Page 8-The Michigan Daily/New Student Edition - Thursday, September 5, 1991
Golfers lack consistency
by Andy De Korte
Daily Sports Writer
Breaking the Michigan women's
golf season into two parts - the
fall and the spring, the tale of the
team is easily told.
Under the autumn leaves, the
golfers could not manage three con-
sistent rounds in any of their six
tournaments. With the exception of
the Michigan State tournament, the
Wolverines nearly eliminated
themselves with poor first-round
scores.
Michigan coach Sue LeClair said,
"My goal has become, obviously
other than winning, for the girls to
play three consistent rounds like
they are capable of," LeClair said.
The highlight of the fall season
was the victory at the Michigan In-
vitational. Although they shot a
338 in the first round, the team re-
bounded shooting 333-324 in the
next rounds. Becky Hayes shot a
239, good for tournament medal
honors.
Although Erica Zonder did not
win a tournament, she was the top
Wolverine scorer in three tourna-
ments and edged Hayes for the team
lead at the midway mark, 80.6-81.6.
"I was pleased with the fall sea-
son," LeClair said. "I think they did
well. I think we had more rounds
under 80 than ever before."
Although the raindrops were
falling often during the Wolver-
ines' spring season, the team's scores
were not. LeClair set a goal of aver-
Szczechowski stars
as women struggle
aging 320 per round, but the
Wolverines could do no better than
a 983, 23 strokes off the pace.
"Chipping and putting bothered
us again," she said. "(The team is)
trying too hard instead of going out
and enjoying it and that's been caus-
ing problems."
When asked about the differences
from last year, Hayes replied, "The
main difference is team unity. We do
more things together off the course
than before."
Zonder agreed, "I definitely
think that the unity helped us. We
practiced more, and set goals for
ourselves."
The prospects for the next season
appear bright despite losing Hayes,
Darcy Chandler, and Mary Hartman
to graduation.
With Zonder and Kristin Beil-
stein returning to the squad, there
will be no dearth of experience or
leadership.
Maura Hawkins, who shot an 80
during the Michigan Invitational,
and Jennifer Tejada will be shooting
for competition spots. Also, twin
sisters Tiffany and Tegan McCorkel
will be vying for chances to travel
and play in this year's tournament.
LeClair's iiffluence is tanta-
mount to the continued develop-
ment of the up-and-coming golfers.
Tiffany McCorkel said, "She really
is a great lady, very helpful, and al-
ways accommodating."
by Matt Rennie
Daily Sports Editor
After qualifying for the,
NCAA tournament during the '89-
'90 season, the Michigan women's
basketball team lost four starters
to graduation. Consequently,
Wolverine coach Bud VanDeWege
anticipated the '90-'91 campaign
would be a rebuilding year.
However, not even VanDeWege
could have anticipated the struggle
his team (4-14 in the Big Ten, 11-17
overall) endured on its way to a
ninth-place conference finish.
Although this year's squad was
characterized by its youth, its
leader was the lone veteran, guard
Carol Szczechowski. Szczechowski
led the Wolverines in scoring and
provided much-needed stability on
and off the floor.
The Wolverines' last game of
the year, a 71-62 loss to rival
Michigan State, seemed to typify
their entire season. Michigan
stayed within striking distance
during most of the game, drawing
within four, 62-58, late into the
second half. However, the Wolver-
ines were unable to find the extra
push they needed to take the lead,
and the Spartans prevailed.
Szczechowski was able to main-
tain a healthy perspective on the
lack of success during her final sea-
son.
"I hate the thought of not play-
ing again - that part of it really
upsets me," Szczechowski said, af-
ter the State game. "But the sweet
pat of it is I really have a good
memory of all the last four years."
One of the bright spots was the
emergence of sophomore Trish An-
drew as a premier shot blocker on
the team. Rookie Michelle Hall,
sophomore Nikki Beaudry, and ju-
nior Char Durand gave the Wolver-
ines front court hope for the fu-
ture.
Sophomore guards Stacie Mc-
Call and Jennifer Nuanes showed
they are capable of filling the back
court void left by Szczechowski.
Leah Wooldridge also can provide a
spark with her out side shooting.
