Gymnast of the Year and the Big Ten Gymnast of the Year, while earning the Big Ten individual title on the vault with a perfect score. Brooks is a two-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree, a two-time WCGA Scholastic All-American, a CoSIDA Academic All-District honoree and a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar, while also serving as the Student Academic Advisory Committee (SAAC) president.
"I am very excited to be named as a captain again for this year," said Brooks. "I look forward to seeing what tremendous accomplishments Team 47 will have this season. We have so many talented and driven women on this team who will continue to push each other to great success in and outside of the gym."
Koulos cracked the Wolverines lineup last season on the uneven bars and floor exercise in the second round of regionals, helping U-M to its 14th NCAA Regional Championship. The Long Beach, Calif., native is a three-time WCGA Academic All-America honoree and two-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree. Koulos' hard work and dedication to the team has been prevalent as she has scored a 9.900 or better on eight different occasions.
"The past three years have been truly special, but being named captain alongside Gabby, Sierra and Natalie has been the icing on the cake," said Koulos. "Our team is capable of greatness and it is an absolute honor to be recognized by my coaches and teammates as someone who they trust and respect to lead our team to a national championship. I am extremely grateful for this opportunity to represent Team 47 and the block M with great pride, integrity and passion."
Wilson put together an impressive junior season for the Wolverines as she was a two-time WCGA Regular Season All-America honoree on floor and vault, bringing her career total to four citations. The Ypsilanti, Mich., native earned the individual title on floor at NCAA Regionals for the second straight season and was named first team All-Big Ten for the third time in her career. Wilson was one of five all-arounders for the Wolverines in 2022 and earned three perfect 10s with two on floor and one on vault. Wilson is a three-time WCGA Academic All-America honoree, a two-time Big Ten Distinguished Scholar and a two-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree.
"Being in a leadership position is always an honor but specifically on a team where everyone is a leader in their own way makes it even more special," said Wilson. "Alongside Sierra, Nicoletta and Natalie, I can't wait to continue to cultivate the team culture that has made us so successful."
Players Mentioned
