The Michigan Daily - Thursday, February 8, 1996 - 9A
Womens track visits Champaign
By Jiten Ghelani
For the Daily
Many times, when individuals are
working hard and expectations are
high, the concept of team is forgotten.
This is not the case with the Michi-
gan women's track and field team.
This weekend the Wolverines are head-
ing to Champaign to compete in the
Illinois Invitational, which will fea-
ture many strong teams.
Because the event is an invitational,
it will not be scored. The purpose of
the meet is personal qualifying for the
NCAA National Indoor Champion-
ships.
The team is focused and ready after
its meeting on Tuesday. Everyone un-
derstands that, in spite of all the per-
sonal accomplishments that are an-
ticipated, the key to this meet is the
development of the team as a whole.
"We're looking for a good team
effort, for some people to break some
ground," said senior Courtney
Babcock, a five-time All-American.
Babcock is hoping to qualify for the
distance medley relay Friday along
with sophomore Michelle Slater and
junior Lamika Harper.
The usual other leg, sophomore
Pauline Arnill, may be unable to run
due to illness; who her replacement
will be is not clear.
Wisconsin and Illinois, two of the
teams that Michigan will see this week-
end, are very strong and are the early
favorites to win the Big Ten Indoor
Championship.
Illinois, the reigning Big Ten In-
door Champion, is powerful in the
sprints, throws and jumps.
Wisconsin, the runner-up last year,
is strong in the middle and long dis-
tances.
Michigan, on the other hand, hopes
to lead a solid, balanced attack that is
starting to come together. This year
the Wolverines have four strong re-
turning members in Babcock, senior
sprinter Tearza Johnson, senior high
jumper Monika Black and sophomore
Tania Longe. But it should be the new-
comers and others that will take this
team from a handful ofpotential quali-
fiers to contenders for the champion-
ship.
Michigan coach James Henry said
he realizes the importance of this meet,
saying the team has to treat it like a
conference meet. Alhough Michi-
gan has been quite successful so far,
they still have some work to do.
"Sixty percent (of the team mem-
bers) have stepped up," Henry said.
"Forty percent - they know who,
they are - need to step up."
If the rest of the Wolverines don't
show the improvement Henry is look-
ing for, they may end up being un-
able to rid themselves of a lingering
shadow of doubt.
This could hurt their confidence
and future performances.
Not only is this a good opportu-
nity for the Wolverines to get their
team support together, they also get
a chance to preview the competition
they will face at the Big Ten Indoor
Championships in two weeks at Wis-
consin.
The meet will give the Wolverines
a chance to run against tough com-
petition.
Everyone should get a better idea
as to where they stand and how much
further they need to go.
"Everybody should go out and d&
their best," Johnson said. "(We) ex-
pect nothing less than 110 percent'
KRISTEN SCHAFFER/Daily
chigan sophomore Bill Lacure will square off against Ohio State's Charley Becks in Columbus Sunday.
WRESTLERS
Continued from Page 8A
off against another of Ohio State's
top wrestlers in Jay Micheals (15-5).
Another key match at 150 will pit
ninth-ranked sophomore Bill Lacure
against the Buckeyes' No. 6 Charley
Becks (24-4).
dt acure (23-7) has been a solid per-
ormerforthe Wolverines and is com-
ingoffofan overtime loss to Purdue's
Mickey Griffin.
"Those three matches will prob-
ably go a long way in determining the
outcome of the meet," Bahr said. "I
think we've got the better wrestlers,
but we've got to prove it."
At 158, No. 5 Jeff Catrabone will
try to retain his status as Michigan's
only unbeaten starter. If Catrabone
(33-4) can record just nine more vic-
tories, he can crack the top 10 on
Michigan's all-time list for wins in a
season.
Fourth-ranked senior captain
Jesse Rawls Jr. (177) appears to be
in top form, recording a major deci-
sion over Purdue's David Peterson
last weekend.
No. 7 Airron Richardson (heavy-
weight) suffered his first dual meet
loss of the season at the hands of the
Boilermakers' No. 6 Tony Vaughn
last Sunday. He will be tested again
this Sunday by Ohio State's Nick
Nutter, owner of a 22-6 record and the
No. 12 ranking.
A victory against the Buckeyes
would tie the Wolverines' season win
streak at two. If history is any indica-
tion, a win would appear likely as
Michigan is 54-13-4 in previous con-
frontations with Ohio State.
Men head to Purdue for Central Collegiates
By Mark Snyder
Daily Sports Writer
Scoring meets determine team suc-
cess. Invitationals determine individual
success. On Saturday, the Michigan
men's track team will get its chance to
show how successful it is.
The Central Collegiate Champion-
ships will take place in West Lafayette,
and the anticipation makes this more
than an average meet.
