The Michigan Daily - Thursday, November 9, 1989 - Pa
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Hoping to bring home a title JOSE JUAREZ/Daify
Both of Michigan's swim teams are looking at the possibilitiy of conference and national championships. Here, Gwen DeMaat works out.
Swimmers aim for s
by David Schechter
Daily Sports Contributor
Four years ago it was faint.
Today it is blinding. The glow of
an NCAA championship seems al-
most in the grasp of this year's
tmen's swim team.
Another undefeated dual meet
'ecord is anticipated. Another Big
Ten championship is expected.
They've done those things before.
They want more. They want to own
the rights to number one in the na-
tion.
Depth is the only obstacle re-
maining.
"We have about seven very elite
hletes who can obviously place
,,,,,Very high in the NCAA. But it takes
a bit more than seven good swim-
mers; we'll probably need at least
twelve or fourteen to place," coach
Jon Urbanchek said.
In order for Michigan to place as
high, or higher, than last year's
third-place finish they must have
twelve swimmers who can place in
individual events. Though currently
*ve contenders away from that goal,
"lrbanchek remains optimistic.
But having five All-Americans,
two NCAA champions, a world
record holder, and a handful of
Olympians would make any coach
optimistic.
Several of these titles belong to
Mike Barrowman, the 1989 U.S.
Swimmer of the Year. Last summer,
arrowman broke the 200 breast-
oke world record twice. In addition
to the world record, Barrowman rep-
resented the U.S. in the 1988
Olympics, and was named to the
academic All-Big Ten team. He is
touted as one of the finest swimmers
in the world.
A great deal of Michigan's suc-
- .....
.,..
Big Ten 'not a threat'
for Barrowman, & Co.
cess relies on the performance of
Barrowman. "If he can work on im-
proving in the 100 and relays, it
would mean a great deal to the
team," Urbanchek said.
"I think a lot of people are think-
ing that my goal would be the
NCAA record in the 200 breast, be-
cause I was pretty close last year.
But, my personal goal right now is
to improve the 100 a great deal. I
think I can make my biggest im-
provement in the 200 IM because I
was only eleventh last year," said
Barrowman.
Barrowman is thoroughly focused
on the national meet already. He has
been for three years. "I was set on
winning the NCAA's since I came
in here as a freshman, for this year.
This is our best year. We are going
to do it this year. I've been thinking
about that for years.'E
The Wolverine trio of Erics is
also expected to pull their own
weight on this youth-oriented
Michigan team. The Erics (Bailey,
Namesnik, and Wunderlich) must
again prove themselves as con-
tenders, this year as sophomores.
Wunderlich attained All-American
honors last year in three events (100
and 200 breaststroke and 800
freestyle relay). With his time of
2:16.15 in the 200-yard breaststroke,
he ranks sixth in the world. Paired
with Barrowman, the two compose
the most powerful combination in
the nation.
Namesnik brings versatility to
the pool with him. During the off-
season he noticeably improved his
times in the 1650 freestyle. In the
relays and indiyidual medley,
Urbanchek relies on Namesnik.
"Because he swims the IM, he pro-
vides us with depth in the relays, be-
cause he can swim all four strokes
so well," Urbanchek said.
An Ann Arbor native, Eric
Bailey, rounds out the swimming
sophomores. Bailey won All-
American and All-Big Ten honors
last year. The team anticipates sub-
stantial growth from Bailey in the
200 freestyle and butterfly this sea-
son.
Setting the team's goals and lead-
ing by example is senior team co-
captain Brent Lang. At the NCAA
tion to that would be some individ-
ual championships...For us to do
what we want to do this season it's
gonna take a team effort of every-
body performing up to their poten-
tial."
Sharing in Lang's leadership of
the Wolverines is fellow senior Rick
Wilkening. Out to defend last year's
Big Ten 100-yard backstroke title,
Wilkening would like to carry that
success over to the NCAA's.
Capturing a fifth consecutive Big
Ten title really isn't so big to
Urbanchek. "I don't think the Big
Ten is going to be much of a threat
for us," he said. "Our team is not
going to peak for the Big Ten
Championships."
