THE MICHIGAN DAILY THURSDAY, . , S17...SEND SPORT-WHYS Back on Top CARDS THERE IS NO "ALL-SPORTS" trophy in the Big Ten. In fact, not ish or not, a very many people have ever said that there should be one. However, a few years ago Michigan sports fans began to think that there should d ones Will be such a thing, since it was becoming evident that the Wolverines mark Cards would win it every year. Then there was last year; and the amateur statisticians were right and confounded when they discovered that Michigan State would have nrock from won the crown they were trying to invent. This fall things looked bad for both the Michigan squads as they isit US Soon finished well "out of it" in the football campaign. But since that time s, things have perked up for the Wolverines. Of the five winter sports teams that compete in the Big Ten, four of them are going into Conference meets with at least a fighting chance for the title, while the cagers need only a final victory for a sure share of second place. In fact, things are beginning to look like this may be the most successful winter campaign in the history of Michigan athletics. The NO 3-4514 final answer, of course, will come this weekend when all of the "M" squads wrap up their Big Ten action. A Sure Winner .. . UNDOUBTEDLY the surest bet in the history of Big Ten sports, Michigan's powerful swimming team is not out simply to win the title, but rather to win it "better" than has ever been done before. The goal: 150 pints. The chances: couldn't be better. FEIN The Best Bet IT LOOKS LIKE the Big Ten track meet is going to be a two-team battle-and between the two teams that staged the greatest dual meet in Conference history only a few weeks back. The score of that meet: Illinois ???, Michigan ???. Since that time speculation has been ranging over this weekend's rematch of the two powers in the Big Ten chtampionships. The nod now goes to the Wolverines, since they have continued to improve since that match. A Fighting Chance... WHILE ILLINOIS is battling Michigan on Wisconsin's indoor track, the same two schools will be running rough-shod over the other Big Ten gymnastics teams at Indiana. Here again the Illini and Wolverines staged the greatest dual meet in Conference gym history this winter, with the "M" men winning, 58-54. And again the dual meet loser gets the nod for Conference honors. The experts can't see how the Illini can lose the big one with their great one-two punch of Abie Grossfeld and Don Tonry. But the "M" acrobats don't entirely agree with the experts. The Big Toss-Up... OWA, MINNESOTA, Illinois, Michigan State and Michigan will all be carrying distinct title hopes into the Conference wrestling meet at Iowa City this weekend. And any one of them can easily justify I .such hopes when the dual meet season is reviewed. The Hawkeyes have the best record, but all of the other squads have had some "good" days when they could have handled the host team. As is always the case, the team that is up for the meet and that gets good scoring balance from almost all entries will take the title. Even the Cagers.. .. W HILE THE other "M" squads are nearing possible Conference crowns, the Michigan basketball team has been putting on a stretch drive of its own. In fact, for the first time in a number of years You r it looks like the hardwood warriors will earn themselves a first division finish. That is, if they can beat Minnesota Saturday. Of course, there really are three divisions in the league 'this year, and the Wolverines- along with everyone else-failed to join MSU in the select "top" division. Then There's Hockey .,.. THE ONLY "M" TEAM that hasn't had a successful winter is the hockey squad, but they don't count in the race for an "all-sports" crown since there is no Conference hockey league. This just might serve as proof that a league does help to keep a team "up" for the 3rvice) games, and it certainly helps get the fans out to watch the team. It is hoped that the drive for a Big Ten puck circuit, which Michigan has been supporting, will soon come about. And in the meantime the other "M" squads just might bring home 5588 four firsts and a second in the Big Ten. And even if it fell to the worst possible: one first, two seconds, a fifth and a sixth-it would be nothing to be ashamed of. Either way, Michigan would be back on top of the league. ...Baseball Captain Named Scholastically Ineligible ByJMBNG 'By JIM BENAGH Lady luck turned her back on Michigan athletics again as base- ball star Ralph Hutchings became the sixth captain-elect to be swept to the wayside Inethe last two years. Hutchings, a senior from De- troit, was declared scholastically in eligible for the spring semester because he received an "E" in one course. The trend of losing captains be- gan two years ago when Steve Boros, baseball captain-elect for 1958, signed a bonus contract to play for the Detroit Tigers. Last year swim-captain Dick Adamski went on academic ineligibility and gym leader Ed Gagnier sat out most of the season due to injuries. During the past fall semester, football captain John Herrnstein lasted less than three games be- fore -injuries forced him to the sidelines-and Jack Lewis, who was to head this year's basketball team, received probation as a result of Joint Judiciary discipline. K Hutchings, a pre-medical studies major, said he has an overall 3.0 grade average in his three years at Michigan and "had good grades other than the 'E' last semester." "It is unfortunate that we will lose Ralph," declared Coach Don Lund. "However, it is a Confer- ence rule that you become auto- matically ineligible upon getting an nE' "y Hutchings said he may try out DENNIS FITZGERALD . to compete at 167