Kornacki: Seniors Say Good-Bye
6/30/2016 12:00:00 AM | General
June 30, 2016
By Steve Kornacki
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Saying good-bye is never easy to do. But here's what 10 University of Michigan seniors had to share about that experience as they closed out playing careers as Wolverines:
Madison Ristovski and Kelsey Mitchell, women's basketball players/roommates, before their final regular-season home game at Crisler Center:
"Can we stretch it out?" Mitchell asked with a smile.
Her eyes twinkled at the thought.
Ristovski added, "I can think back to every single game and moments, the trips, the places and the teammates I've had. It's been an incredible four years. When people say that college is the best four years of your life, I say, 'Well, if you play college basketball, you would say that it's even better.'
"Senior Day is coming, and I'm freaking out about it. I'm excited but very sad to eventually be leaving. But Kelsey and I will keep the relationships we have here forever. All of a sudden, the seasons just went by, though. I'm counting the games that are left."
Mitchell added: "You can't take any moment for granted, and every time I get on the court I try to do all I can because I know it's coming down the stretch. It's such a privilege to play for such a great university. I feel really blessed to wear the block M on my jersey."
Steve Racine, ice hockey goalie, after making 44 saves in the NCAA Midwest Regional final loss to eventual national champion North Dakota:
"It was the best year of the four for sure. Every year was great. Just being at Michigan is the opportunity of a lifetime. It's something I'll remember for the rest of my life. I'll..."
Racine got choked up, paused, and added, "It was great."
Jake Rudock, football quarterback, whose senior season was his only one for the Wolverines after becoming a graduate transfer from Iowa. He threw for 3,017 yards and 20 touchdowns.
Rudock cherished his brief time at Michigan, wishing he could've played longer for Coach Jim Harbaugh and the Wolverines.
Harbaugh and Rudock were seated together at a press conference after Rudock threw for 278 yards and three touchdowns to lead Michigan to a 41-7 win over Florida in the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl in Orlando. The coach leaned in toward Rudock and smiled widely before saying, "And I bet if you ask Jake Rudock, 'Jake, is this your best year in football?' "
Rudock grinned, nodded and said, "Yeah. It's hard to argue with that."
The quarterback later added: "I'm just really excited about what we were able to do. Ten wins is no small feat in college football. It's very difficult to get there. And I'm just so thankful that we were able to do that as a team. That's the biggest thing."
The Detroit Lions drafted Rudock, putting his plans to attend medical school and pursue pediatric medicine on hold.
Spike Albrecht and Caris LeVert, men's basketball co-captains who played in an NCAA championship game as freshmen, with Albrecht scoring 17 points off the bench against Louisville, on what they both hold dearest about the Michigan experience:
"Probably the relationships I built with my teammates and coaches," said LeVert. "Those are things that go way beyond basketball. I'm grateful for all the support I got here.
"I loved my four years here."
Albrecht added, "It was everything. It was my teammates, coaches, fans. I had a lot of fun here and had some unforgettable moments.
"I want to say thank you to everybody who made this such a special four years for me. It was an unbelievable ride for me and my family, and I can't thank the coaches, the University of Michigan and the fans enough for all the love and support they've given me.
"So, Go Blue!"
LeVert was drafted in the first round by the NBA's Brooklyn Nets. Albrecht, who was injured nearly the entire 2015-16 season, will play one more season for Purdue as a graduate transfer.
Ali Thomason, the water polo captain who set the school's single-season goal-scoring record with 94, after Wolverine coach Dr. Marcelo Leonardi said Thomason's improved so much that she could be a 2020 U.S. Olympic team contender:
"I don't know," said Thomason. "I still look at myself and see the freshman that came in and look at the girl and player I wanted to become, and I still look at it as every day there are more ways to get better.
"It's hard for me sometimes to step back and look at the whole picture, when every day I am looking at individual things to make myself my best."
Chase Brown, men's lacrosse longstick midfielder and captain, recalling the team banquet his freshman year:
"It's crazy. The seniors got up and said, 'Freshmen, this is going to be you one day. Time flies.' You hear that, but you take it for granted, and now, four years later, I'm in their shoes. Everything they said was correct. Time flies.
"But every experience and every opportunity I had here, I loved. I loved being part of the Michigan lacrosse family. I'll never regret coming here."
Mason Ferlic, men's cross country and track and field All-American, won the NCAA 3,000-meter steeplechase in his final race as a Wolverine with a personal-best 8:27.16 and qualified for the U.S. Olympic trials with a little less than three seconds to spare:
"I had the confidence," said Ferlic, "but there's always doubt going into the race. So when I heard the splits I just kept pushing. I recognized the opportunity presented to me, and I knew I was fitter and faster, so I started to press up front and get some separation, and once I got that I just kept ratcheting it down.
"I just ran hard from the gun. To accomplish my dreams is an amazing feeling."
Sierra Romero, softball second baseman, captain and USA Softball Player of the Year, after the Wolverines were eliminated in the Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma:
"I mean, ever since I stepped foot on campus, Michigan has done nothing but great things for me, and I've just tried my best to represent Michigan the best way I know how. Playing for Hutch and Team 39 this year has been amazing. There's no other place I'd rather be, no other uniform I'd rather have, and I love Michigan."