Even though the Big Ten
Championships will be held in Ann
Arbor, Urbanchek has no plans to
enter his top swimmers so that they
Women swimmers
set high team goals
by Jared Entin
Daily Sports Contributor
Expectations are high for the women's swimming and diving team as
they enter the 1989-90 campaign.
Michigan coach Jim Richardson, who last year won the Big Ten Coach
of the Year award, believes Michigan has a chance at a national title.
"Michigan could be the sleeping giant that surprises everyone at the NCAA
championships," Richardson said.
In the past three years, Michigan has finished tenth, eighth, and tied for
sixth last year in the NCAA championship meet at the end of the season.
They've been improving in the national rankings despite the cold climate
disadvantage. Teams from warm weather climates such as Stanford, Texas,
and Florida have an advantage over colder climate teams.
Co-captain Ann Colloton, who feels it is her job to keep everyone
focused on team goals, knows that one of those is a number one ranking. "I
think everyone knows that we are aiming at the National Championships,"
Colloton said.
MUCH OF THE WOLVERINES success will ride in the arms of the
senior Colloton, last year's NCAA champion in the 200-yard breastroke.
Colloton, who has already
qualified for the NCAAz-
championships, said, "It was a
surprise that I qualified already, but
it was definitely a confidence boost."
Colloton's roommate, senior
Gwen DeMaat, also plays a big part
for the Michigan team. DeMaat,;
who Richardson claims could swim"
in just about any event, was an
NCAA All-American in the 500- and
1650-yard freestyles and the 400-yard
medley relay.
"I'm anxious to see how Gwen
will do this season," Richardson
said. "Instead of swimming, she
lifted weights this summer to
improve her strength. If the lifting
did indeed improve her strength,
there's no telling how well she can Co i i oto n
do."
Michigan has proven depth with outstanding individual performances.
Last year, the Wolverines sent a record five swimmers and one diver to the
NCAA championships, numbers that Richardson hopes to be in double
digits by the end of this season.
ALONG WITH COLLOTON, a host of other talented women could
very well satisfy Richardson's goal. Sophomore Jennifer Love has the
potential for NCAA qualification in the 50-yard freestyle. In the 500-yard
freestyle, DeMaat and senior Stefanie Liebner both have excellent chances of
qualifing. Senior Jennifer Eck, who last year swam a time which would
enable her to join Colloton in the 100-yard breaststroke, is also a big factor
in Richardson's plans.
First-year student Kathy Diebler, in a high school meet last season,
swam the second-fastest 200-yard freestyle in the country. Mindy Gehrs,
also a first-year student, is hardly a rookie as she has the ability to qualify
for the championships in the 200-yard butterfly and the 200-yard individual
medley.
IN ADDITION TO the Big Ten schedule of meets, Richardson and his
team will travel to Honolulu, Hawaii, to compete against some of the best
teams in the United States and Japan. The Wolverines will host their own
invitational in January which should feature Stanford's first-year phenom
Janet Evans, a four-time Olympic gold medal winner.
The Wolverines have won the Big Ten title the past three years and are
expected to repeat again this year. When asked if he cared more about the
national championships than the Big Ten Championships, Richardson
replied, "Well, why don't you ask (basketball coach) Steve Fisher if he
would trade in national championship rings for the Big Ten Championship."
Later, with a grin, he added that "it would be nice to have both."
I
i
I was set on winning the NCAA's since I
came in here....This is our best year. We are
I
going to do it this year
-Michigan swim
mer Mike Barrowman
championships last year, Lang
championed first place in the 50-yard
freestyle. He also struck gold in
Seoul last year by winning the 400-
meter freestyle relay.
"The biggest contribution Brent
makes is his all out desire for the
team to do well," Urbanchek said.
"When his teammates see him work-
ing just as hard on the relays as he
does in individual events, it pushes
them on to follow his example."
Lang added: "One of my major
goals for the team is to win the
NCAA championship. My contribu-
can focus on the larger objective of
winning the NCAA championships.
Urbanchek summed it up rather
simply: "Really, for us to get the ti-
tle (NCAA), we have to be above
and beyond our league."
In the early 60's when Michigan
swimming dominated the nation,
Urbanchek experienced the ultimate
high of being the best in the
country-three times in fact. On
March 24, 1990, after the NCAA
championships crown their kings,
Urbanchek hopes his swimmers will
also know how it feels.
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