Conrad
Davie
Mika
SOFTBALL SENIORS -- A TERRIFIC TRIO
Q&A with Traci Conrad, Catherine Davie and Tammy Mika
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Conrad Davie Mika |
Individually, the names of Conrad, Davie and Mika are sprinkled throughout Michigan's game, season and career records. They will leave the University as one of the most successful classes in the program's 22-year history. The trio took time from their practice schedule to reflect on their four years at Michigan, playing for Wolverine head coach Carol Hutchins, previewing the final month of their collegiate careers, and talking about life after college.
Q Why did each of you choose the University of Michigan?
Catherine Davie: "I wanted to go to Michigan since I was little. My dad lived in the Detroit area for some time, so he became a huge Michigan fan, and then I grew up a huge Michigan fan. I'm from southern California, so I used to go to the Rose Bowl when Michigan would go in the '80s. I just love Michigan and I wanted to go here for a long time. And I wanted to get out of California."
Tammy Mika: "I came to Michigan because I like big schools and big sports. I like the atmosphere; everyone gets excited about Michigan."
Traci Conrad: "I came to Michigan because it was a great softball and academic program. And just knowing the great tradition of Michigan and everything that goes along with that made my decision."
Q How difficult was it to turn the team around after the 0-3 start to the 1999 season?
Mika: "I don't think it was difficult. Everyone was in shock, like ... whoa, we lost three games. But everyone also expects to win here -- we all expect to win."
Q Was there any extra pressure on the team to replace essentially three All-Americans (pitcher Sara Griffin and outfielder Kellyn Tate to graduation and catcher Melissa Gentile to injury)?
Davie: "I think there was some pressure. Hutch told me at the start of practice, 'We expect a lot out of your bat.' I expect a lot out of myself, too, so she wasn't putting extra pressure on us, but obviously it's going to take more on our part. Individually, I didn't look at it as replacing anyone, but it was just doing our job."
Traci Conrad |
Mika: "I don't think so. You have to prepare the same way (as a starter or reserve) because you never know (when you'll be needed to play)."
Davie: "Hutch would use us all the time, pretty much in every game our first three seasons. You have to go to the field with the mentality that I'm going to play. So, no I don't think it's different."
Q What do you think will be the Class of 1999's legacy to the Michigan softball program?
Conrad: "I think we've set high expectations for everything that follows, knowing we expect every year to win Big Ten and regional championships and go back to the Women's College World Series. The expectations once we're gone aren't going to change. I think our class, as did the class that graduated before us, set that expectation."
Davie: "If anything, I hope we leave the underclassmen with the understanding that just because we are Michigan, we are not going to (automatically) win -- it takes hard work. No matter who you are or how good you are, it doesn't matter as long as you know you have to work hard. Don't expect anything -- have high expectations, but don't expect anything ... really work hard for it."
Mika: "I think everyone before you teaches you (about Michigan and softball) so you can learn and teach every class below you. Like the juniors who have gone to the Women's College World Series for two years will be expected to keep it going. I just think that (U-M softball expectations) keep going on and up every year."
Q Is it strange to play certain opponents and see some of your former teammates in coaching roles (Kathryn Gleason at U-Mass; Sara Griffin at Arizona State; Kellyn Tate and former player and assistant coach Kelly Kovach at Penn State)?
Mika: "It's fun (too see them)."
Davie: "They're so close to us in age that I don't really think of them as a coach. I see them more as one of my friends who got a coaching job. It's exciting, and I'm proud that a lot of Michigan former players have gone on to assistant coaching positions. You really learn so much from Hutch."
 Tammy Mika |
Davie: "I'm going to stay in Ann Arbor for another year. I'm going to be done with school, but I'm just going to work. I eventually want to go back to California, but I really like it here and I want to be able to enjoy it without any school or softball. I'm also a musician and I want to start a band. I've wanted to do that since I was little, but I've been so busy with sports and school all my life that I haven't had a chance to go out after that. I play guitar and I sing and write songs -- everything from Sarah McLachlan to Pink Floyd. I'm influenced musically by a lot of people."
Mika: "I'm going to dental school at the University of Detroit, so I'll be moving out of Ann Arbor."
Conrad: "I plan on going into coaching and earning my master's degree. I don't know where I'll be yet, so we'll see."
Q Catherine and Traci were both drafted in the WPSL; are you going to play in the league?
Traci: "I'm planning on going to the Akron Racers after I'm done with the season. I am looking forward to playing, but I'm not thinking about it right now. I'm just really focusing on our season. We have a lot ahead of us and (playing professionally) is not something I want to think about right now."
Davie: "I thought about (playing professionally) after I was drafted by the Virginia Roadsters. Usually at the end of our season I'm exhausted, and this season I've had a few shoulder problems. I want to get a job in Ann Arbor and I'm really looking forward to staying in Ann Arbor this season."
Q What has it been like playing softball under Hutch for four years?
Davie: "We've definitely learned a lot and will take a lot away from the four years."
Conrad: "She was our coach and she'll talk to us about softball. At the same time, she knows us all individually and she knows what type of people we are. Instead of just treating everybody the same, she knows our different personalities. She's really well-balanced between coaching and being a role model ... kind of like a mom away from home."
Catherine Davie |
Conrad: "Umm, no."
Davie: "She's been talking about it for months, though."
Mika: "She had it written on her locker board every game."
Davie: "She has her own website about it."
Conrad: "I actually didn't even know when I did it until they announced (the record). It's something that I can look back on, and it's a great accomplishment. I honestly didn't know of it until they said that I did it."
Q What are the the goals for the remainder of the 1999 season? How far can this team go?
Conrad: "All the way ... as far as we want to go."
Davie: "Of course, we're looking to the (Women's College) World Series and we have to take one game at a time. I would like to go one more time because I really want to do better in the World Series -- everybody does -- than we've done in the past. The (national title) is really up for grabs this year; I really think any team is capable of beating anybody who goes. And I think this (Michigan) team ... has the ability ... to do it all."
Mika: "We don't want to come back from Oklahoma City sad. "We're a real team and we mesh real well. That's the cool thing (about this team) -- everyone contributes. We've got three pitchers going. Everyone's involved in some way, going toward one goal. It's a more team-oriented team."
Q What is the most memorable experience of your four years at Michigan?
Mika: "Beating Iowa at Iowa (1997 Big Ten Tournament."
Davie: "(Our wins) in Iowa."
Conrad: "The 1997 Big Ten Tournament at Iowa. They had won the Big Ten season championship that year and were undefeated in the Big Ten. We beat them twice to win the Big Ten Tournament at their field -- it was great. I also remember our first win at the World Series against South Carolina in 1997."
Last updated: Wednesday, 12-May-1999 22:39:44 EDT