and second and the tying run on 
deck in the sixth inning, Hoosier 
outfielder Brianna Meyer lined 
a shot into the gap in center 
field. If the ball fell in, it would 
have scored at least one run, but 
Christner extinguished that hope 
with an acrobatic diving catch 

and throw to second base to turn 
the double play.

“Honestly, when it was hit, 

I didn’t think I had any chance 
of getting to it,” Christner said. 
“When I caught it, I kind of freaked 
out but I was like, ‘Alright, I’ve got 
to finish the play.’ I jumped up and 
saw the girl was still running back 
to second, so I tried to get her out at 
second then too.”

Michigan 
erupted 
in 

celebration of Christner’s display 
of athleticism. And just when 
Indiana got its best chance to come 
back, the Wolverines took it away.

In a series condensed into two 

days, the play encapsulated the 
sweep of the Hoosiers.

Just when Indiana thought it 

could sneak by the Wolverines, 
Christner delivered the knock-out 
blow — squashing any chance of a 
comeback.

SOFTBALL
From Page 1B

The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
SportsMonday
April 20, 2015 — 3B

SPORTSMONDAY COLUMN

Majoring in collegiate athletics

Y

ou warned me I couldn’t 
major in football spec-
tating, but you must 

have realized 
during one 
of the dozens 
of surgeries 
in Ann Arbor 
that nothing 
would keep 
me from the 
University of 
Michigan.

We would 

walk down 
State Street 
before doctor’s appointments, 
and I would sprint from store 
to store pointing at the winged 
helmets and block ‘M’s in the 
windows. You’d eventually 
give an exasperated sigh at 
my unbridled enthusiasm and 
usher me away to the hospital.

You must have known how 

much this place meant to me. On 
the worst day of my life, you sang 
me to sleep with “The Victors” 
as the anesthesia dripped like 
shards of ice into my arm.

During the month that 

followed, when the discomfort 
meant I’d spend entire days in 
bed, you watched me struggle 
up a flight of stairs to watch 
Michigan’s bowl game. The 
Wolverines won, and then they 
carried Lloyd Carr off on their 
shoulders. A 
picture of that 
moment still 
hangs on my 
wall.

It was my 

freshman year 
of high school, 
but I knew 
then I wanted 
to go to school 
here. And 
I’m not sure 
what drew me to Michigan over 
Michigan State or anywhere 
else, but thank you for helping 
make this possible.

* * *

My story begins outside 

my grandparents’ tin-roofed 
home in Orotina, Costa Rica. 
My cousin and I would play 
fútbol until abuela called us in 
for lunch, and we’d scarf down 
our meal and scurry back out 
until it became too dark to see 
the ball. When we outgrew 
the backyard, we’d play on the 
streets. The fence would be the 
goal, the birds our crowd, our 
scrapes and bruises the reward 
for a day well spent.

My story wears the red 

and white of 
Albion High 
School. We 
cared so much 
about fielding 
a squad each 
year that 
several of 
us would 
host foreign 
exchange 
students 
— on the 

condition they joined the team. 
Opponents called us the Albion 
Internationals, and I was voted 
captain twice. Our mix of 
Black, white and every color in 
between represented the very 

best of sports.

My story is a soccer field 

in Pader, a city in northern 
Uganda which was devastated 
by a terrorist group around 
the turn of the century. I stood 
between the wooden goal posts 
that had been erected behind an 
elementary school and joined 
21 other men as we played odilo. 
They didn’t understand my 
English, and I couldn’t translate 
their Acholi, but we spoke 
with our feet. They called me 
Alex Andrew, and I was their 
goalkeeper.

My story involves the passion 

of the Michigan Ultras. One 
night during welcome week my 
sophomore year, I stood at a 
match next to a freshman who 
didn’t know any of the cheers. 
For the next 90 minutes, I 
taught her. Michigan lost, but I 
got the girl.

And this story will end next 

week at the Big House, where 
100,000 people recently came 
to watch soccer.

Somehow, that’s fitting.

