Michigan Grows Amazing Olympians

On the campus of Northern Michigan University is the first and only Olympic Education Center, dedicated to providing aspiring Olympic athletes, primarily in non-NCAA sports, the opportunity to continue their educations while training to represent the U.S. at the Olympic Games.  In 1985, the U.S. Olympic Committee originally designated NMU an Olympic Training Center.  In recognition of its special role in educating Olympic athletes, however, the university was re-designated as the nation's only Olympic Education Center in 1989.  NMU is just one of many Michigan breeding grounds for Olympic dreams. 

Perhaps most notable in Beijing, was Michigan's influence in the pool.  Most people have heard by now, that Michael Phelps trained for his unprecedented eight Gold Medals at the University of Michigan.  He was also joined there by Peter Vanderkaay, who was born in Royal Oak and raised in Rochester.  Vanderkaay earned a Gold Medal in the Men's 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay and an individual Bronze in the 200m Freestyle.  Eighteen year old, Allison Schmitt, who was raised in Canton and trains in Ann Arbor, had a grand first Olympic experience, topped by a Bronze Medal in the Women's 4 x 200m Freestyle.  Kara Lynn Joyce, raised in Ann Arbor, also helped her team swim to a Silver Medal in the Women's 4 x 100m Freestyle.

Ann Arbor is also home to two members of the U.S. Women's Water Polo team, who defeated Australia 9-8 in one of the most dramatic bouts of these Olympic Games, to earn the right to play in the final.  Betsey Armstrong and Alison Gregorka helped their team capture Silver Medals. 

Not surprisingly, Michigan's athletes are equally comfortable on the water.  The U.S. rowing team boasts two Wolverines, Matt Hughes, born and raised in Ludington and Ellen Tomek of Flushing.  Hughes and his teammates rowed their way to an impressive fifth place showing in the Men's Quadruple Skulls.  Tomek and her crewing partner equalled that rank in Women's Double Skulls.  Meanwhile Grosse Pointe's own Carrie Howe and her colleagues coasted into ninth place in the Yngling Sailing competition.  

Comfortable on land, beast, and in the water, is BMN friend, Sheila Taormina, who made history  this year by competing in the Modern Pentathalon, which combines pistol shooting, fencing, swimming, running, and show jumping.  Born and raised in Livonia, Taormina also participated in the Olympics in 1996, 2000 and 2004 in the sports of swimming and triathlon.  She did not medal in Modern Pentathalon, but finished first in both swimming and show jumping, and became the first person in U.S. history to compete in three different sports at the Olympic Games. 

Michigan has another "shooter" in the form of Daryl Szaranski.  Szaranski, a native of Saginaw, placed 14th in Men's 50m Pistol Qualification.  Simultaneously shooting for glory were soccer stars, Lindsay Tarplay of Kalamazoo and Kate Markgraf of Bloomfield Hills, who battled Japan in the football final to win Gold.

Track and field featured Rockford's own Dathan Ritzenhein in the grueling Men's Marathon.  He finished ninth, with the best run of the U.S. team.  Meanwhile, U of M's Anna Willard finished tenth in the Women's 3000m Steeplechase Final.  The race was run around the beautiful infield in the "Bird's Nest", which incidentally was composed of Kentucky Bluegrass grown through the expertise of MSU Turf & Grass Management professor, Trey Rogers. 

Wrestling is another stronghold for our state with four of our collegiate athletes making the team.  They are Andy Hrovat from the University of Michigan and Spenser Mango, Randi Miller, and Adam Wheeler, all from the Olympic Education Center of Northern Michigan University.  Miller won a Bronze in Women's Freestyle 63 kg and Wheeler won one for Men's Greco 96 kg.  

BMN congratulates our world class universities and athletes on their tremendous accomplishments, and most importantly for representing our state and our nation with class and brilliance!