OKLAHOMA CITY - They came to Michigan in the fall of 1993 with different backgrounds but the same goals.
Each of the five seniors on this year's Michigan softball team was recruited by head coach Carol Hutchins to help bring the program to the next level - the national level. Two traveled from California while three came from Michigan to play the sport they loved.
When the careers of Kelly Holmes, Jessica Lang, Jennifer Smith, Tracy Taylor and Mary Adams began four seasons ago, the Wolverines had just won two consecutive Big Ten titles, but had yet to take that next step - making it to the Women's College World Series.
The 1994 season was a rebuilding year for the Wolverines, who struggled to replace leaders from the '93 squad. Michigan fell to third place in the conference and failed to qualify for the NCAA tournament. Holmes, Lang and Smith were all given the opportunity to play everyday as freshmen. Taylor platooned in the outfield, and Adams established herself as a reliable pinch runner.
In their second year with the program, the five sophomores - three of them in starting roles - helped to take Michigan to that next level. After winning the Big Ten title for the third time in four years, Michigan swept its way through the regional and earned its first appearance in the WCWS.
Lang started at second base and knocked in 41 runs. Smith started 52 games for the Wolverines and improved her batting average by 70 points from her freshman year.
Although Holmes saw her duties decrease with Kelly Kovach and freshman Sara Griffin shouldering the bulk of the load, Holmes managed to appear in 16 games, going 11-1.
In their third year at Michigan, the juniors again played an important role in leading the team to its second-straight Big Ten title and repeat WCWS appearance. But despite their successes, the Wolverines once again failed to win any games at the World Series.
This season held high expectations for the five seniors and the rest of their Michigan teammates. Despite failing to win a game at the previous WCWS, Michigan entered the '97 campaign ranked fifth in the nation. Lang was named the captain while Smith closed her career as a four-year starter at catcher. Holmes was expected to play an important backup role to staff ace Griffin.
While Lang and Smith performed reliably throughout their senior seasons, Holmes' status changed dramatically following a season-ending injury to Griffin.
As the No. 1 pitcher on the team, Holmes established herself as one of the premier pitchers in the nation. She won 36 games over the course of the season on her way to being named the Big Ten pitcher of the year.
With a win over Central Michigan during NCAA regional round, Holmes broke the Michigan career record for victories, and led the Wolverines into the World Series for the third straight year.
Despite losing their first game in the series to Iowa, the Wolverines finally won a game in the WCWS by defeating South Carolina, 1-0.
"Someone on our staff said that we have gotten the monkey off our back," Hutchins said. "But we have been in the World Series the last three years, and I think we are playing at the level that we expect to."
Although Michigan lost its next game to UCLA, it had taken the next step - winning a game at the World Series. This group of seniors led Michigan to a school-record 56 wins and its first victory in the championship round. The seniors not only contributed with offense and defense, but also helped to make the younger players important and influential members of the team.
They can only hope that they have laid the groundwork for the Wolverines to take that next step - a national championship.