PAGE EIGHT
THE MICHIGAN DAILY
WEDNESDAY. 3 FEBRUARY 1965"
PAGE EIGHT THE MICHIGAN DAHA WEDNESDAY. 3 FEBRUARY 1965
PLAYS THE HEAVY:
Understudy Spaly
Emerges as Star
F,
U
11
I
I
ON
ATE STRE
WEDNESDAY-THURSDAY-FRIDAY
It
[: I
-Daily-Jim Lines
HEAVYWEIGHT WRESTLER BOB SPALY tries to score a take-
down on his opponent in last year's meet with Penn State.
Spaly finished second in the Big Ten and third -in the NCAA
tournament last year and is undefeated so far this season in dual
meet competition.
By BOB CARNEY
Once just an understudy, Bob Spaly has finally gained top billing.
Spaly-who looks more like one of Hollywood's heroes than a
heavyweight wrestler-has had to play the role of understudy to one
of Michigan's great heavyweights, Jack Barden, for ,the past three
seasons.
As a freshman, a sophomore, and even last year when Spaly held
down the starting spot as a junior, the lanky 200-pounder was known
to many Midwestern wrestling fans as simply "the guy who replaced
Jack Barden."
Status Changes
But since last year's season opener, his status has changed con-
siderably.
Spaly's dual meet record alone, an impressive 10-1-2, might have
been enough to convince some observers of the fact that he could hold
his own against any opponent. To the coaches and fans who had wit-
nessed the flawless performances of wrestlers like Barden and Denny
Fitzgerald, however, a victory-laden season record wasn't enough. It
would be in the Big Ten tournament and in the NCAA championship
that he would show his true colors.
Spaly did.
In the Big Ten championship he lost only once-in the finals-
and brought home the runnerup trophy as the Wolverines took the
Big Ten title. And in an even more impressive showing in the NCAAs,
Spaly again met defeat only once and walked away with a third
place finish.
Out of the Wings
With those two performances, Spaly silenced any would-be critics,
and ended his "backstage" existence. Improvement, however, has con-
tinued for the native Ann Arborite, who apparently isn't satisfied with
'just second.' In five dual meets this season, Spaly has yet to lose, pin-
ning one opponent at Pitt, and shutting out three others.
His victory at Illinois in the Big Ten opener is symbolic of the
progress the ex-Barden-protege has made. In that one he completely
dominated the match, three times came within inches of pinning his
opponent, and emerged with a 13-0 victory.
Besides these dual meet wins,a
Spaly placed third in the Midlands"
Tournament during the holidays
behind Olympian Larry Kristoffr
and Morehead State's Bob Bill-
berg, whom Spaly refers to as "the
next national champ."
*Pushes Barden
"Spaly's come a long way i
three years," says Coach Cliff,
Keen. "He couldn't wrestle be-
cause of Barden as a sophomore,
of course, but 'even then he was
pushing Jack hard enough to send
i n discussing Spaly's improve-
ment since that time, Keen cites a
somewhat surprising factor con-
sidering the stereotype of the typ-,
ically massive, less-than-intelli-
gent heavyweight wrestler: a BOB SPALY
sharp mental attitude.
"Bob knows what's going on. every minute he's in there," says
Keen. "He's an exceptionally fine competitor."
Spaly himself recognizes the importance of mental conditioning
in the man-to-man situation that wrestling provides.
Nervousness
"Nervousness is natural," he says, "but if a wrestler allows him-
self to become overly nervous, he tires muh more quickly, and gives
an inferior opponent a chance to 'psych him out'."
And if Spaly doesn't fit the stereotype of the heavyweight wrestler
mentally, neither does he in physical makeup. He's taler-6' 2"-and
lighter-he could wrestle at 191 pounds-than nearly every one of his
Big Ten opponents, and often finds himself looking down at a stocky
230-pounder with a neck size of 20.
The situation has brought with it both advantages and dis-
advantages.
In the former category Keen cites Spaly's ability to "cover the
mat well," and Spaly points to the fact that several holds-those
requiring control of both his legs and his waist-are virtually impos-
sible for an opponent to get on him.
Problems Too
But his stature has caused him problems at times too, especially
in the weight department where he may find himself the slimmer by
20 or 30 pounds.
