Most players ask their coaches for a lot of things: playing time, different practice schedules, new offensive schemes. Stars like junior forward Naz Hillmon don’t usually have to ask coaches for much. Except, after the murder of George Floyd in May, Hillmon found herself asking a lot of questions — and one in particular to Kim Barnes Arico.
What can I do?
When he was about 10 years old, Michigan senior Harrison Brown began playing at a tennis center called Griffith University in Queensland, Australia. For two years he stayed there, training three hours in the evening — two hours of tennis and one hour of fitness. From there, he made the move to the national academy in Brisbane where he trained for another two years, from ages 12 to 14.
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in March, all Michigan students were advised to leave campus.
For international students — including sophomore midfielder Nina Apoola of the Michigan field hockey team — being sent home entailed more than a few hours in the car.
“I had to pack everything in my dorm room and book a flight back to England within two days,” Apoola said.
During the offseason, even prior to their return to campus, Osman and Ybarra made a concerted effort to set an example that would trickle down to the younger players.
Now in his sophomore year, Amine is ready to take on more of a vocal and active role within the team. He’s always been extremely competitive since a young kid with his brothers and cousins, and now he’s ready to show it against tougher opponents. He wants to display to his teammates, and the rest of the conference, all of the work he put in during the offseason.
Entering his junior year, Fenty is long past relishing in his personal accomplishments. His eyes are set squarely on two goals: his professional career and bringing a Big Ten Championship back to Michigan for the first time since 1996.
Naz Hillmon can go for minutes at a time without even touching the ball. For most, this would constitute ineffective, lackluster play. But for the junior forward, simply being on the court is enough. Her presence, lurking in the paint, is what makes her so lethal.
While his transition from college towards the minors was not as he expected it to be, he was able to come back to Michigan and finish his degree as he planned.
At 6-foot-3, Sollom’s height is striking, but what really sets her apart is her extreme athleticism. She has no trouble with her coordination, is a strong runner and has good lateral quickness.
As the saying goes, golf is a game that is decided 90 percent by your mental game and only 10 percent by your physical and athletic abilities. In today’s game, golfers are making more of a concerted effort to focus on the sport’s mental aspect.