The Michigan Daily-Wednesday, October 31, 1979-Page 9
THE SPORTING VIEWS
Gymnasts survive crisis ...
..Hyatt is savior
By ALAN FANGER
Back in the good old summertime, I made
this profound prediction concerning the way
the Michigan women gymnasts would per-
form during the 1979-80 season. And it took a
whopping one meet for the Wolverines to
disprove my entire hypothesis.
In May, when I emerged from a jour-
nalistically comatose state with this
fascinating revelation, the tumblers were
without a coach. Scott Ponto had resigned in
April amid a contrat dispute with the Athletic+
Department, and assistant coach Ginger
Robey followed Ponto's decision. They were
without recruits; several outstanding
prospects withdrew their interest in attending
Michian, mainly from not knowing of the
identity of their coach.
But most importantly, the "core": of the
team lay in a disintegrated state after Mia
Axon and Colleen Forrestel announced their
departures from the squad. Forrestel was an
excellent vaulter and floor exercise perfor-
mer, having claimed the state title in the for-
mer event. Axon, who had competed for three
years, was the team's captain and a reliable
all-arounder.
And to add to the soap opera-like state the
team's best performer, Sara Flom, was on the
verge of walking the same road as teammates
Axon and Forrestel-the one which led them
out of the Michigan gymnastics program.
If you were fortunate enough to view the
dual meet between the Wolverine men's and
women's teams and the Korean National
team, the turmoil which plagued the tumblers
six months ago would not have been evident.
And for that, new coach Sheri Hyatt can truly
be labeled a "miracle worker."
I spoke with Hyatt in June, shortly after she
was appointed to the coaching position. At
that point, most of the nation's top prep gym-
nasts had signed letters of intent with a
college or university. She knew the recruiting
road ahead of her was a rocky one, yet she
rmained hopeful of snatching up a few of the
unsigned tumblers. If the Wolverines were
going to make any headway in replacing Axon
and Forrestel, she would have to go "all out"
during the midsummer months. To make
matters worse, Hyatt was in the midst of
planning her weddding. No, this would not be
an easy job. Not at all.
By September, Hyatt had completed Phase
One of Operation Reconstruction. She had
signed two top performers, hometown
favorite Angela Deaver, and Diane McLean
from Farmington Hills.,Both were solid all-
arounders with substantial competitive ex-
perience; they just. needed time to adjust to
intercollegiate competition. Hyatt also lured
Dana Kempthorn, a transfer from gymnstic
powerhouse Clarion St. (Pa.) to Ann Arbor.
She would provide some much-needed help on
the uneven parallel bars and balance beam,
while adding high scores to the already
refined vaulting unit.
With the recruiting situation resolved,
Hyatt faced the formidable task of reuniting
the veterans. The five returning tumblers had
developed a close relationship with their for-
mer coaches; a few were reluctant to return,
saying it would -be difficult to establish an
emotional bond with a new mentor. To the
gymnasts, Ponto and Robey were more than
coaches-they were understanding, com-
passionate friends. And that distorted their
outlook on the future.
Amazingly enough, Hyatt, given just five
weeks in which to work out the kinks (and
anxiety) which were prevalent in the gym,
watched her team display the form which
characterized their surge at the end of last
season. It was the same brand of gymnastics
which earned the Wolverines a third-place
showing in the Big Ten meet and a sec9nd-
place finish in the state tournament. Their
team tally of 128.05, although slightly inflated.
under the international scoring system, was
nonetheless satisfying to Hyatt, her team, and
the 2,500 or so onlookers at Crisler Arena. The
Wolverines averaged around 127 points in
competition last season.
Even more significant than the score itself
was the maturity displayed by the returning
tumblers. Sophomores Teresa Bertoncin,
Cindy Shearon, Laurie Miesel, and Lisa Uttal
were less conservative in their routines, and
more poised than in the past. Uttal's im-
provement is particularly striking: Although
the Ann Arbor native encountered some dif-
ficulty on the'beam and bars, she shook off the
mobility problems which plagued her during
an injury-smeared '78-79 campaign.
