Sunday, May 6, 2001

Sooman Kim Honored as 2001 MVP

1st Year Goalie Makes an Impact

Ann Arbor, Mich.-- Sooman Kim (Troy, MI/Troy HS) had some big shoes to fill this year when he first walked onto the Michigan lacrosse practice field in the fall.  Replacing Josh Charm, a two-year starter who led the team to two straight CCLA titles and USLIA Quarterfinal appearances, was a major concern for the Michigan coaching staff, especially with capable backup Kirt Marsh (Tacoma, WA/Curtis HS) spending the year studying overseas.  Enter Kim, who earned the starting position when a solid Fall ironed many of the wrinkles out of his game - after a five year hiatus since high school.

Kim was honored today at the annual Michigan Lacrosse Awards Brunch with the 2001 Team Most Valuable Player Award.  He amassed a .629 save percentage, while allowing only 7.01 goals per game this year.

Jeff Hadwin (Vestal, NY/Vestal HS), a pre-season USLIA 1st-Team All-American received the award as the team's Offensive MVP.  Hadwin, a two-year captain,  led the team with 49 goals this year, despite being locked off in almost every game he played.

Greg Deutch (Boca Raton, FL/St. Andrews HS), another pre-season USLIA 1st-Team All-American, took home the team's Defensive MVP Award.  Deutch is Michigan's most aggressive defender.

John Morgan (Rockville Centre, NY/South Side HS) was honored as the 2001 Rookie of the Year.  On a team that boasted 18 first-year players, that is no small accomplishment.  Morgan, who plays close defense, is Michigan's steadiest defenseman.

Dave Bernard (Litchfield, CT/Westminster HS), a senior midfielder who scored 22 goals and added 5 assists this season, was given the Commitment/Citizenship Award.  Bernard improved dramatically over the past two seasons due to the hours he put in off the field on his own.  He was incredibly supportive of younger players on the team in helping them assimilate.

Wesley Martus (Nashville, TN/Hillsboro HS) took home a pair of awards.  The senior captain  was voted the team's most inspirational leader with the 2001 Leadership/Inspiration Award, and he also received, for the third straight year, the team's Scholar-Athlete Award.  Martus carries a 3.7 GPA in BioPhysics and will attend medical school in the fall.  Beginning next year, the award will be renamed the Wesley Martus Award (and in four years, the Dr. Wesley Martus Award).

The Unsung Hero Award was presented to senior captain Micah Veith (Oak Park, IL/Oak Park River Forest HS).  Veith sacrificed his role as a goal scorer this season to become a defensive short-stick midfielder, where his athleticism, speed and physical play anchored a vastly improved unit.

Head coach John Paul handed out two special Coaches Awards as well to recognize players who had other significant impacts on the team this year.  One went to Tom Burns (Bloomfield, MI/Brother Rice HS) who totaled 20 goals and 19 assists this season, despite missing 5 games with an ankle injury.  The other went to Kevin Keenan (Bloomfield Hills, MI/Seaholm HS), the team's other starting defensive midfielder, who also handles many administrative duties for the players.

The Brunch was held at the Dahlmann Campus Inn in Ann Arbor.