The Michigan Daily - Thursday, November 11- 9
Blue embarks on quest
for ninth straight title
Individual medley specialist Marcel Wouda is trying to repeat his success of a year ago when he captured Big Ten and NCAA individual titles.
Sophomore runner stnves to balance success on and off the cour
By TOM BAUSANO
and TIM SMITH
DAIL.Y SPORTS WRI1TERS
Redshirt sophomore Courtney
Babcock has made the most of her
opportunity as a member of the
women's cross country and track
teams, and as a student at Michigan.
Babcock, a Canadian native, is
pursuing a degree in communica-
tion and aspires to a career in the
telecommunications industry. In
addition, Babcock was named to the
All-Big Ten team for her second-
Splace finish at the conference meet
last weekend. She also captured All-
America honors in the 3000 meters
during last year's indoor season.
"I love Michigan," Babcock said.
"I wouldn't want to go anywhere
else. The whole atmosphere here is
great, plus there is a whole lot of
tradition. There is just a lot more
tradition at American schools than
*those in Canada."
Courtney has carried on a family
tradition by coming to Ann Arbor.
Her father and coach, Larry
Babcock, played hockey for Michi-
gan from 1961-1963.
"My father never forced me to
do anything, but helped me in a
positive way," Courtney said. "My
dad used to run when I was young
and he used to take us out with him.
@1 played basketball and volleyball
when I was growing up, and didn't
really get serious with running 'til
grade 12."
Larry served as Courtney's coach
until she began to train with the
University of Toronto Track Club
in grade 12.
"She ran through high school
but shewas more involved with other
team sports," Larry said. "As a kid
she swam competitively in the Pro-
vincial championships, and played
a lot of ball. I think she just made up
her mind to be good at track in grade
12."
Courtney has certainly made up
her mind to be successful at Michi-
gan. At the Big Ten meet, she turned
in a gutsy performance by leading
the pack from the start, until team-
mate Molly McClimon passed her
in the final straightaway.
"My goal going into the meet
was to win as a team," Courtney
said. "I have had kind of a slow start
this season but I'm getting more
focused as we go on. It's definitely
getting more intense. While I'm sit-
ting in class all I can think about is
districts and the finals."
Along with making up her mind
to be a solid runner, Courtney deter-
mined early that she wanted to at-
tend Michigan.
"We definitely had a school that
she was seriously considering,"
Michigan women's cross-country
coach Mike McGuire said. "We
hadn't really heard of her, to tell
you the truth, because we hadn't
really recruited Canadians.
Courtney was the first Canadian ath-
lete that we recruited. She actually
contacted us."
Although sports was amajor fac-
tor in her strong desire to study at
Michigan, academics was always a
top priority.
"Although that was a big factor,
people like Mike (McGuire) and Sue
Foster were an important part of her
decision," Larry said."
Courtney has fit in with the
people and atmosphere within the
Michigan athletic community.
"I think it is great how all the
teams support one another,"
Courtney said. "All of my good
friends are athletes, and I go to all of
the volleyball and gymnastics meets.
Last year, I lived in a house with six
"Courtney has been v
portive of my having to
Since we are such good fri
knows the right things t
cheer me up."
Courtney will have th
seasons of eligibility in cr
try and two more in track
tinue her list of impressiv
mances,
"Last year's indoor se
my best so far in termsc
well and feeling good,"t
said. "Running my PR{
record) at Notre Dame an
ing an All-American are
my most exciting times
Michigan."
McGuire will be forc
pend on Courtney moren
because of the loss of All-A
Molly McClimon and stand
Szabo.
"Courtney is low-key
but she doesn't run tha
McGuire said. "She has aY
fact approach to running
race day, she's as feistya
petitive as anyone I ha
coached. I don't think I a
out on a limb by saying tha
win an NCAA title befo
done here."
Courtney has earned th
gan Athletic Academic
ment Award every terms
entered the university.
All of the running acco
the chance of winning an in
national title are outs
achievements in and amo
selves, but Courtney has n+
sight of her ultimate goal-
ing a degree from the UnP
Michigan.
By BRETT JOHNSON
DAILY SPORTS WRITER
The drive for nine starts this week-
end for the Michigan men's swim-
ming and diving team. The Wolver-
ines are coming off of their eighth
consecutive Big Ten title and a sec-
ond place finish in the NCAA cham-
:::.'r f" pionships.
This weekend the Wolverines
travel to Wisconsin where they will
take on the host Badgers, Minnesota
and Michigan State. The meet will
FILE PHOTO give the Wolverines their first look at
Minnesota, this season's toughest Big
Ten competition.
"Our only competition is Minne-
1eS sota,"Michigan coach Jon Urbanchek
said. "They are considered to have
enough to challenge us. Redshirt se-
nior Paul Nelsen is their number-one
se gun. He's capable of winning any
event he swims."
very sup- Nelsen has previously won both
redshirt. the 200- and 400-yard individual
ends, she medleys at the Big Ten meet, buthe is
o say to not Minnesota's only weapon. The
Golden Gophers also return swim-
ree more mers MattBrown, Eric Jorgensen and
oss coun- Bernie Zeruhn who scored well at the
k to con- conference meet. In addition, they
!e perfor- have oneof the conference's top divers
in P.J. Bogart.
ason was Despite losing three of its top
of racing swimmers (Eric Namesnik, Eric
Courtney Wunderlich and Brian Gunn), Michi-
(personal gan is still favored to win the Big Ten
d becom- title. This is due to a great returning
probably class as well as a solid freshman class.
here at The Wolverines return distance
freestyler and IM specialist Marcel
ed to de- Wouda, backstroker Royce Sharp and
next year sprint freestyler Gustavo Borges. All
American three scored very well at the NCAA
outChris meet. Both Wouda and Borges won
events in the competition.
by nature In addition, co-captains Rodney
at way," VanTassellandBrice Kopas willhave
key roles on the team. Both contrib-
uted to last year's squad and will beb
asked to assume even bigger roles
this year. Other returning swimmers
will also be asked to make bigger
contributions to help offset the losses.