Flom, who is confining herself to the floor
exercise event in her senior year, started off
well in her quest to retain the Midwest
Regional floor crown, garnering an 8.7 for her
routine. That tally may increase if she throws
a full twist into her tumbling run against In-
diana, November 17. Flom has long been
wary of throwing the move on a tender knee,
but Hyatt said her captain may now be less
reluctant to use it.
While freshman Deaver sat out the Korean
meet with an injury, McLean thrilled' the
crowd with her bar and floor routines. And
Kempthorn showed the consistency which the
Wolverines are counting on her to provide.
Deaver is expected to return to action against
the Hoosiers, and if her prep record is any in-
dication of her collegiate potential, Hyatt can
add her to the list of young, promising tum-
blers.
Now that her early-season woes have been
pushed aside, Hyatt can concentrate on
elevating her squad to the level of Big Ten and
state title contender. That means minimizing
discontent and maximizing sound, fundamen-
tal gymnastics. After one meet, she's heading
in the right direction.
3.,
Clark still optimistic
for Lion turnaround
AP Top Twenty
PONTIAC (UPI)-Coach Monte
Clark, admitting his 1-8 team is "open
to abuse," pleaded for patience again
and said he could see signs of things
getting better for his Detroit Lions.
, "Everything could turn up, turn
positive and go the other way so fast
that we wouldn't know what hit us,"
Clark said yesterday at his weekly
briefing of the media. "If we don't
drown in discouragement in the mean-
time.
"I THINK IT could easily do it very
,quickly. You saw the first half of Buf-
falo's 20-17 win over Detroit.
"All of a sudden everything was
back," Clark said of the 14-0 lead
betroit piled up the first two times it
had the ball. "It was like the Minnesota
game last year.
"Then, all of a sudden, we came out
in the second half and played 'Oh, oh.
Watch out. Be careful.' Then here comes
the key play of the game-and they
make it," Clark said.
DETROIT SLAYS one of its rivals in
the NFC's weak Central Division, the'
Chicago Bears, 4-5. The Lions have not
faced the Bears yet this season but will
be }hosting them in a return match on
Thanksgiving Day.
- Clark said he hoped rookie fullback
Bo Robinson,. who has missed two
games with broken ribs, will be able to
play against Chicago. He is listed as
probable. The only player Detroit listed
as doubtful was wide receiver Luther
Blue, who has a knee injury.
"We need to get people healthy,"
Clark said, who reiterated his theme
that the Lions are a young team who
have been hit by injuries. "We need to
get people matured. We need to get
some more people.
"THE PATIENCE of the public has
been strained quite a bit," he said.
"The frustration is mounting. There is
no question our record right now, 1-8,
leaves me and us open to abuse. I've
felt some of the same frustration.
"The only difference is, I'm not as
discouraged as some people are.
"I want to assure you I do see a lot of
signs of some good things that are get-
ting across to our squad.
"I'm confident in time that we are
going to get things together."
1. Alabma(46).......
2. Nebraska (7).........
3. Southern Cal (4) .....'
4. Houston (1)........
5. Ohio State (5) ...... .
6. Florida State........
(tie) DAILY LIBELS
7. Oklahoma.........
8. Texas ...............
9. Arkansas ............
10. MICHIGAN ..........
11. Brigham Young .......
12. Pittsburgh ...........
13. Notre Dame.......
14. Wake Forest ..:.....
15. Purdue ..............
16. Washington ..........
17. Tennessee.........
18. North Carolina ........
19. Penn State ...........,
-20. Auburn ............
