Hello: Haley Zapolski (Women's Rowing)
Quick Hello! post (and shout out) to Bettendorf (Iowa) High School senior Haley Zapolski, a member of the U.S. team at the Junior World Rowing Championships this summer in Lithuania. Haley made her verbal commitment to continue her rowing career at Michigan!
(After the team bow was hurt in warm ups, Haley's team competed in the quad race with only three rowers, and finished 3rd out of 7 teams. Awesome!)
The Michigan women's rowing team has qualified for the NCAA championships five-years running. Haley also visited Dartmouth and Princeton.
"I visited Michigan in mid-September and really connected with the coaching staff and team members," Haley said. "The culture of the program really impressed me, as there was a strong desire to row at a high level and a commitment to be supportive of each other during the training process."
Haley has only been rowing for two-years, but is an accomplished swimmer and tri-athlete. Welcome to Michigan, Haley! Go Blue!
October 3rd, 2013 at 11:26 AM ^
That said, rowing is still a sport where walk-ons can become one of the best members of the team (this is much more common in men's rowing, where scholarships are rarer but top hs performers are still recruited) and lightly recruited athletes can blossom in college and surpass rowers who came from major high school programs. So although getting a junior national team member is great for the program, it is no guarantor of success the way getting a top-20 basketball recruit would.
Thanks to the OP for sharing.
October 3rd, 2013 at 11:27 AM ^
October 3rd, 2013 at 11:41 AM ^
Mmmm hmmm.
October 3rd, 2013 at 6:58 PM ^
I agree, it's awesome to see "HELLO" posts for other sports.
And rowing is an interesting sport in that, like you said, you can get a late start and still end up competing at a high level. In some urban areas they have kicked off rowing programs because they provide skilled but underpriveleged kids another way to get college attention (and scholarships) they might not otherwise.
Ann Arbor has some programs to introduce rowing to Middle Schoolers now, and they give the same pitch: there isn't a surplus of rowing talent at the college level, so crew can really open doors.
October 3rd, 2013 at 11:04 AM ^
mgoblog more ecumenical. May Haley Zapolski thrive in A2, and bring honor to our alma mater.
October 3rd, 2013 at 11:05 AM ^
Are you her father or her uncle?
October 3rd, 2013 at 11:06 AM ^
My kids go to Bettendorf. Thought it was cool.
October 3rd, 2013 at 11:10 AM ^
so you're her friend's father :)
j/k - cool story, bro. Seriously. GO BLUE!
October 3rd, 2013 at 11:28 AM ^
Got yer back man.
October 3rd, 2013 at 1:11 PM ^
October 3rd, 2013 at 7:00 PM ^
I've eaten the breakfast version of the Magic Mountain at Ross', so is there some kind of secret handshake we all can do?
October 3rd, 2013 at 11:06 AM ^
It has to be
October 3rd, 2013 at 11:07 AM ^
Welcome Haley!
October 3rd, 2013 at 12:47 PM ^
October 3rd, 2013 at 11:10 AM ^
Title IX required post, obvs.
October 3rd, 2013 at 12:23 PM ^
Who's in bankrupcy?
(I see you fixed the post, not the title!)
October 3rd, 2013 at 11:14 AM ^
I see no problem with this post whatsover. Clearly titled (so if you're not interested, don't click), concerns someone attending MIchigan and is kinda cool in its own obtuse way.
And it's not like its knocking something important off the front page so why complain?
October 3rd, 2013 at 11:31 AM ^
First homework assignment (assuming you already know "The Victors")... learn the important 4 stanzas of "The Yellow and Blue" (beyond just "Hail!"). You'll understand soon enough. Congrats and Go Blue!!
October 3rd, 2013 at 11:31 AM ^
Why the hell are people complaining about a Hello post? Honestly, Hello posts are one of the most exciting things that come up on MGoBlog, especially when the athlete is superb in their field.
Who cares if it is a sport with less publicity? If she represents Michigan at a high level in athletics, it is very, very relevant to MGoBlog.
EDIT: Apparently my post is now outdated. GO BLUE!!!!!
October 3rd, 2013 at 11:33 AM ^
Because it is MGoBlog and people have to find something to complain about.
October 3rd, 2013 at 2:01 PM ^
October 3rd, 2013 at 11:49 AM ^
Why hasn't anyone else from the rowing team ever gotten a hello post? Are they worthy? I've see a women's water polo hello post; what we don't have any bloggers interested in talking about that sport. Michigan gives out almost 350 athletic scholarships a year and if you count partial scholarships you are looking at easily in the 400's. I think that's easily enough for every single day of the year.
Imagine waking up every day knowing that somebody somewhere will commit to play a varsity sport at Michigan. Pretty amazing, right?
October 3rd, 2013 at 11:58 AM ^
So one or so new "Hello" posts per day? I think the board can somehow make room for it. Of course that does mean that really important things like a discussion of stupid trophy names or the suspension of an Alabama player for a game will move off the front page a bit quicker but I think we can manage.
Actually i think the idea of a "Hello" post for every scholarship athlete attending Michigan is fantastic.
October 3rd, 2013 at 12:39 PM ^
October 3rd, 2013 at 11:54 AM ^
A Hello post without star-ratings and times? I need 500m/2000m times to calibrate the appropriate level of excitement.
October 3rd, 2013 at 12:43 PM ^
I'd be shocked if she wasn't in the 6:50-7:20 range on a 2k with them shredding so hard at the worlds.
October 3rd, 2013 at 1:00 PM ^
October 3rd, 2013 at 1:14 PM ^
Her berecruited page listed her in the low 7:20s. Very few women even in collegiate ranks go sub 7.
October 3rd, 2013 at 11:58 AM ^
I am a big fan for Hello posts for all commitments not just for Football and Basketball.
She seems like a great pickup. This rowing class (2013 or 14?) must be ranked in the Top 10 with a blue chip recruit like this. I hope the coach can keep it up.
Outlook for the rest of the class: With few spot left this class looks to fill our with highly regarded walk-ons that should make for deep bench(?).
October 3rd, 2013 at 12:02 PM ^
October 3rd, 2013 at 12:23 PM ^
It's all about pad level
October 3rd, 2013 at 12:46 PM ^
The ultimate spectator sport......Welcome Haley
October 3rd, 2013 at 1:54 PM ^
is a big deal in rowing. You have to be dang good to make that squad. And the fact she's only rowed for two years is impressive too. Welcome to the best Haley!
October 3rd, 2013 at 4:09 PM ^
hearing about 5-star rowing recruits. All of us will be happy to give you a standing ovation when you are introduced as a Michigan Olympian.
This is awesome and welcome to Michigan!
October 3rd, 2013 at 4:29 PM ^
Welcome Haley!
I row recreationally at a local club that competes in a few regattas around the state.
Last one I went to was in Lansing and the highlight was the last race of the day MSU v UM 8+ varsity teams. Michigan won by over a boat length. Watching those dudes was eye opening.
October 3rd, 2013 at 4:30 PM ^
I'm squinting at the picture, but she looks kinda young.
/JK. Thought I'd honor her by giving her the full MGoBlog recruit experience.
October 3rd, 2013 at 7:50 PM ^
October 4th, 2013 at 8:59 AM ^
Funny thing is that she probably visited during the Notre Dame game, so chalk up another recruiting victory for UTL2.
October 4th, 2013 at 12:04 AM ^
It is exciting for somebody, therefore it is exciting for me. Swell. I clicked, I read, and I do not feel as though my precious time was wasted one iota.
October 4th, 2013 at 10:44 AM ^
How many fakes out of five?
What does this mean for the rest of the class?