1# Page 10- The Michigan Daily -Wednesday, February 28, 1990 MENTAL AND PHYSICAL REHAB LIE AHEAD FOR GYMNAST Furlong faces I by Sarah Osburn Daily Sports Writer On February 11, after completing a flawless beam routine, Christine Furlong, a member of the women's gymnastics team, prepared to throw her dismount. It is the same dismount she has done for the past five years. She has practiced it, and performed it in meets without any hitches. Nonetheless her routine is not easy as risk is a central part of gymnastics. On every event, a college gymnast must execute skills that require a complete rotation of the body in the air (or a double rotation). They must twist once, twice, and sometimes even three times before landing. It's easy to see how even a slight slip in concentration could lead to a serious injury. Occasionally these injuries occur even when a gymnast is performing a move done close to a thousand times before. "I felt kind of tired toward the end but I didn't think it was really a big deal," she said. "I went to do my dismount, I do a cartwheel then a double full off, and I completely missed my feet on my cartwheel. I knew what was happening but it all happened so fast that I didn't know what to do. Before I knew it, I was in the air, and then I landed on the top of my head." "When I did it I thought that I'd hurt my arm," Furlong said. "They kept telling me don't move, don't move your neck. I kept saying it's my arm not my neck. Then my arm started to burn, I guess that was because of a pinched nerve or something." The injury was actually diagnosed as a fracture to the sixth vertebrae. An injury of this kind conjures up all sorts of terrible images, but Furlong was lucky. She has to wear a halo for only six weeks and then will progress to a foam neck brace and a full load of rehabilitation therapy. She will then be completely recovered, with no permanent damage. Though the the recuperation time for her injury is a lot shorter than for a torn knee ligament, the mental aspect of the recovery is harder to overcome. "I tore a ligament in my thumb," Furlong said. "It has taken a long time to heal but this (neck injury) is definitely more psychological. If I come into the gym and I see long roa someone wobble the wrong way, I get scared. I just have a very big fear right now. I can still see it happening over and over in my head." The two and a half weeks since the incident, has not provided Furlong sufficient time to make a d back "I love it and I want to go back," she said. "I've been doing it for twelve years and it's part of me. I'm just not sure if it's worth it." Women's gymnastics coach Beverly Fry is impressed with Furlong's recovery. "I feel that she is extremely tough, and she has dealt with this much better than I'd expected," she said. "I think that she has pulled through the worst. She has already been in the gym to help out, and it has been only two weeks since her accident. I think that is a very good sign. I realize it's tough physically and mentally to come back and I will support any decision she makes." Despite her doubts for the future, Furlong does seem to be coming to terms with her injury. She is comfortable talking about it and she says it's because of all the support she has gotten from her friends and family. "My mom (who lives in New Jersey) is staying with me, and I am so glad she is here because I really need her, she helps me with everything."I Furlong Seedings predicted for Big Ten championships by Jeff Sheran Daily Sports Writer The conclusion of the conference dual meet wrestling season greatly clarifies the seeding for the Big Ten tournament March 10-11 at Northwestern. The Big Ten will qualify 49 wrestlers for the NCAA tournament, the most of any conference, but still not enough according to many coaches. Of those 49, the top four from each weight class automatically qualify, and nine wildcards are selected based on difficulty of weight class. *118 pounds - Northwestern's Jack Griffin, ranked fourth nationally, will draw the top seed. Iowa should hold the second seed with fifth-ranked Steve Martin. Jason Cluff (Michigan) will probably compete unseeded, but this class should qualify five wrestlers. *126 - Iowa's Terry Brands is the favorite here. Salem Yaffai (M), who placed sixth in the Big Ten last season, is a good bet for fourth seed. *134 - This is the toughest division in the conference. So tough, in fact, that rookie Joey Gilbert (M), who asserted himself with victories over then top-ranked Chuck Barbee and Olympian Ken Chertow, may go unseeded. Iowa's Tom Brands is ranked first in the nation, hence he is a lock for top seed, followed by Minnesota's Dave Zuniga, who is ranked second nationally. In Gilbert's favor is the fact that opposing coaches may want to seed the first-year standout to avoid having their own 134-pounder meet Gilbert early in the tournament. Six wrestlers should qualify from this