7-0-0
7-0-0
7-0-1
7-0-0
8-0-0
7-0-0
7-0-0
6-1-0
5-1-0
6-1-0
7-1-0
7-0-0
6-1-0
5-2-0
7-1-0
6-2-0
6-2-0
4-2-0
5-1-1
5-2-0
5-2-0
1,235
1,176
1,083
1,058
1,052
900
900
877
811
775
662
653
546
472
458
301
259
177
140
126
92
UPI Top Twenty
1. Alabama (33)......... 7-0
2. Nebraska (6)........7-0
3. Ohio State ............. 8-0
4. Houston (1) ........... 7-0
5. Southern Cal (1).....7-0-I
6. Florida State ......... 7-0
(tie) DAILY
LIBELS (1) .....7-0
7. Oklahoma........... 6-1
8. Texas .................5-1
9. Arkansas ............. 6-1
10. MICHIGAN ........... 7-1
11. Brigham Young.......7-0
12. Pittsburgh ........ .. 6-1
13. Notre Dame.........5-2
14. Wake Forest . ......7-1
15. Washington.........6-2
16. Purdue............6-2
17. North Carolina...... 5-1-1
18. Baylor ................ 6-2
19. Penn State ............ 5-2
20. LSU..... ............ 4-3
603
560
509
502
469
397
397
344
312
266
212
188
147
93
85
54
36
32
25
24
11
STAR
109 N. Main St.---769-0109
APPEARING TONIGHT:
MR. D'S HALLOWEEN PARTY
Coming Tues., Nov. 6
"GANG WARS"
"Ann Arbor's Original Honky Tonk Dance Bar"
--
BAR
I 1
Raiders' Hendricks
tied to underworld?
MIAMI (AP) - The National Foot-
ball League said yesterday an in-
vestigation is under way into reports
'that Oakland Raider star Ted Hen-
dricks has ties to organized crime.
"We're lacking into the matter," said
Jack Danahy, the NFL's security direc-
tor. "We don't discuss our in-
vestigations publicly. I can tell you that
SPOR TS OF THE DAIL Y
Callam stars in field hockey win
the commissioner is aware of what
we're doing."
The Miami Herald reported recently
that Anthony J. Roberts, a former
business associate of Hendricks, has
long-standing relationships with
several underworld figures.
Danahy said the NFL prohibits its
players from "maintaining continuing
relationships with persons of bad
reputation.'
Hendricks, a Miami-area native, has
already been interviewed by the NFL
investigators.
"I gave therNFL very clear-cut an-
swers. to their questions," Hendricks
said. "I don't think they'll be back to
see me again."
Hendricks, a starting defensive end
for the Raiders, denies any association
Swith organized crime figures. He says
he severedhis ties withRoberts last
June.
Hendricks owns the Crooked Creek
Country Club in suburban Kendall,
Fla., near Miami. The Herald reported
last Sunday that Roberts and Frank
Romeo, a convicted felon once
described by federal agents as a
"major distributor" of counterfeit
money, are still involved with the coun-
try club.
AkTJ
1
Ask a Peace (Corps vo
lab technician in Bots
why he works in Mi
citizens start a non-pr
they want to help peo
maybe learn a new lani
them:
PLACEMENT CENTE
OCT. 30 - NOV.
PE-A%
hem 14
luziteer why she works a
wana, Africa. Ask a VIST
nmesota helping low-inc
ofit pharmacy. They'll pt
ple, want to use their sk
guage and live in another c
s a hospital
A volunteer
ome senior
robably say
ills, travel,
culture. Ask
TIES BLDG.
Vi w,T
ALBION-Michigan defeated Albion
College yesterday in women's field
hockey action, nipping the host team 2-1
in overtime.
The only score in the first half came
from the Wolverines' Mary Callam on a
pass from Jennifer Haughey.
ALBION SCORED in the second half,
taking advantage of a Michigan
penalty, tying the score at 1-1. The
game remained deadlocked at the end
of. regulation time, forcing it into over-
.time.
In overtime it was Callam coming
through again for Michigan, as she
scored on a pass from Marty Maugh
making the final score 2-1.
