Let's talk about how unlikely this seemed halfway through the season, after some uneven performances, a 2 week pause and the loss of star Abby Brenner to what seemed like a season ending injury. This was basically the equivalent of the basketball team losing Livers, except it happened much earlier in the season. The way they rallied after that and got great contributions from EVERY other competing gymnast was amazing to watch unfold. The fact that they didn't run out of gas before the finish line was pretty damn impressive too.
Let's talk about how the monkey is finally off the back of Bev Plocki. More Big Ten Championships than any Big Ten coach in any sport ever, and now a National Champion. There were years it didn't seem like it would ever happen, as Michigan succumbed to the pressure frequently on the national stage. But this team peaked at the right time and obviously the coaches deserve a ton of credit for that.
Let's talk about Abby Brenner's "Willis Reed Moment". This woman had not performed since Feb. 27th, spent over a month rehabbing a serious injury and then she trots out to try her signature event (uneven bars) with a championship hanging in the balance. And she goes and drops a 9.925. Ridiculous poise and performance under pressure. If she had scored less than a 9.85, Michigan is not taking home the trophy.
Let's talk about how Oklahoma performed exactly how you would expect a dynasty team to perform and forced Michigan to put up their HIGHEST SCORE IN PROGRAM HISTORY in order to win. This was not a win because someone else choked. This was vintage, "In order to be the man, you have to beat the man". To put up your best performance under that much pressure. Storybook stuff.
Let's talk about the beam routine. If any of the final 3 performers for Michigan had a noticeable wobble in their routine, Michigan loses to Oklahoma, period. And even though those 3 didn't know the exact score because OU was still performing, I'm sure they more or less knew. You simply can not be more clutch than what they were.
Let's talk about the big three of Wilson, Brooks and Wojick. Those 3 embraced the pressure throughout the tournament and did exactly what you want your All-Americans to do. Sierra Brooks was especially amazing. For her first two years here she had basically been 1B to Wojick's 1A, but Brooks took a back seat to no one during this tourney run. Just one 9.9+ score after another. She was absolutely flawless.
Finally, let's talk about little Abby Heiskell. Up until Brenner's injury, Heiskell was a role player who would consistently score in the 9.8 range. Then in the last 6 weeks she transformed into an All-American with one huge score after another. Was almost fitting that it came down to her as no one had stepped up more in Brenner's absence than her. I don't know if there is a more pressure packed peformance in sports than the balance beam with everything on the line. Could not be happier for her. The look on her face after she finished, almost overwhelmed at what she had just done is the kind of moment that makes sports great, and worth it for all the disappointments. She now goes down with athletes like Rice, Ritter and Morrisson as one of the greatest clutch performers in Michigan Athletics history.
What an amazing performance and season. Couldn't have ended in more thrilling fashion. If you were making a movie about a college gymnastics team, this is about how you would script it. And here's the cherry on top of the pie...Michigan had 24 routines today. 23 of them were performed by non-seniors. Obviously, repeating is very difficult, but this team will be loaded next year, and should be pre-season #1.
GO EFFIN BLUE! Hail to the Victors baby, Hail to the Victors.
Let's talk about how the monkey is finally off the back of Bev Plocki. More Big Ten Championships than any Big Ten coach in any sport ever, and now a National Champion. There were years it didn't seem like it would ever happen, as Michigan succumbed to the pressure frequently on the national stage. But this team peaked at the right time and obviously the coaches deserve a ton of credit for that.
Let's talk about Abby Brenner's "Willis Reed Moment". This woman had not performed since Feb. 27th, spent over a month rehabbing a serious injury and then she trots out to try her signature event (uneven bars) with a championship hanging in the balance. And she goes and drops a 9.925. Ridiculous poise and performance under pressure. If she had scored less than a 9.85, Michigan is not taking home the trophy.
Let's talk about how Oklahoma performed exactly how you would expect a dynasty team to perform and forced Michigan to put up their HIGHEST SCORE IN PROGRAM HISTORY in order to win. This was not a win because someone else choked. This was vintage, "In order to be the man, you have to beat the man". To put up your best performance under that much pressure. Storybook stuff.
Let's talk about the beam routine. If any of the final 3 performers for Michigan had a noticeable wobble in their routine, Michigan loses to Oklahoma, period. And even though those 3 didn't know the exact score because OU was still performing, I'm sure they more or less knew. You simply can not be more clutch than what they were.
Let's talk about the big three of Wilson, Brooks and Wojick. Those 3 embraced the pressure throughout the tournament and did exactly what you want your All-Americans to do. Sierra Brooks was especially amazing. For her first two years here she had basically been 1B to Wojick's 1A, but Brooks took a back seat to no one during this tourney run. Just one 9.9+ score after another. She was absolutely flawless.
Finally, let's talk about little Abby Heiskell. Up until Brenner's injury, Heiskell was a role player who would consistently score in the 9.8 range. Then in the last 6 weeks she transformed into an All-American with one huge score after another. Was almost fitting that it came down to her as no one had stepped up more in Brenner's absence than her. I don't know if there is a more pressure packed peformance in sports than the balance beam with everything on the line. Could not be happier for her. The look on her face after she finished, almost overwhelmed at what she had just done is the kind of moment that makes sports great, and worth it for all the disappointments. She now goes down with athletes like Rice, Ritter and Morrisson as one of the greatest clutch performers in Michigan Athletics history.
What an amazing performance and season. Couldn't have ended in more thrilling fashion. If you were making a movie about a college gymnastics team, this is about how you would script it. And here's the cherry on top of the pie...Michigan had 24 routines today. 23 of them were performed by non-seniors. Obviously, repeating is very difficult, but this team will be loaded next year, and should be pre-season #1.
GO EFFIN BLUE! Hail to the Victors baby, Hail to the Victors.