class. *142 - Possibly the weakest division in the conference, there will be only four NCAA qualifiers here. Chuck Heise (Minnesota) and Troy Steiner (Iowa) will occupy the first two slots. James Rawls (M) will be unseeded. *150 - The Big Ten is the strongest conference at this weight, with Hoosier Brian Dolph (second-ranked nationally), Iowa's Doug Streicher (sixth), and Badger Matt Demaray (seventh). Larry Gotcher (M) was eighth, but he will probably go at 158. James Feldkamp (M), his replacement, will compete unseeded at this weight, from which five will receive at large bids. *158 - Sam Amine (M) held the top seed until injuring his knee earlier this month, but Gotcher may succeed his teammate as the frontrunner. He and Jim Pearson (Indiana) tied, 1-1, so it is unclear who will be favored. Gotcher captured the Big Ten title last year, but he did so at 142. The determining factor might be how the senior co-captain fares this weekend against Morgan State's sixth-ranked Chauncey Wynn. If Gotcher wins, he's the top seed. *167 - Northwestern's Brad Traviola (third-ranked) dominates this mediocre class. Seventh-ranked Bart Chelsevig (Iowa) and Casey Graham (Indiana) should follow Traviola, with Justin Spewock (M) seeded fourth. No wildcards from this group. 177 - Another brutal weight class, where Gopher Marty Morgan, Purdue's Mike McHenry, and Wildcat Mike Funk are all tough. Lanny Green (M), is very capable of pulling an upset, and five wrestlers will qualify at 177. 190 - Iowa's Brooks Simpson, followed by Fritz Lehrke (M), and then it's open. No wildcards. HWT - The toughest after 134, this will also be difficult to seed. Jon Llewellyn will probably draw the top slot, followed by Jeff Balcom. (Minnesota), and Hawkeye John Oostendorp. But 29-year-old rookie Boilermaker LaRock Benford is undefeated in the conference. Phil Tomek (M), should be unseeded, but there will be two wildcards from here. decision concerning her future in gymnastics. Even though the injury has caused her fear, it has not diminished the love she feels for gymnastics. Co Knows! Read Cohen's Side We've got Hylights Daily Sports since 1943 ",j. . DOBBS) OF ANN AROR SUN GLASS SALE Porsche - Carrera Ray-Ban - Vuarnet-France Serengeti - Polo 211 E. Liberty 663-2418 Servicing I of M 's eyewear needs PROBATION Continued from page 1 over remedying the situation. "At the University of Michigan, we believe that the right way is the only way," he said. "We are determined to restore and protect the integrity of Michigan athletics." While the investigation is now concluded, the process is not yet completed. The NCAA will review the investigation to confirm its thoroughness. Weidenbach did not know what to expect but felt assured by what was accomplished. "I'd be guessing if I said anything about the NCAA," he said. "We're confident that we did a thorough job, and I think the Big Ten is also confident." "I'm very pleased that it just took a year. We had to talk to a lot of people. When you do something like this, you want to do it well." The penalties will obviously have a negative effect on the future of the baseball program. Included among the self-imposed penalties, are the elimination of an assistant coach position, limitations on the number of scholarships over the next two years, and restrictions on recruiting. Off-campus recruiting is illegal until August of 1990, and expense-paid recruiting visits are banned for the remainder of the current academic year. New baseball coach Bill Freehan, who was present at the meeting, had to confront the bleak future of his program. "I took this job knowing there were major problems with the program," Freehan said. "I did not know the situation, but I was told to expect the worst. "For all intents and purposes, this was as bad as it could be." Sophomore pitcher Russ Brock summed up the team's reaction at last night's practice, "We were down today. It kind of puts a damper on things, but we'll live with it." The harshest part of the punishment, according to Freehan, is the ban from post-season play. "(The ban) affects the way I can motivate team, and the way I can talk to recruits," he said. Weidenbach displayed confidence in his new coach. "I feel we have a baseball coach who can overcome this," he said. A committee within the athletic department will assist Freehan in doing everything by the book. In addition, the University will report to the NCAA at the end of each year of the probation period. "You can bet I will be monitored," he said. "And you can bet that if I have any questions that I will ask the proper people." Freehan promised to make adherence to the rules his highest priority while occupying his new post. "Compliance with every NCAA rule is very, very difficult," he said. "I took this job to get the cloud off this program and help it through this term." 0@ 4 I I 2 2 XrE e £1 R In memory of thousands of Taiwanese fellows who 0 ~_ -a a a