{"id":301264,"date":"2018-03-18T05:45:29","date_gmt":"2018-03-18T12:45:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=301264"},"modified":"2018-03-17T20:19:34","modified_gmt":"2018-03-18T03:19:34","slug":"michigan-caps-stunning-turnaround-with-first-trophy-in-22-years","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/michigan-caps-stunning-turnaround-with-first-trophy-in-22-years\/","title":{"rendered":"Michigan Caps Stunning Turnaround With First Trophy in 22 Years"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Dan D\u2019Addona.<\/em><\/p>\n

Four years ago, the Michigan women\u2019s swim program was at a crossroads.<\/p>\n

The women had just watched the Michigan men win the national championship the previous season, but in their meet, finished an unimpressive 22nd<\/sup>. It was actually an improvement from the 36th<\/sup> place two years prior when Mike Bottom<\/strong> took over the program.<\/p>\n

Four years later, the Wolverines were on the podium, earning the trophy for fourth place.<\/p>\n

It was a quick and stunning turnaround and just the fourth time in history the Wolverines earned a team trophy \u2014\u00a0and the first time since a third-place finish in 1996.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt feels good,\u201d Bottom said. \u201cIt is what we call a \u2018Go Blue\u2019 moment when we do things we set out to do. I know this senior class had this as a goal \u2014\u00a0and after finishing 22nd<\/sup> it was a pretty lofty goal.\u201d<\/p>\n

But when did Bottom realize fourth was possible?<\/p>\n

\u201cYesterday,\u201d he said. \u201cWe decided we could get sixth and we were going to be happy getting sixth, but today, we knew we could get fourth.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"ncaa-michigan-mike-bottom\"

Photo Courtesy: Dan D’Addona<\/p><\/div>\n

The Wolverines rebuilt little by little. That year, the incoming freshmen included All-Americans G Ryan<\/strong> and Gabby<\/strong> DeLoof<\/strong>, younger sister of Ali DeLoof<\/strong>, one of the top Wolverines, as well as Clara Smiddy<\/strong>, an All-American in the 200 back.<\/p>\n

\"ncaa-michigan-clara-smiddy-podim\"

Photo Courtesy: Dan D’Addona<\/p><\/div>\n

A year later, the class included distance specialist Rose Bi<\/strong> from China and freestyle and IM All-American Siobhan<\/strong> Haughey from Hong Kong, a future Olympian. Not to mention yet another DeLoof, Catie DeLoof<\/strong>, who like the rest was on her way to All-American status.<\/p>\n

\"ncaa-g-ryan-podium\"

Photo Courtesy: Dan D’Addona<\/p><\/div>\n

The Wolverines improved to 10th<\/sup>. Then 11th<\/sup> a year later with nearly the same team, just missing Ali DeLoof\u2019s points.<\/p>\n

Sophomore\u2019s Miranda Tucker<\/strong> and Vanessa Krause<\/strong> scored at this weekend\u2019s NCAA championships as well as did freshmen Sierra Schmidt, Daria Pyshenko<\/strong> diver Christy Cutshaw<\/strong> and transfer Taylor Garcia<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was a lot of hard work,\u201d said Smiddy, who finished fifth in the 200 back. \u201cThis morning, there was a huge switch in attitude when a bunch of our team showed up in the stands \u2014\u00a0that is what it is all about, the team.\u201d<\/p>\n

Led by Smiddy and the upperclassmen.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe best part about it was looking to my teammates right before and right after \u2014 and they were going crazy the whole time,\u201d Smiddy said. \u201cIt made it all worth it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Haughey and Gabby DeLoof scored in all three of their individual events, led by Haughey\u2019s stellar runner-up performance in the 200 free. Ryan made the top eight in the 1650 free. Meanwhile, Tucker scored in both breaststroke events, Bi scored in the 500 and 1650, Schmidt scored in the 1650 and Krause surged to the 200 butterfly final.<\/p>\n

\u201cComing into the meet we just wanted to score as many points as possible and swim great times,\u201d Haughey said.<\/p>\n

It was as simple as that to the Michigan Wolverines.<\/p>\n

\"ncaa-michigan-relay\"

Photo Courtesy: Dan D’Addona<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cI just look up to (Siobhan, G and Gabby) so much. They are the veterans of the team and really have an influence on the rest of us,\u201d Tucker said. \u201cThe hard work is there and it is amplified by the team \u2014\u00a0the team, the team. We are all there for each other and lift each other up for the team. That makes the work so much more beneficial for us. All we can do is the best we can do.\u201d<\/p>\n

It is a loaded team, but balanced by year, which means the Wolverines aren\u2019t going anywhere.<\/p>\n