"(The Championships) have a lot of
history behind them," Michigan dis-
tance runner John Mortimer said.
That history, along with the prestige
associated with the Championships, makes
this an importantmeet for the Wolverines.
Michigan will face off against schools
from across the Midwest, with improve-
ment as the main goal.
"This is an opportunity to put the
pieces together and improve as a team,"
Mortimer said.
The team encounters three champi-
onship meets in both the indoor and
outdoor seasons. The Championships
are the first opportunity for the Wolver-
ines to get an indication as to where they
stand against quality competition.
At the end of February, the Big Ten
Championships will be held in Columbus,
where Michigan will look to extend its
tradition of track success.
Thus far, Michigan has competed in a
number of invitationals, which do nothing
for team comparisons. This team meet
should also increase the competitive fire
of the athletes.
"This meet is much more intense be-
cause ofthescoring,"Mortimersaid. "I'm
looking to get a personal record (in the
mile)."
Mortimer is building his season towards
the Big Ten meet, where he hopes to
qualify for the state meet in the 3,000-
meter event.
"Right now, we are a couple weeks
before we are at our best," Mortimer'
said.
For now, though, the team is working
out its kinks and refining its specialties..-
Forexample, Mortimer will run themile
race this weekend at Purdue.
The mile is a race that is only half the
distance of the 3,000-meters, but it pro-
vides good preparation for the longer
event.
This weekend, the Wolverines must
focus their attenion on numerous perfor-
mances which will add up to points.
It will be individual contributions,
like those of Mortimer, which should
make the difference as to where theteam
finishes now and in the upcoming weeks.
GYMNASTS
Continued from Page 8A
was still bothering her.
It would be understandable if frus-
tion set in and morale became a
problem, especially since the Wol-
verine roster includes five freshmen.
According to Plocki, though, nothing
could be further from the truth.
"These are hard-willed individu-
als," Plocki said. "They are not going
to give up."
If anything good has come out of
the injury situation, it is the strong
owing made by some ofthe younger
oiverines.
RECRUITS
Continued from Page 8A
kids' homes."
Carr also boasted ofthe five Michi-
gan natives in this year's class. The
most noteworthy is Jenison tackle
&ye Brandt, a 6-foot-3, 260-pounder
ked fourth among defensive line
prospects in the Midwest.
Carr also
picked up South
Lyon punter Cory R
Sargent, who
could push Naten
DeLong and Paul
Peristeris for
kicking duties.
Another prize
ruit is 6-foot-
6220-pound
quarterback Ja-
son Kapsner. Carr
K a p s n e r
Lemming's seventh-ranked signal
caller in the country, is a drop-back
passer in the mold of Todd Collins
and Elvis Grbac.
But Carr pointed out that Kapsner,
dothing beats the Daily
on a cold, winter day.
The spotlight has been thrust upon
Beth Amelkovich and Kathy Burke,
who are the only two healthy fresh-
man. Both of them have made impres-
sive showings lately in the all-around.
Amelkovich was second against Mas-
sachusetts, and Burke was fourth last
Sunday in the Classic.
Plocki said that none of the injuries
appeared season-ending, and that
while her squad might not be fully
healthy for Ohio State, she hopes to
have everybody back soon.
Even a banged-up Michigan team
is talented enough to win this week-
end though. Ohio State is improving,
but it has only scored over 190 points
the highest-rated quarterback pros-
pect Michigan has signed in recent
memory, is taller and quicker than
either of his predecessors.
"I think six of our signees were in
our summer camp," Carr said. "Jason
Kapsner was one of those. We had an
opportunity to watch him throw every
day and we're certainly very excited
to have him. I'll be very surprised if
he doesn't have an outstanding career
here."
The Detroit News also reported that
Detroit Cooley running back Dion
Grubbs made an oral commitment to
Michigan.
But Carr had not received a letter of
intent from Grubbs as of 4 p.m. yes-
terday.
According to NCAA rules, a school
can release only the names of players
whose signed letters of intent have
been received.
Carr is also trying to fill another
departure from last season - this one
in his coaching staff. Quarterbacks
coach Kip Cartwright took an assis-
tant job at Indiana.
- The Associated Press
contributed to this report.
once this year, while Michigan has
topped that total in every meet.
Of all her lineup shuffling and in-
jury problems, Plocki simply says,
"Going through all this will only make
us stronger."
If the team is as mentally tough as
their coach claims, somebody better
tell the Buckeyes and the rest of the
Big Ten to look out. The Wolverines
are starting to heal, and they are look-
ing to start a new win streak.
Make Peace with the
Ones You Love
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" Publication: February 14
" Deadline: February 9
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