Michigan Wolverines women's gymnastics
Encyclopedia
The Michigan Wolverines
women's gymnastics
team represents the University of Michigan
and competes in the Big Ten Conference
. Under head coach Bev Plocki
, the team won 16 Big Ten championships in 20 years and advanced to 16 straight NCAA championship tournaments from 1993 to 2008.
The Wolverines have had two gymnasts who have won NCAA individual championships. Beth Wymer
won the NCAA championship in the uneven bars three consecutive years from 1993 to 1995. Elise Ray
won the NCAA all-around championship in 2001 (tied with UCLA's Onnie Willis), the balance beam championship in 2002 and the uneven bars in 2004.
The Wolverines have had seven seasons in which they have been ranked in the Top 5 programs in the NCAA. Those seasons are as follows:
. In 2002, the 22000 square feet (2,043.9 m²) Donald R. Shepherd Women's Gymnastics Training Center was dedicated. The Shepherd Center is the practice and training home of the women's gymnastics team. The facility has 17000 square feet (1,579.4 m²) of training space; the remaining 5000 square feet (464.5 m²) contains a training room, coaches offices, a locker room, a team lounge, and a study area.
Michigan Wolverines
The Michigan Wolverines comprise 27 varsity sports teams at the University of Michigan. These teams compete in the NCAA's Division I and in the Big Ten Conference in all sports except men's ice hockey which competes in the NCAA D1 Central Collegiate Hockey Association, and women's water polo, which...
women's gymnastics
Gymnastics
Gymnastics is a sport involving performance of exercises requiring physical strength, flexibility, agility, coordination, and balance. Internationally, all of the gymnastic sports are governed by the Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique with each country having its own national governing body...
team represents the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
and competes in the Big Ten Conference
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
. Under head coach Bev Plocki
Bev Plocki
Beverly "Bev" Plocki , formerly known as Beverly Fry, is an American gymnastics coach. In 22 years as the head coach of the Michigan Wolverines women’s gymnastics team , her teams have a record of 417-110-1 and have on 18 Big Ten Conference championships, and advanced to 13 straight NCAA...
, the team won 16 Big Ten championships in 20 years and advanced to 16 straight NCAA championship tournaments from 1993 to 2008.
History
The Michigan Wolverines women's gymnastics team was formed in 1976. In its 34-year history, the team has had six coaches as follows- Newt LokenNewt LokenNewton C. Loken was an artistic gymnast and coach of gymnastics, trampolining and cheerleading. While a member of the Minnesota Golden Gophers men's gymnastics team, Loken was NCAA all-around gymnastics champion in 1942 and the Big Ten Conference all-around champion in 1941 and 1942...
(1976). Loken was the head coach of Michigan's men's gymnastics team for 36 years from 1948 to 1983. Loken served as the first coach of the women's gymnastics team in 1976, coaching the women Wolverines to a record of 1-1. - Anne Cornell (1977–1978). Cornell took over as coach in 1977 and led the Wolverines to a 6-6 record over two years from 1977 to 1978.
- Scott Ponto (1979). Ponto was Michigan's head coach for one season in which he led the Wolverines to a 19-3 record for an .864 winning percentage.
- Sheri Hyatt (1980–1984). Hyatt served as the head coach for five years from 1980 to 1984. She led the Wolverines to a 51-26-1 record and the program's first Big Ten championship and first NCAA tournament berth in 1982.
- Dana Kempthorn (1985–1989). Kempthorn was the Wolverines head coach for five years from 1985 to 1989. She led the team to a 42-76 record.
- Bev PlockiBev PlockiBeverly "Bev" Plocki , formerly known as Beverly Fry, is an American gymnastics coach. In 22 years as the head coach of the Michigan Wolverines women’s gymnastics team , her teams have a record of 417-110-1 and have on 18 Big Ten Conference championships, and advanced to 13 straight NCAA...
(1990–present). Plocki took over as head coach in 1990 and is in her 21st season with the program. Through the end of the 2009 season, Plocki had led the team to a record of 381-102-1 (.788 winning percentage). Under Coach Plocki, the team has won 16 Big Ten championships in 20 years and advanced to 16 straight NCAA championship tournaments from 1993 to 2008.
The Wolverines have had two gymnasts who have won NCAA individual championships. Beth Wymer
Beth Wymer
Beth Wymer is a former NCAA champion gymnast. While attending the University of Michigan, she won the NCAA event championship in the uneven bars three consecutive years from 1993-1995 and was a first-team All-American four times in the uneven bars, twice in the all-around, and once in the balance...
won the NCAA championship in the uneven bars three consecutive years from 1993 to 1995. Elise Ray
Elise Ray
Mary Elise Ray is an American gymnast who represented the United States at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney and the 1999 World Championships.-Biography and early career:...
won the NCAA all-around championship in 2001 (tied with UCLA's Onnie Willis), the balance beam championship in 2002 and the uneven bars in 2004.