"In a situation like that, I just can't afford to be caught on the
bottom," says Spaly. "If I'm taken down, I use a quick, stand-up
escape."
Despite the disadvantages, however, this combination of a good
mental disposition and a unique physical stature have helped Spaly
to become one of the team's real "stylists."
"I like to 'shoot' from the side and use a one-leg takedown," he
says, "and right now I'm working on a new riding style."
The change in style is designed to bring more opportunities for
pins, and involves riding the opponent around the legs rather than
higher on the body.
Safer Ride
'It's a safer ride for a lighter wrestler," claims Spaly. "And it'll
give me more opportunity to use my legs in working for the pi." In
his 13-0 victory at Illinois, Spaly did just that. Using the "guillotine"
he came within inches of pinning his opponent three different times,
and gained three near falls.
Aside from escape methods, guillotine holds, and new riding
§ 1
4 A4
B argain Days F eb. 3-Feb. 6 §
Asubstantial saviugs is offeyed on a special gr o
§ of clothing and furnishin gs.
§1
§§
§
Ja cket a nd Ca r Co as ... . .. Y2 Off §
§ §
§§
i Other itemsz greatly fedutCed
fo quick sales 4
9 32 Soth SateSt.,AnnAr br 4 Eas AdrnsDeto t
xe********A;
BARGAIN DAYS
AT
DISCOUNT
RECORDS
$2.39
$2.9
$3.59
0/0 ffCATALOG
40% of PRICE
V
1
2
4.
5
6
.Kingsmen - Vol. 3
Righteous Bros. -
You've Lost That
Lovin Feeling
Supremes - Where
Did Our Love Go
Dionne Warwick -
Make Way
* Beatles '65
. Goldfinger Sound-
track
7. Swingle Singers -
Anyone for Mozart?
8. Jimmy Smith - The
Cat
9. Judy Collins in
Concert
12. Nancy Wilson -
Live Show
13. Chad Mitchell -
Typical American
Boys
14. Frank Sinatra -
Softly
15. Bill Cosby -I
Started Out as a
Child
4
1
0. Mary Poppins
Soundtrack
{
11. Beachboys in
Concert
VOX PL Series-mono or stereo-$1.98 per record
ARTIA-selected items-mono or slereo-$2.39
Russian and Czech works
NONESUCH-new releases included-$2.49-Baroque
RIVERSIDE-selected albums-$1.98-Jazz-Good selection
1'
V
HOURS-
Mon. thru Fri.
10-9
Sat. 10-6
- -
THIS WEEK ONLY
discount, records,w
665-3679
300 SOUTH STATE (Corner Liberty)
I
4
mmmwmmmwm
q
Is
w
I
WINTER BARGAIN DAYS
STORE-WIDE SALE
February 3-4-5-6
"BARGAIN DAYS SPECIALS"
I
WOOL SLACKS
I
SKI JACKETS
AND PANTS
were $12 to $17
were $20 to $40
NOW
'I
25% OFF
SUITS
SPORT COATS
TOPCOATS
SKI JACKETS
DUFFER COATS
OUTER COATS
Lined Raincoats
Alterations at cost
NOW
I
5.99 - 8.99
CAR COATS
2.50 to 5.00
N
E
C
K
w
E
A
R
NOW
2 for $3p
Suit Special
One Group to $90.00
NOW
$29.95
SPORT COAT
SPECIAL
One Group to $47.50
NOW
$22.95
7.99 - 19.99
1
V
PASTEL
I
I
were $25 to $35
H EATH ERTON E
SEVERAL ITEMS AT SPECIAL PRICES
IV
NOW
SKIRTS
were $12 to $15
12.99
S14.99
SHOE SPECIAL
SPECIAL GROUP
NUNN BUSH & EDGERTON
To 25.95 To 19.95
NOW 1295 Now 995
One Group
WINTER CAPS
Now 12.95
NOW
f
5.99 and 8.99
PASTEL
H EATH ERTONE
20% Discount
PASTEL
JUMPERS
outstanding values
El
WOOL DRESSES
were $23 to $35
NT R E SH IRT STOCK
SHOES
SWEATERS
GLOVES
SLACKS
SCARFS
BELTS HATS
4
7.99
NOW 10.99
I
a
I
II
I
I
t