Wolverines Kick Off Season with Maize and Blue Intrasquad

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan women's gymnastics team will host its Maize and Blue Intrasquad Friday (Dec. 7) at 7:30 p.m. in Crisler Arena. The event will be an exhibition of the Maize and Blue's best competing in a split-squad event.

Head coach Bev Plocki will lead the festivities, interacting with fans and answering questions during breaks in the action, while Master of Ceremonies Percy Stamps will narrate all the action from the floor.

Returning for a fifth year of competition will be fifth-year senior All-American and captain Lindsey Bruck (Marietta, N.Y./Marcellus) who was injured in the opening meet of the 2007 season but returns to lead the Maize and Blue in one last campaign. Bruck will lead the Blue team into competition, headlined by junior All-American Tatjana Thuener-Rego(Miami, Fla./American School) and junior All-Big Ten Conference honoree Huneth Lor(Aurora, Ill./Waubonsie Valley). Sophomores Maureen Moody(East Lansing, Mich./East Lansing), Jordan Sexton(Weddington, N.C./Weddington) and Jaclyn Kramer(West Hills, N.Y./Half Hollow Hills) will also suit up for the Blue squad. The Blue team will also feature the debut of freshman Kylee Botterman(New Lenox, Ill./Lincoln-Way Central).

Senior All-American captain Nellie Kippley(St. Cloud, Minn./Tech) will lead the Maize team into competition, headlined by senior All-American and three-time Big Ten Champion Katie Lieberman(Lake Forest, Ill./Lake Forest) and senior Megan Moore(Rochester Hills, Mich./Rochester Adams). Junior All-American and Big Ten balance beam champion Becky Bernard(Stow, Ohio/Stow-Munroe Falls) will add to the firepower of the Maize team, while sophomores Sarah Curtis(Reno, Nev./Reno) and Kelsey Knutson(Ames, Iowa/Ames) will add to the team's strengths. The freshman duo of Kari Pearce(Ann Arbor, Mich./Huron) and Trish Wilson(Naperville, Ill./Neuqua Valley) will also make their debuts at Crisler Arena.

The Wolverines are coming off of their 15th Big Ten Championship and the program's 15th straight NCAA Championships appearance. Michigan opens the season on Friday, Jan. 11, in Crisler Arena against West Virginia and Arkansas. The Maize and Blue also host the 2008 Big Ten Championships on March 29 at Crisler Arena.

Contact: Richard Retyi (734) 763-4423