12A - The Michigan Daily - Thursday, February 22, 1996 MichiganOp en totest'M'swinmers - Invitational gives some Wolverines an opportunity to end season with a splash By Doug Stevens Daily Sports Writer Throughout the Michigan men's swimming and diving season, it has been preached to the athletes that their focus should be on the big picture. While the dual meets in the regular season and the Big Ten Championships are always nice to win, dreams of Olympic glory and national champion- ships have undoubtedly motivated the nucleus of the Wolverines' squad. Since October, the Michigan swimmers have en- dured tough, competitive workouts often before most students wake up, because they knew that when Olympic Trials and NCAAs arrive in March, it would all pay off. However, for a certain group of swimmers, the end of the road is this weekend when the Wolverines host the Michigan Open. In contrast to next month's festivities, which in- clude competitions against some of the most talented swimmers in the world for Olympic berths and the nation's top teams for the NCAA title, this weekend's meet will pit Michigan against a group of unknown, even independent opponents. "This is a(United States Swimming) meet,"Michi- gan coach Jon Urbanchek said. "It is an all-comers meet including 11, 12, 13, 14-year-olds. It won't include any (Michigan athletes) who are going to the (U.S.) trials." While this weekend's event is not one of the more hyped meets on the defending national champions' calendar to say the least, it will be a chance for numerous Wolverines to wrap up the season on a high note. Of the group slated to swim in the meet, which begins tomorrow, only sophomore Owen von Richter will definitely be competing later on in the season. Von Richter, a four-time All-American and a mem- ber of last year's NCAA-champion 800-yard freestyle relay team, is using this meet as his final preparation for the Canadian Olympic Trials. Von Richter will not be competing in the NCAA Championships because it will be held on the same weekend as the Canadian trials. Von Richter was not able to participate in last weekend's Big Ten Championships, due to a combina- tion of health problems and the fact that Urbanchek wants his athletes focused on the trials. "This is von Richter's substitute for the Big Ten meet," Urbanchek said. At the Michigan Open, von Richter will get in plenty of swimming, as he is slated to compete in the 500 freestyle, the 200 freestyle, the 400 individual medley and the 200 butterfly. Sophomore Steve Williams, fresh offa fifth-place finish in the 1,650 freestyle at Big Tens, recording an@ NCAA consideration time of 15:24.38, will be swim- ming the 500 freestyle and 400 IM this weekend. Junior Tom Almeida, who had a strong showing last weekend, placing 14th in the 200 backstroke, is planning on competing in the 100 butterfly and the 100 and 200 backstrokes. Other Wolverines who will be swimming this weekend include senior Joe Janik and freshmen Dawson Hughes (100 and 200 freestyle), Jeff Flermoen (100 and 200 breaststroke) and David Stephens. While this meet may not mean much to the team as a whole, it serves as a good opportunity for the freshmen, in particular, to get meet experience. "(All of these freshmen) have the possibility to help the team down the road," Urbanchek said."We don't measure success by ability to do well at Big Tens. Improving their individual times are motiva- tion as well." WRRN ZINN/ Dily Canham Natatorium will host the Michigan Open this weekend. FISHER 0 The Students' Counseling Office Wants YOU! t r . Mass meeting for all interested volunteers. Thursday, February 22 7:00M G216 Angell Hall The SCO is a student-operated academic counseling office that has worked for over 25 years to help fellow students fight academic bureaucracy. Among our many services: i' An extensive archive of LSA tests e Course/Professor evaluations oGraduate school and career catalogues Share your own knowledge with other students and earn valuable experience as a peer academic counselor. Help us help YOU! The Students' Counseling Office - Run BY students FOR students! G216 Angell Hall Hours: MonlThunFri 10-4; Wed 10-3 (Closed Tues) 763-1553 E-mail: the.sco@umich.edu Continued from Page 9A Fisher did not comment on the nature of the restrictions or the length of pro- bation. Fisher also addressed other issues concerning the incident, including pos- sible NCAA violations and the ques- tion of whether or not drugs or alcohol played a role in the accident. "Based on all accounts, including those provided by the players, law e forcement representatives, and hospitaT emergency room personnel," Fisher said, "neither alcohol nor drugs were a factor prior to, or during the accident." Michigan may be in violation of an NCAA rule concerning the sixth mem- ber of the vehicle - Flint Northern senior Mateen Cleaves. The NCAA has a"30-mile radius rule" inwhich schools are forbidden to take a recruit who iso an official visit outside of a 30-mil radius from the school. The five Michigan players and Cleaves might have been further than 30 miles from the University when they traveled to Detroit last Friday night. "The student-athletes stated that they were aware of the 30 mile radius stipula- tion," Fisher said. "However, they be- lieved they were within the 30 mile radius when they traveled to the Detroit area. "Independent of the question co* cerning actual mileage, we are operat- ing as though it was a violation and will report it to the NCAA and await their assessment and judgment." JOE WESTRATE/Daily The Michigan players involved in Saturday's accident were disciplined yesterday. Performa 636 8/500/CD $908 Apple 15" Monitor $397 Mcintsh Performa 5200 8/800/CD with monitor, speakers, Performa 6214 8/1000/CD Apple 15" Monitor $397 $943 I modem $1,845 Macintoshj Lefom 4 I StyleWriter 1200 $199 Color StyleWriter 2400 $390r LaserWriter Select 360 $1,118 .4 I ..- - ; - , , t .. _ ._______ . ®.._. _ _ .. i r i