Women's Gymnastics Picked Third in Big Ten Preseason Poll
12/8/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Gymnastics
Dec. 8, 2009
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan women's gymnastics program was picked to finish third in the inaugural Big Ten Women's Gymnastics Preseason Poll, voted on by the conference coaches. Two Wolverines -- junior Kylee Botterman (New Lenox, Ill./Lincoln Way Central) and freshman Natalie Beilstein (Butler, Pa./Knoch) -- were also selected for the Big Ten's 14-member Gymnasts to Watch list.
The three-time defending Big Ten champion Wolverines return nine letterwinners and three Big Ten champions to a program with more Big Ten team titles (17) than any other Big Ten Conference women's program in any sport. Three-time All-American Botterman headlines a lineup that has not lost to a Big Ten school in more than two and a half years -- a streak of 28 consecutive victories.
A pair of All-Big Ten first team honorees -- senior Sarah Curtis (Reno, Nev./Reno) and Botterman -- join defending Big Ten uneven bars champion, junior Trish Wilson (Naperville, Ill./Neuqua Valley), for a run at the program's 18th Big Ten title. Botterman, who finished runner-up in the all-around at the 2009 conference championships, also returns to defend her Big Ten floor exercise crown.
Penn State was picked to finish first in the preseason poll, returning three All-Americans, 12 letterwinners and 2009 Big Ten Gymnast of the Year Brandi Personett. The Nittany Lions finished third at the 2009 Big Ten Championships and have never won a Big Ten team title.
Illinois was picked second after a runner-up showing at the 2009 Big Ten Championships in Champaign, Ill. Ohio State, Michigan State, Minnesota and Iowa round out the preseason picks.
Michigan will face each Big Ten program but Ohio State in the regular season, before they all square off at the 2010 Big Ten Women's Gymnastics Championships on Saturday, March 27, in Columbus, Ohio.
U-M hosts its annual Maize and Blue Intrasquad on Saturday (Dec. 12) at 7 p.m. at Crisler Arena. Admission to the event is free.
2010 BIG TEN PRESEASON POLL
1. Penn State2. Illinois3. Michigan4. Ohio State5. Michigan State6. Minnesota7. Iowa
2010 PRESEASON BIG TEN WOMEN'S GYMNASTS TO WATCH
| Name | School | Yr. | Hometown |
| Allison Buckley | Illinois | Jr. | Schaumburg, Ill. |
| Melissa Fernandez | Illinois | Jr. | Eudora, Kan. |
| Jessa Hansen | Iowa | So. | Clive, Iowa |
| Rebecca Simbhudas | Iowa | Jr. | Markham, Ontario |
| Natalie Beilstein | Michigan | Fr. | Butler, Pa. |
| Kylee Botterman | Michigan | Jr. | New Lenox, Ill. |
| Nicole Curler | Michigan State | Sr. | Bay City, Mich. |
| Kelsey Morley | Michigan State | Jr. | Elkhart, Ind. |
| Kristin Furukawa | Minnesota | Jr. | Pomona, Calif. |
| Alexis Russell | Minnesota | Sr. | Oakdale, Minn. |
| Rebecca Best | Ohio State | Jr. | Williamstown, N.J. |
| Hillary Dow | Ohio State | Sr. | Yorktown, Va. |
| Whitney Bencsko | Penn State | So. | Pompton Plains, N.J. |
| Brandi Personett | Penn State | Sr. | Katy, Texas |