The freshman class, which in-
cludes Tom Dolan, Chris Rumley and
John Piersma, will also be important
to the success of this year's team.
Dolan competed in the Pan-Pacifics
this summer for the United States,
and finished second in the 400 IM.
"Three or four freshmen can step
in, but not right away," Urbanchek
said. "You can'tjust replace guys like
Wunderlich, Namesnik and Gunn.
Someone on the team may step up,
too. Courtney Fowlermightstep up to
another level.
"All the freshmen will see some:
action this weekend. Piersma isswim-
ming his No. 1 event, the 200-yard
freestyle. Rumley is swimming the
200 and 500 free, and Dolan is swim-
ming the middle distance events and
the 200 IM."
As for the weekend's other com-
petition, it is not the same caliber of
Michigan or Minnesota. Wisconsin
lost one of its top swimmers, Robert
Pinter, from last season's sixth-place
Big Ten team. The Badgers do return
Valter Kalaus, who is capable of scor-
ing. Last year's eighth-place team,
Michigan State, returns Chris-Carol
Bremer, but the Spartans do not have
the talent or depth to challenge the
conference's elite.
Urbanchek said that he is looking
forward to his team hitting the water
for the first time in competition.
"It's a good chance to see where
everyone is going into the third month
of training," Urbanchek said. "After
this, we can make a prediction of ,
what is possible, where we are and
where we go from here."
Babcock
other athletes, and we all had a great
time together."
Teammate Kelly Chard was one
of Courtney's roommates last year.
Chard has been forced to take a
medical redshirt this season just as
Courtney did her freshman year.
"Living with people from other
teams certainly broadened our base
of friends within the athletic com-
munity," Chard said. "We had three
girls from the volleyball team and
one from the softball team, besides
Courtney and I.
matter of
, but on
and com-
ave ever
am going
at she can
re she is
re Michi-
Achieve-
since she
lades and
ndividual
standing
ng them-
tever lost
- attain-
versity of
Teams challenging for
postseason bowl bids
By Marc Diller
FOR THE DAILY
* Michigan football has been a ma-
jor disappointment this season. That
may be the understatement of the year.
With two games left in the season,
no one would have guessed the Wol-
verine football team would be injeop-
ardy of finishing below .500 for the
first time since 1967 (4-6). The last
time Michigan was idle during the
postseason was 1974. Atleasttherest
f the Big Ten is making up for
ichigan's subpar performance.
This weekend six conference
teams other than the Wolverines are
battling for bowl bids. The key ques-
tion is who will be in Pasadena on
New Year's Day. The Big Ten
matchups for Saturday stack up as
follows:
Michigan State (3-2, 5-3) at
Purdue (0-6,1-8)
Purdue is the laughing stock ofthe
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Big Ten this year. Look for Michigan
State quarterback Jim Miller and
tailback Craig Thomas to abuse the
Boilermaker defense. Thomas, com-
ing off a phenomenal performance
last week against Northwestern (163
yards, 2 touchdowns), is saying, "If
Biakabutuka can do it, then so can I."
At least one Michigan team will
be practicing during December.
Michigan State 34, Purdue 6.
Indiana (4-2, 7-2) at Ohio State
(5-0-1, 8-0-1)
Maybe this isn't Indiana's Rose
Bowl year. The Hoosiers' loss to Penn
State last week destroyed all hopes of
traveling to Pasadena. Ohio State
looks to rebound from last week's tie
in Madison. The Buckeyesare in com-
plete control of their destiny and
they're not going to let Indiana get in
the way, especially in Columbus. This
is John Cooper's year to take home
the thorny flowers. The Buckeyes
have the whole package. If there is
one man to watch this Saturday, Joey
Galloway is that man.
Ohio State 27, Indiana 17.
Illinois (5-1, 5-4) at Penn State
(3-2, 6-2)
Sure, Penn State is the better team
and is playing at home, but Illinois
coach Lou Tepper can smell the roses.
The Illini are streaking at the right
time, and Johnny Johnson can lead
them to victory in Beaver Stadium.
Joe Paterno will wish his team had
never entered the Big Ten.
Too late!
There is no joy in Happy Valley
this year.
Illinois 17, Penn State 14.
Iowa (1-5,4-5)at Northwestern
(0-6, 2-7)
Who cares? I would rather watch
Northwestern's basketball team
scrimmage than see this depressing
matchup.
Preseason Heisman hopeful Lee
Gissendaner needs to strut his stuff
the final two games before he enters
the NFL draft. Northwestern is due
for a Big Ten victory anyway. Who
would be a better victim than Hayden
Fry's Hawkeyes? Why even waste
your time worrying about this one
when the national championship is
going tobe determined in South Bend.
Northwestern 21, Iowa 13.
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