The Wolverines have had seven seasons in which they have been ranked in the Top 5 programs in the NCAA. Those seasons are as follows:
- 1994: The team compiled a record of 27-1 (.964 winning percentage) and finished #4 in the NCAA tournament with a score of 195.150.
- 1995: The team compiled a record of 24-2 (.923 winning percentage) and finished tied for the #2 spot in the NCAA tournament with a score of 196.425.
- 1997: The team compiled a 20-5 record and finished #4 in the NCAA tournament with a score of 196.500.
- 1999: The team compiled a 19-4 record and finished #2 in the NCAA tournament with a score of 196.550.
- 2001: The team compiled a 15-7 record and finished #3 in the NCAA tournament with a score of 197.275.
- 2003: The team compiled a 17-6 record and finished #5 in the NCAA tournament with a score of 196.050.
- 2005: The team compiled a 22-2 record (.917 winning percentage) and finished #5 in the NCAA tournament with a score of 196.575.
Facilities
Michigan's home competitions are held at the 13,751-seat Crisler ArenaCrisler Arena
Crisler Arena, in Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA, is the home arena for the University of Michigan men's and women's basketball teams. Constructed in 1967, the arena seats 13,751 spectators. It is named for Herbert O...
. In 2002, the 22000 square feet (2,043.9 m²) Donald R. Shepherd Women's Gymnastics Training Center was dedicated. The Shepherd Center is the practice and training home of the women's gymnastics team. The facility has 17000 square feet (1,579.4 m²) of training space; the remaining 5000 square feet (464.5 m²) contains a training room, coaches offices, a locker room, a team lounge, and a study area.
First-team All-Americans
In addition, 24 Michigan gymnasts have received recognition as first-team All-Americans. The program's first-team All-Americans are as follows:- 2009: Becky Bernard - uneven bars
- 2009: Kylee Botterman - floor exercise
- 2008: Kylee Botterman - uneven bars
- 2006: Katie Lieberman - floor exercise
- 2006: Lauren Mirkovich - uneven bars
- 2006: Tatjana Thuener-Rego - balance beam
- 2005: Katie Lieberman - vault
- 2005: Lauren Mirkovich - uneven bars
- 2003: Elise RayElise RayMary Elise Ray is an American gymnast who represented the United States at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney and the 1999 World Championships.-Biography and early career:...
- uneven bars, balance beam - 2004: Lindsey Bruck - balance beam
- 2004: Jenny Deiley - vault
- 2004: Elise Ray - uneven bars, balance beam, all-around
- 2003: Becca Clauson - balance beam
- 2003: Jenny Deiley - all-around
- 2003: Calli Ryals - floor exercise, all-around
- 2002: Janessa Grieco - floor exercise
- 2002: Elise Ray - vault, uneven bars, balance beam, all-around
- 2002: Calli Ryals - balance beam, floor exercise, all-around
- 2001: Janessa Grieco - vault
- 2001: Elise Ray - uneven bars, balance beam, floor exercise, all-around
- 2001: Karina Senior - vault
- 2000: Sarah Cain - vault, uneven bars, floor exercise, all-around
- 2000: Janessa Grieco - vault
- 2000: Shannon MacKenzie - balance beam
- 2000: Christine Michaud - vault
- 1999: Sarah Cain - uneven bars
- 1999: Bridget Knaeble - floor exercise
- 1999: Nikki Peters - uneven bars, floor exercise
- 1999: Karina Senior - balance beam
- 1998: Sarah Cain - floor exercise
- 1998: Heather Kabnick - vault, floor exercise, all-around
- 1998: Nikki Peters - uneven bars
- 1997: Beth Amelkovich - balance beam
- 1997: Kathy Burke - balance beam
- 1997: Sarah Cain - uneven bars, all-around
- 1997: Heather Kabnick - floor exercise
- 1997: Andrea McDonald - balance beam
- 1997: Nikki Peters - vault, uneven bars
- 1996: Wendy Marshall - balance beam, floor exercise, all-around
- 1996: Nikki Peters - vault
- 1995: Heather Kabnick - vault
- 1995: Wendy Marshall - vault, balance beam, all-around
- 1995: Beth WymerBeth WymerBeth Wymer is a former NCAA champion gymnast. While attending the University of Michigan, she won the NCAA event championship in the uneven bars three consecutive years from 1993-1995 and was a first-team All-American four times in the uneven bars, twice in the all-around, and once in the balance...
- uneven bars - 1994: Beth Wymer - uneven bars, balance beam
- 1993: Beth Wymer - uneven bars, all-around
- 1992: Beth Wymer - uneven bars, all-around