IM' Grapplers begin Big The Michigan Daily-Friday, January 15, 1988- Page 11 Ten season By RICHARD EISEN From your favorite pre-rush fraternity bash, or from the. back seat of your '71 Nova, or from wherever you will be on Saturday night, just give a hard listen and you will hear the Michigan wrestlers avenging themselves at Crisler Arena. This weekend, Michigan will open up its Big Ten season, hitting the floor against Illinois and Purdue. Last year, both Illinois and Purdue caught the Wolverines at the end of an extended road trip and capitalized on their fatigue. The Illini beat Michigan in a squeaker, 18-16, and the next day the Boilermakers trounced Michigan, 24-14. All things considered, will Michigan be looking for revenge? "Oh, yes," smiled Michigan coach Dale Bahr. "In my eyes, these guys caused us some problems last year from the simple standpoint of our season. So we're ready to 'In my eyes, these guys caused us some problems last year from the simple standpoint of our season. So we're ready to get them back for that reason.' -Michigan wrestling coach Dale Bahr get them back for that reason." THIS ATTITUDE may do Michigan very well, for it might surprise Purdue, who feels that there is no revenge factor involved in this weekend's matchup with Michigan. "I don't think that any Big Ten team is in any revenge situation," said Purdue coach Mike Trujillo. "I think we just try to get as much as we can at any time." The Boilermakers took that theory to heart last year and compiled as many wins as they could, 11 of them. Only two losses and one tie marred an otherwise perfect record. And since most of last year's starters have returned, this year's outlook seems just as bright. "We lost our 126 (weight class) pounder from last year, and basically he was our only loss. So, I feel we're pretty strong," said Trujillo. So far, Purdue has done well in duals, beating Cal-State Bakersfield, Fresno State, and Army, while losing only once, to Ok- lahoma State. One reason why Purdue has gotten of to its good start is 177 pound senior, Joe Urso, the leader of the Boilermaker's bal- anced lineup. Urso, an All-American last year at 167, has quickly acquainted himself to his new home at 177, finishing first ini that weight class at the Eastern Michigan Open. Bahr openly admitted that Urso could definitely cause Michigan problems. Another outstanding Boilermaker wrestler is 142 pound senior, Joe Lilovich, who was Big Ten champion last year. ILLINOIS, however, isn't as balanced as Purdue, yet the Fighting Illini have some outstanding wrestlers that could beat Michigan at certain weight positions. The Illini attack is led by 142 pounder Mike Azinger, a senior from DeWitt Iowa, who was an NCAA qualifier last year. "He's finished third in the Big Tens last year," said Bahr. "He's one tough kid, there's no question about it." So far Azinger has compiled a record of 11-4-1. This record becomes more impres- sive when you look at Illinois' poor overall record of 0-2 in dual matches. Illinois has lost to Missouri and to Division II school Southern Illinois University at Ed- wardsville. Michigan's Larry Gotcher has drawn the unenviable task of wrestling both Azinger and Purdue's Lilovich at 142 in back to back nights. To add insult to injury, Gotcher has had a little water on the knee and hasn't practiced very much this week. But despite all these negatives, Bahr sees positive. "Even though he hasn't been able to practice real heavy this week, Larry's the type of competitor that's raring to go at the start of the match. He's a real, real tough competitor," said Bahr. See BLUE, Page 12 TRACK AND FIELD: Mens track team opens at EMU BY JOHN McDERMOTT "Our team is in a rebuilding phase, and this year is the bottom of it," Michigan's men's track coach Jack Harvey says of his team's cur- rent condition. After finishing fourth in the Big Ten's indoor and outdoor seasons last year Harvey says, "It will be tough to do as well as last year. We lost several good athletes, guys you can't replace in one year." Still, Harvey hopes to finish "in the middle of the pack" this year. The Wolverines start their indoor season today at the EMU Invita- tional in Ypsilanti. This unscored meet will feature many local col- leges from Michigan as well as the University of Toledo. While the team will miss All- American distance runner Chris Brewster, who graduated last year, coach Harvey is excited about the potential success for senior John Scherer and sophomore Brad Barquist in the distance events this year. Scherer finished second in the Big Ten in the 10,000 meter last year (behind Brewster), and ran second in the NCAA Championships in cross- country this year. Harvey also looks for success this season in the high jump, an event he says, "We're loaded in." Newcomers Rory Stace, Greg Duffy, and Brad Holwerda are expected to play major roles. Quarter-miler Claude Tiller, half- miler Matt Butler, sprinter Wiley Boulding, and rookie hurdler Rudy Rodman are expected to do well this year. Also, after being redshirted last year, Harvey is looking for a big season out of junior shotputter J.J. Grant. Womewn beg;in indoor season The Michigan women's track team opens its indoor season this tomorrow when it hosts the Michi- gan Relays. The meet will primarily include Michigan schools, as well as the University of Toledo and the University of Windsor. Last year's team suffered some key injuries on the way to a disap- pointing eighth place finish in the Big Ten. Coach James Henry ex- pects this year's squad to finish in the middle of the pack. "We've worked very hard and are excited to get things rolling," he said. Henry is looking for several of the athletes to contribute tomorrow. "We're expecting to do well overall. We want to use everyone in this meet," he said. In the field events, shotputter Sonia Payne returns after finishing third in the conference last year. Tracy Babcock and Cheri Sly will pace the Wolverine distance runners, while the sprinters will be lead by Dana Davidson, Jillian Osborne, and Sophia Dubreuial. Kw w * A~t r WWi 9 NON 0fV MOSU "U~w' ~lC' f "51a bytaaevnt M ~u B M 1- Pm " fE vAtl, -tl 1 rW fM'CK1i7d t NM~LM A~uiry.4 SELF-SERVICE COPIES With This Ad. Try Kinko's. For great copies. And great deals. KIN KO'S OPEN 24 HOURS 540 East Liberty 1220 South University uuuum . '' iiir i riiii 'iii r ini n i:a ii1111 . 1 i T)rlr w -t, t f m l -~ i i ~ i r = a - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Feeling talented? vp s tarbound Campus-Wide Talent Compe SIGN UP NOW FOR AUDITIONS before 5pm t.on Friday, Jan. 15 Hey Bands, you will be judged for $5,000.00 MTV/Energizer Rock n' Roll Challenge EQ) Sign ups are outside UAC, 2105 M-Union, call 763-1107 I I Working for Michigan's Future AND YOURS... Andrew Singer Class Year... Freshman Hometown ... Miami, Fla. Best Part about working at Telefund... "I just got an American Express Card and a CD player from my part- 5k< .'. time job." A Schick 3-on RECREATIONAL and A SPORTS - 3 Basketball " Single Elimination & Regional Tournaments held in Ann Arbor * Championship Game of Regionals to be played in the Pontiac Silverdome before Piston's Game