* * *

Sports provide people the 

outlet to reach immortality, 
where flesh, blood and tears 
may fade — but not the 
memories. They offer a place 
that fosters extraordinary 
moments, where someone 
can shatter the conventional 
boundaries that restrict us and 
achieve the spectacular.

Denard Robinson 

demonstrated that when he 
lost his shoes and kept running 
straight into Michigan lore. So 
did Trey Burke with his dagger 
3-pointer against Kansas. Their 
emotions were my emotions, 
their accomplishments mine. 
Maybe we all yearn for 
that freedom to be a part of 
something unforgettable.

There were instances that 

transcended the sports realm, 
too, like when Austin Hatch 
tallied his first point or when 
Devin Gardner comforted an 
Ohio State player after a season-
ending injury, reminding 
everyone how, at the core of 
athletic competitions, we’re 
all human. In those moments, 
the result became secondary 
to remarkable displays of 
humanity.

But sports have always meant 

more to me than a score.

The days I spent with a 

tube strapped to my leg helped 
me appreciate my ability to 
walk, run and play soccer. I’m 
appreciative every day for those 
opportunities. Thank you, Dr. 
Bloom and Dr. Malaeb, for 
making me better.

Thank you to Costa Rica 

for the 2014 World Cup. You 
allowed a nation to believe in 
the impossible.

Dad, thank you for your 

stories. Thank you for Spanish 
and for Costa Rica — for 
opening those doors in my 
world.

You warned me I couldn’t 

major in football spectating, 
Mom. But here I am. I’ve 
majored in football spectating, 

fútbol spectating, basketball 
spectating and hockey 
spectating. Thank you for 
recognizing how happy it 
makes me. Thank you for 
realizing it makes me feel free.

Thank you, Michigan. You 

were my best four years.

Zúñiga would like to thank 

everyone who has influenced 

his life — especially Greg, Dan, 

David and Amrutha, who have 

become like family. Saludos a las 

tías en Orotina, who are family. 

He’ll be covering the Tigers 

this season for MLB.com, and 

can be reached at ByAZuniga@

gmail.com and on Twitter @

ByAZuniga. Thank you for reading 

and supporting The Michigan 

Daily. It has meant so much.

COURTESY OF THE ZÚÑIGA FAMILY

Alejandro Zúñiga’s story began in Costa Rica and continued in Ann Arbor.

ALEJANDRO 
ZÚÑIGA

Sports provide 

people the 

outlet to reach 
immortality.

‘M’ misses Super Six

By CINDY YU

Daily Sports Writer

Less than two-tenths of a 

point separated the Michigan 
women’s gymnastics team from 
securing a spot on the floor at 
Saturday’s Super Six.

Though the Wolverines came 

up just a hair short of qualifying 
among the top three teams in 
the first NCAA semifinal session 
Friday, they still have much to 
be satisfied with. Not only did 
they close out the season as the 
only team in the nation to score 
at least 49.000 in all 52 rotations, 
but they also counted zero falls 
in competition.

“I think everyone did their 

jobs like they were supposed 
to, which ended up not being 
enough to make it to the next 
day,” 
said 
sophomore 
Talia 

Chiarelli. “We’re still really 
happy with how we performed.”

Sophomore 
Nicole 
Artz 

was named a first-team All-
American in the all-around with 
a score of 39.425, and freshman 
Brianna Brown was awarded 
second-team honors with her 
39.325 total. The team put up 
the second-highest team total 
in program history at the NCAA 
Championships.

At the Fort Worth Convention 

Center in Fort Worth, Texas, 
No. 6 Michigan (27-6 overall) 
scored 197.025 to place fourth 
among six teams. No. 2 Florida 
and No. 3 Utah tied for first 
in the qualifying round with 
scores of 197.475, while No. 11 
Stanford rounded out the top 
three with a total of 197.175. 
No. 10 Georgia and No. 7 UCLA 
finished in fifth and sixth with 
scores of 196.600 and 196.400, 
respectively.

For the third consecutive 

year, Michigan drew the same 
rotation order at the NCAA 
Championships.

“Our biggest obstacle was 

having to end on a bye,” said 
Michigan coach Bev Plocki. 
“Hopefully things come in three, 
and we’re done with that.”

