Kickoff time for Saturday's Michigan-Washington game has been changed to 12:10 p.m. SPORTS Intramural tennis Entries due Friday Register at IM building he Michigan Daily Thursday, September 13, 1984 Page 7 FROM TRAMPOLINE TO SPRINGBOARD Merriott bronzed at summer games I By BARB MCQUADE As a three-meter springboard diver, Ron Merriott made a big splash at the 1984 Olympics. The former Wolverine captured a bronze medal this summer in Los Angeles after more than six years f training. In his four years at Michigan Merriott proved himself no fluke by amassing an impressive list of creden- tials. The Rockford, Illinois native won the 1980 Big Ten championship for the one-meter springboard, earning All- American honors in that event. The following two years, Merriott went un- defeated in the one-meter as Well as the three-meter board and was named All- American in both categories. DESPITE his overwhelming success, Merriott did not begin diving until his senior year in high school. The one- time champion trampolinist switched over to diving when interest in his first love went down in this country due to a barrage of law suits and insurance problems. "I had no place to go when tram- polines went down," said Merriott, ball, his coach at Michigan and in the Olympics, with much of his success. "HE MADE me what I was," Merriott said. "He'd been there before and he put in so much time with us." Kimball agreed that having his own college coach with him at the Games was indeed an advantage for Merriott. -"The best thing for any kid is to have his own personal coach there. You know your own kids better than anyone else does. I know what it took to get him there and I can pick out the subtle physical techniques better than anyone else because I've worked with him a number of years." KIMBALL refused to take all the credit, however, as he noted the talent and commitment of Merriott. "Ron was a great prospect in high school," Kimball said. "He had been to my camp and had started to show that, with continued improvement, he had a good chance to make it (to the Olym- pics). But it took years of dedicaton and perserverence to become an Olym- pian." Merriott admits that he made a great deal of sacrifices along the way, but feels that a chance to be in the Olym- pics was worth every bit of what he gave up. "The Olympics were everything I thought they'd be and more," Merriott said. "It wasda great moment. I was able to share it with my family and friends - they were all there in the stands. There's nothing like it." "but diving was very similar so I gave it a try. It was hard at first to make the transition, but I put the goal into my head that I was going to go for the Olympics in diving." The former captain of the Michigan swim team, Merriott credits Dick Kim- The innocent and the damned New York Jets Ken O'Brien and Mark Gastineau step out of the New York court room where Gastineau was convicted of misdemeanor assault and O'Brien was cleared of similar charges. See story on page 8. *1 Stickers face Mass. test DE A ROAD SCHOLAR RENT FROM NATIONAL Get away and get a free T-shirt. By JOE EWING The new term may be just beginning, but exams have lready started for head coach Karen Collins and the ichigan field hockey team. The stickers open their season, as well as a tough east coast road trip, today at Massachusetts against the No. 5 ranked Minutemen. And Collins is hopeful that her squad will be up to the test. "THIS GAME IS going to set the tone for the whole season," said the first-year head coach. "This is probably going to be the toughest team we'll play. If we hold our own, it will be a big lift." Michigan will face Springfield College and Brown Univer- ity Saturday and Sunday as part of the east coast swing. Helping the Wolverines to hold their own will be the team's tri-captains-goalie Jonnie Terry, halfback Alison Johnson and forward Lisa Schofield. TERRY, A SENIOR from Dearborn, is considered one of the best college goaltenders around. Last season, she turned away 95 shots and kept Michigan in many games. The same is expected from her this year. "We count on Jonnie a lot," said Collins. "She's probably one of the best goalies in the country. There's a lot of pressure on her to maintain that and she handles it well." But you can't win on defense alone-you've got to do some scoring as well. Although the Wolverines lost last season's top scorer, Kay McCarthy, to graduation, Collins is hopeful that Schofield will be able to fill the scoring void. Getting away this weekend may be easier, more fun, and less expensive than you think. That's because National rents to 18-year-olds, and gives you clean, sporty cars at low prices. Absolutely no mileage charge. And now a free Road Scholar T-shirt will help make your week- end a great getaway. You can rent at any of the National locations below. All you need is a valid student ID and driver's license. Use a major credit card or submit a cash qualifying application 24 hours prior to rental. You pay for gas and return the car to the renting location. T-shirt offer good while supplies last. """' ' ' f: You deserve National attention.- highlight . and W 1- qic k as a f1lqgh SR more thanjust a highlighter Switch from highlighting to jotting notes without changing pens. Textar comes in six bright fluorescent colors, each with a blue ballpoint pen. PER DAY NO MILEAGE CHARGE Rate available from noon Thursday to :;rl.; noon Monday.Y certain daily minimums apply. Ask for details. 3230 S. State St. (Briarwood Amoco) 769-8437 Available now at your college store.