ft firmbigmIDOq Red Sox discuss trade with Japan The Boston Red Sox and the Hiroshima Toyo Carp are talking trade. The two teams are close to completing the first trade between the American and Japanese major leagues. The proposed deal would send Robinson Checo to the Red Sox, for a player to be named and possibly some cash. A formal agreement is expected to be completed before the season ends. V I Carr's first recruiting class hlighted by speedy Texans By John Leroi Daily Sports Editor Not many recruiting trips include an eight-hour plane ride to the west- ern Pacific. But included in Michigan coach Lloyd Carr's itinerary was a long trip to the tropics. Carr didn't get the Hawaiian he recruited there, but he and his coach- ing staff did manage to land one of the nation's best recruiting classes. Yesterday, Carr accepted 19 na- tional letters of intent from high school seniors to play football at Michigan next year. Carr's first recruiting class as the Wolverines' head coach was ranked the seventh-best in the coun- try by recruiting guru Bob Lemming of Prep Football Report. "All of the recruiting publications and the interest in recruiting is great because it creates an interest in col- lege football," Carr said. "But the truth of the matter is, when you look back, those classes that were ranked very high did not necessarily corre- late to the same finish in the national polls. 1996 Football recruits "But I'm very pleased with the guys we got. The name 'Michigan' goes a long way." This year, it went all the way to Texas, where Carr and assistant coach Greg Mattison found more than a fourth of this year's incoming class. Two of the players that Carr was most excited about were both Texans - defensive backs Tom Hendricks and wide receiver Aaron Wright. The 6-2, 205-pound Hendricks, a first-team All-American, was rated the No. 3 defensive back prospect in the country by Lemming. Hendricks' father, Tom, suited up for the Wol- verines in 1954-55. Wright caught 42 passes for 1,125 yards as a senior, including four for 87 yards in the Class 5A state cham- pionship game. Both players fill large holes in Michigan's lineup. Carr lost both starting wide receiv- ers, Amani Toomer and Mercury Hayes, to graduation. Both Wright and junior college transfer Russell Shaw - the Wolverines' first junior college recruit in 10 years - should compete for a starting position. Likewise, Hendricks should make an immediate impact in Michigan's defensive backfield. "We did meet some of our needs, and I think there will be some situa- tions where those guys coming are going to compete for playing time just like last fall," Carr said. Carr indicated that his first year in charge was a new but enjoyable experience. He hasn't spent a night at home for the last month, and he even resorted to changing clothes in airplane restrooms on the way to visit recruits. "It's a different experience for me as a head coach," Carr said. "I've done this before, but this year I actu- ally had the chance to be in all of these See RECRUITS, Page 9A Gynms hoes to Columbus c By Kevin Kasiborski For the Daily After a successful weekend for Michigan sports teams against Ohio State, the women's gymnastics team is looking forward to its trip to Co- lumbus. Saturday, the Wolverines take on the Buckeyes in a Big Ten show- down. Even though Ohio State might not be considered a traditional gymnas- tics rivalry, beating the Buckeyes has become an annual tradition. Ohio State shouldn't feel special though, because Michigan has made it a habit to defeat everybody in the Big Ten. : Entering this season, a loss to Michi- gan State in 1993 was the Wolver- -ines' only conference loss in the past four years. During that stretch of four consecutive Big Ten Championships, their conference record was a remark- -able 45-1. However, that success has not car- ried over to this season. Michigan's *overall record this season is 6-2 and includes impressive wins over then No. 16 West Virginia and No. I I Massachusetts. But both oftheirlosses came at the hands of conference foes. The Wolverines' conference win- ning streak was broken when they fell to Minnesota earlier this season. Af- ter defeating Massachusetts, Michi- gan went into last weekend ranked "No. 4 in the nation. But on Sunday they lost to No. 9 Michigan State 193.375-192.575 in the State ofMichi- gan Classic. The good news for the Wolverines is that although the losses count against their conference record, they won't cost them the Big Ten title. In gymnastics, the team that wins the Big Ten meet is the conference champion. With a rash of injuries, the team has been looking at the season meet by meet, striving for constant improve- ment. "It doesn't really matter what the other teams do," Michigan freshman Kathy Burke said. "We just have to concentrate on ourselves." In last year's Big Ten meet, Michi- gan was first while Ohio State fin- ished last. This year though, the Buck- eyes are off to a fast start. They are 7- 1 overall and 2-1 in the Big Ten. "Ohio State is an improved team over last year," Michigan coach Bev Plocki said. "Last year they went through what we are going through right now." What the Wolverines are going through right now is a rash of injuries that borders on the absurd. Seven of the team's 12 members are bothered by ailments of varying degrees. Injuries are a part of sports, but Plocki might be wishing she had a farm system and could call up some reserves. "It's hard to win when you are just worried about having a full lineup," Plocki said. "In some events, three of our top six are out." Some of the Wolverines are com- peting through the pain. This past weekend, sophomore Heather Kabnick returned to action in two events despite an ankle injury that See GYMNASTS, Page 9A MARK FRIEDMAN/Daily The No. 4 women's gymnastics team visits Ohio State this weekend. Gmpplers ready for No. 18 Ohio State By Jennifer Hoduiik Daily Sports Writer The No. 15 Michigan wrestling team will play host to Ohio State this Sunday at Cliff Keen Arena with one eye on the Buckeyes, and the other focusing in on the Big Ten and na- tional champion- ships. This is not to say that No. 18 Ohio State will be taken lightly. With every Big Ten teamw ranked in the top" 25, every meet is chock full ofexcel- lent competition. Michigan coachL Dale Bahr said the Lacure team will begin to tune up this week as the most impor- tant matches of the season draw near. "Our key focus for these last couple of dual meets is beginning to change," Bahr said. "Right now, we're starting to intensify practices so we can get ready for the Big Ten and NCAA Championships." While the Big Ten Championships are over a month away, the Wolver- ines must begin their most strenu- ous training now to allow for a period of taper. In any event, the Buckeyes (11-6- 1) present one of several hurdles that Michigan (7-5-1) must clear along the road to any of these championship events. Two of Sunday's pivotal match- ups will test the skills of the Wolver- ines' younger set in freshmen Joe Warren and Jeff Reese. Warren (118 pounds) will take on Shawn Conyers, who has compiled a record of 17-11 for the Buckeyes this season and until recently was nationaly ranked. Warren did not see any action last Sunday against Purdue, having won by forfeit. See WRESTLERS, Page 9A I