Realizing the Wolverines had checked many of the boxes that
were important to her, it was another chance for one of Pennsylvania's all-time
best throwers to make sure Ann Arbor was where she wants to spend the next four
years or so. It is.
"With Michigan, what stood
out to me was the student atmosphere while I was there but also the athletic
and academic programs they have there," Tapper said on the eve of announcing
her verbal commitment to the Big Ten athletics power. "Usually with most bigger
sports schools, the academic program might not be as strong, but with Michigan,
you are getting the best of both worlds. You are getting that top-notch
athletic program that most (recruits) are looking for, and you are also getting
one of the top public universities in the country as your academics."
As for the Michigan track and field program, they soon will
be getting one of the nation's best discus and shot performers from the Class
of 2023. Tapper's PRs and Hempfield school records of 164 feet, 4 inches in the
discus and 48-0.5 in the shot from the 2022 outdoor season were Nos. 6 and 11,
respectively, in the country.
"Liz
is an extremely dedicated athlete," Hempfield throws coach Dave Murray said. "She
trains with me year-round, even during volleyball. As a thrower,
increasing strength is crucial to improving distance. Liz will often come to
lift at volleyball practice.
"She
lifted and threw all summer as well, often in front of coaches who came to
recruit her. I have never coached a higher recruited athlete or more
accomplished athlete. Her winning nationals in the discus in front of many
coaches was huge for her recruitment."
With her official announcement today (October 20) at the Spartans' volleyball senior
night, Tapper, like many coveted high school standouts, is glad to have the
recruiting process behind her.
"I never would want to do that over," Tapper laughed. "My first
time getting a call for recruitment was in October of last year. After that
first call, it was an every night sort of thing. So you were on the phone ...
every single night, talking to new people, letting them know information about
you and trying to get as much information about a place and then having to judge
from those calls whether to take a visit there. That is a very difficult thing,
and it's very stressful."
In addition to Michigan, Tapper took official visits to Ohio
State, Kentucky and Duke. She plans to major in biology in Ann Arbor, with
additional plans for medical school and a career as an orthopedic physician focusing
on sports medicine.
Tapper is the latest in a very long line of top-level
throwers to come out of Murray's program at Hempfield. Every year since 2001, a
Hempfield athlete has stood on the podium at the PIAA finale at Shippensburg to
receive their medal in either the shot put or discus.
"As
a freshman, I knew Liz was very talented during her first practice," Murray
said of the standout who got her track and field start in and still competes in
the pole vault. "When she began throwing, it was primarily for something for
her to do during indoor on days when she was not vaulting. She lost her outdoor
season her freshman year because of COVID but continued to train with me at my
house with some incredible throwers including Mackenna Orie, Daniel Norris and
Bella Gera. I believe this is when she fell in love with throwing."
Tapper confirmed her throws coach's assessment of her
relationship with the throws.
"With shot, I started off pretty well just for picking it up,
but my heart was still kinda with pole vault," she said. "The first time I picked
up a discus I think that's when I really realized that it was something I wanted
to do. I caught on with the discus very easily so I think the first time I threw
disc with Murray was definitely when I saw my future as a thrower."
In mid-June, Tapper claimed her first national championship
in her specialty. With a best toss of 163-3, she won the New Balance Nationals
Outdoor by more than 6 feet, with half of her throws better than anybody else
in the field. She also finished fourth in the shot put in the meet at Franklin
Field in Philadelphia.
"We
would like to see Liz break the WPIAL and state records in the discus," Murray
said of goals for the upcoming 2023 season. "We both believe she can throw
between 170-180. Liz has also set a goal of throwing over 50 feet in the shot
put.
"It
has been an absolute pleasure coaching Liz. I am extremely proud of her
accomplishments!"