Although the season was
somewhat of a disappointment for
VanDeWege, the Wolverine coach
tried to take a positive outlook
away from the season.
"We do leave the season with
the satisfaction that we did not
fold up. We stayed tough," Van-.
DeWege said. "That's important
when you have everybody coming
back. Nobody quit. Believe me, you
have to have some satisfaction in
that because it's important coming
back net year."
,,
w
JOSE JUAREZ/Daily
Stacie McCall will be one of the guards Michigan women's basketball
coach Bud VanDeWege will look to replace the graduated Carol
Szczechowski.
.
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Darden flips over gymnasts' progress
by Charlie Wolfe
Daily Sports Writer
The long days gone, a season
passed. A year of striving, and
achievements amassed. The journey
has begun, to a beckoning peak. Next
year awaits, and a championship they
seek.
Indeed, the 1990-91 men's gym-
nastics season was one of hard work,
surprising performances, and a
hunger for something more. The
Wolverines enjoyed a very success-
ful year, compiled an 8-7 season
record, and sent the most individual
gymnasts (five) to the NCAA
Championships of any program in
the country.
Yet while the men earned the
first winning Michigan gymnastics
season "in quite a while" according
to coach Bob Darden, the year
seemed to be characterized by al-
ways wanting to reach a little
higher than the team's young arms
would allow. With six first-year
gymnasts normally in the nine-man
lineup, Michigan seemed destined
for a year of mediocrity. Not only
did the newcomers and veterans put
aside their age differences, but they
jelled into a cohesive unit that
forced their peers to take notice.
"The team has been working so
hard this year that we're finally be-
ing recognized on the national
scene," Darden said. "It's going to
take more work on all of our part,
but everyone appreciates the effort
we've put forth."
The Wolverines themselves have
also realized that they can be as
good as they are willing to sweat.
Agreeing that his team had a good
season but knowing it still could
have been better, newcomer Royce
Toni said, "Personally, I'm going to
come back on another level," refer-
ring to his rigorous training plans
for the summer.
"I think we're going to have a
great team next year, if we realize
Round
our weaknesses and work hard on
them over the summer," Toni went
on. "High bar and vaulting will be
key factors, and we're all eager to
get back to our own gyms and come
back with a vengeance next year."
Toni and his fellow rookies look
to spearhead the continued rise of
the program in the years to come. In
fact, Toni's teammates recognized
both his recent performances and his
future potential by voting him
Frosh of the Year, while team
member Jorge Camacho was voted
Most Improved in only his first
year as a Wolverine. Not surpris-
ingly, co-captain Jim Round was
voted the team's MVP.
Besides the obvious satisfaction
of five Michigan gymnasts, namely
Toni, Camacho, Round, Glenn Hill,
and Ben Verrall, going to nationals,
Darden was also quick to point out
that success is self-perpetuating. As
the program prospers, so does the
interest of prized recruits, and Dar-
den is hoping for as many as eight or
nine new gymnasts to join the team:
next year. Though only onehas
signed so far, he looks to be enough
to make any recruiting class by him-,
self.
"Brian 'Skeeter' Winkler," coach
Darden smiled, "the guy is hot!
Winkler hails from Florida, a popu-
lar recruiting ground for Michigaf!
(Camacho is from Hialeah, Fla.). As-
a junior, Winkler ranked 10th in the
nation last year at the 1990 Jr",
Olympic Championships. Darden,0
who foresees Winkler jumping into
the lineup immediately, said, "He's"
going to push right from the get-
go"
Perhaps the brightest highlight
of the Wolverines' season was the'
shattering of the school record for'
points in a meet, surpassing the old
mark by nearly three points when'
they scored a 278.4 against Stanford.
Especially impressive about such a
feat is that not only was it accom,
plished with six frosh gymnasts int,
the lineup, but it was also on the,
road during the team's visit to the.
West Coast.
And according to the coaching
staff, it is all according to plan.
"Each season since 1983 has been
statistically better, and in '85 we
really started taking off," Darde )*
said. "We wish it could have been
faster, but that's always been our,
coaching philosophy, to work with
very talented young men and
steadily raise the level of our pro
gram. Our growth over the years ha9
been very calculated, and sometimes
it takes time."
That time may start paying ma-
jor dividends next season.
-- ,
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