The Wolverines started the 

meet on the uneven bars. Though 

the entire lineup performed well, 
with each gymnast recording at 
least a score of 9.800 and a few 
even sticking their dismounts, 
leading off on that particular 
event may have been to the 
team’s disadvantage.

“Typically, the judges will 

start out a little conservatively 
and then loosen up, so I think 
that it really hurt us,” Plocki said. 
“We had a great bar rotation, but 
as the meet went on, it seemed 
like things loosened up over 
there, and other teams were able 
to take advantage of that.”

Among 
all 
six 
teams, 

Michigan had the lowest total on 
bars with a 49.225.

On the balance beam, the 

Wolverines 
matched 
their 

program record of 49.250 for the 
highest total on the event at an 
NCAA Championships. Artz and 
Chiarelli led the squad in the 
anchor positions with wobble-
free routines that each scored 
tallies of 9.900. Both gymnasts 
qualified to Sunday’s event finals 
and were named NCAA All-
Americans on beam.

While their scores ranked 

among the highest in the session, 
it was challenging to pinpoint 
what the judges took off in 
Chiarelli’s set.

“I have no idea where they 

came up with a tenth of a 
deduction because (Chiarelli) 
did not have an eyelash out of 
place in the routine and she 
stuck her dismount,” Plocki 
said. “She does a round-off 
double back, which is a more 
difficult dismount than most 
people do.”

The Wolverines finished the 

day strong on vault. Chiarelli, 
Brown and senior Brooke Parker 
stuck their Yurchenko fulls. 
Chiarelli performed the best 
vault in the lineup, scoring 9.875. 
After she stuck her vault cold, 
she immediately sprinted off 
the podium and was welcomed 
by high fives from all of her 
teammates.

“That was actually the first 

vault I’ve stuck all season,” 
Chiarelli said.

Though the vault gave Plocki 

chills, the score may not have 
warranted its merit.

“Her vault was the best I’ve 

ever seen her do, and actually, 
there was a good part of the 
audience that was kind of booing 
when they put up the 9.875,” 
Plocki said. “Nevertheless, she 
had the meet of her life.”

During 
the 
event 
finals, 

Chiarelli, senior Sachi Sugiyama 
and Artz represented the Maize 
and Blue well. On floor, Chiarelli 
and Sugiyama tied for seventh 
with identical scores of 9.900. 
Both 
gymnasts 
showed 
off 

explosive tumbling sets and 
expressive dance choreography.

Sugiyama 
closed 
out 
her 

season in fashion. The Texas 
native performed the last routine 
of her collegiate career before a 
hometown crowd.

“I 
couldn’t 
stop 
smiling 

throughout the whole routine,” 
Sugiyama said.

On beam, Chiarelli finished 

eighth with a score of 9.825. 
and Artz finished 12th with an 
impressively improvised routine 
that scored 9.8125.

“My heart breaks for these 

kids, the work they put in 
and everything to not be able 
to 
compete 
at 
Super 
Six,” 

Plocki said. “I think that our 
gymnastics should’ve been on 
the floor then, but I’m certainly 
not disappointed in any way, 
shape or form with any of these 
young ladies or their efforts.

“I couldn’t be more proud of 

everything they’ve done and 
accomplished this season.”

While 
success 
may 
be 

measured in wins, losses and 
championships, 
the 
personal 

development of the Wolverines 
this season has been tremendous. 
After graduating six seniors 
from last year’s team, many 
expected Michigan to have a 
rebuilding season this year. But 
in the end, it proved it belonged 
among the rest.

With Artz, Chiarelli and the 

majority of their teammates 
returning next season, as well 
as a strong incoming freshman 
class joining the team, the 
Wolverines can only improve.

Wolverines clinch sixth 
straight conference title

By BETELHEM ASHAME

For the Daily

The Michigan women’s tennis 

team has enjoyed an impressive 
run in Big Ten play all season 
long, and this weekend was the 
culmination of the success the 
Wolverines have achieved.