With her two-goal effort, Callam
established a new single-season scoring
record of 27 goals. The old mark was 25.
Michigan next plays in the SMAIAW
playoffs from November 1-3 in
Marquette.
Cars 124, Rockets 112
RICHFIELD, Ohio - Randy Smith
scored 30 points to help the Cleveland
Cavaliers snap a four-game losing
streak and beat the Houston Rockets
124-112 in a National Basketball
Association game last night. I
The loss kept the Rockets winless in
five outings on the road.
THE LEAD changed hands 12 times
in the first half before a layup by Foots
Walker with 2:27 to play in the second
quarter put Cleveland ahead for good,
50-48.
The Cavaliers went into the locker
room with a 58-53 lead and expanded
that to 84-67 on a driving layup by Smith
with 3:55 to go in the third period.
Houston cut the lead to seven, 86-70,
SCORES
on two free throws by Calvin Murphy.
WITH 9:22 to play, Houston's Rick
Barry was given two technical fouls
and ejected from the game. Austin Carr,
made both free throws to give
Cleveland a 96-85 lead, and the Rockets
got no closer than seven the rest of the
way.
Murphy led the Rockets with 21 poin-
ts. Houston's Moses Malone added to
his NBA-leading rebound total by
picking 19 off the backboards. -AP
Canadiens 2, Caps 2
LANDOVER, MD-Rejean Houles'
goal with 40 seconds remaining in the
game gave the Montreal Canadiens a 2-
2 tie with the Washington Capitals last
night at the Capital Centre.
The Canadiens, who were held
scoreless for the first 58 minutes of the
game, finally got on the scoreboard as
Bob Gainey scored at the 18:10 mark of
the final period.
THE CANADIENS, suffering from a
surprising loss to the Quebec Nordiques
Sunday night, were unable to get their
fast-skating and passing game together
and were held to just one shot on goal in
the first 17:30 minutes which came on a
power play opportunity.
The Capitals had a golden oppor-
tunity to score first as Gui Charron shot
wide on a penalty shot awarded to him
at 5:04 of the first period after being
pulled down by Serge Savard on a
breakaway.
The Capitals Finnish import Antero
Lehtonen opened the scoring on a quick
wrist shot just 1:37 after the penalty
shot to give Washington the early lead.
Mark Napier had an excellent chance
to tie the score for the Canadiens with
30 seconds remaining as he fired a shot
from 5 feet in front of the net, but was
smothered by goalie Gary Inness.
-AP
Flames 3, Rockies 1
ATLANTA-Kent Nilsson's break-
away goal in the first period and a goal
from the faceoff circle in the third
period led the Atlanta Flames to a 3-1
victory over the Colorado Rockies last
night.
Atlanta goalie Dan Bouchard, who
has allowed only four goals in three
games, lost his shutout with 1:40 left in
the game when Doug Berry beat him
with a shot from the right faceoff circle.
Nilsson has scored seven points in the
last two games as the Flames extended
their winning streak to three.
The Flames are 5-4-1 and in second
placein the Patrick Division. The
Rockies are 1-6-2 and last in the Smythe
Division.
-AP
ER
1
STUDENT ACTIVI
! y k ,,
GRADUATING
ENGI NEERS.
d © oa a
p b
this WEDNESDAY NIGHT-
at
Have you considered these factorsi
you will work?
"1. Will the job offer challenge and c
responsibility?
2. Will your future employer en-
courage job mobility?l
3. Will your future employer en-
courage, support and reward l
continued professional educa-
tion?
4. How much choice will you have
in selecting your work assign-
ment?
5. Big starting salaries are nice -
but what is the salary growth
and promotion potential in the
job?
in determining where
6. Can you afford the cost-of-
living in the area?
At the Naval Weapons Center we
have given these things a lot of
consideration and believe we
have the answers for you.
Arrange through your placement
office to interview with our repre-
sentative(s) Maurice Hamm
Bob Hintz
on November 9
We think you will like
what you hear.
'