Michigan 
traveled 
to 

Columbus on Friday to take on 
No. 17 Ohio State (9-1 Big Ten, 
17-5 overall) in a must-win match 
with a share of the Big Ten 
Championship on the line.

And in order to win the 

title outright, the 14th-ranked 
Wolverines had to earn it at Penn 
State (8-3, 12-10) on Sunday.

“We haven’t really thought 

about it that much,” said senior 
Sarah Lee. “We’re looking at both 
as just another match because 
we’re focused on each team, like 
we’ve been doing all year.”

The Wolverines (11-0, 21-3) 

started off on the right foot 
Friday against the Buckeyes, 
earning the doubles point from 
the No. 1 and No. 3 positions. The 
No. 1 pair of senior Emina Bektas 
and freshman Alex Najarian 
went up 3-1 and eventually pulled 
out an 8-3 victory.

The No. 3 doubles pair of 

Michigan freshman Mira Ruder-
Hook 
and 
sophomore 
Sara 

Remynse had a tougher battle in 
their match. The two fell behind 
by three games early before 
rallying to salvage a 4-4 tie. The 
back and forth affair reached a 
7-7 tie, but Michigan’s duo took 
full control over the tiebreaker, 

winning 7-1, to secure the doubles 
point.

“Mira 
was 
definitely 
the 

reason we won that match,” 
Remynse said. “She keeps being 
positive and making me feel 
comfortable. When we’re down, 
we play more aggressively, and 
when we play within ourselves, it 
works out.”

In 
the 
singles 
matches, 

Remynse 
and 
junior 
Ronit 

Yurovsky 
gave 
Michigan 
a 

comfortable 3-0 lead over Ohio 
State with straight-set wins at 
the No. 2 and No. 6 positions. 
Both Yurovsky and Remynse 
earned 6-4, 6-2 victories against 
their Buckeye counterparts.

At No. 3 singles, Najarian 

defeated her opponent, Ohio 
State’s Sandy Niehaus, 6-0, 2-6, 
7-6 (5) with a 7-5 tiebreaker 
win to clinch a share of the Big 
Ten title for the Wolverines. 
Michigan would go on to finish 
the match with a 6-1 victory over 
the Buckeyes.

After passing its first test 

against Ohio State, only the 
Nittany Lions stood in the way of 
Michigan’s quest for the Big Ten 
Championship.

“We’ve been taking it one match 

at a time,” said Michigan coach 
Ronni Bernstein. “We haven’t 
been looking at it like we needed 
two matches to do it because we 
don’t overlook anybody.”

The Wolverines got off to 

an even brighter start Sunday 
in the doubles matches when 
Remynse and Ruder-Hook made 
quick work of the opposition, 

cruising to an 8-0 win. Bektas 
and Najarian followed in their 
footsteps by securing an 8-3 
victory against Penn State’s No. 
1 pair of Katia Blik and Victoria 
Kisialeva to clinch the doubles 
point for Michigan.

In singles play, the Wolverines 

needed just three wins to capture 
the title.

And they earned all three wins 

in impressive fashion.

Both Lee and Remynse quickly 

dispatched 
their 
opponents 

with 
6-3, 
6-1 
victories. 
In 

between, Ruder-Hook sunk her 
No. 5 singles opponent Devan 
McCluskey and dropped only one 
match in the process.

With those performances, the 

Wolverines earned a 4-0 victory 
over Penn State and the greater 
prize of capturing their sixth-
straight Big Ten Championship 
with an undefeated record.

“I’m excited for the girls,” 

Bernstein said. “The regular 
season is long and it’s challenging, 
and you have to stay healthy. But 
I’m proud of them because they 
worked hard. I thought we played 
really well. It’s not so much about 
how many in a row because every 
year is different, but it’s definitely 
good to come through.”

With the two victories this 

weekend to end the regular 
season, Michigan has now won 
15 consecutive matches and a Big 
Ten Championship to boot. The 
Wolverines are in prime position 
to 
continue 
their 
dominant 

campaign next weekend when the 
Big Ten Tournament kicks off.

WOMEN’S GYMNASTICS
WOMEN’S TENNIS