SWIMMING
The Michigan Daily - SPORTSMonday - Monday, March 25, 1996 - 7B
he Cardinal rule: Stanford women reign supreme
By Chris Murphy
Daily Sports Writer
At the conclusion of the 100-yard
backstroke Friday night, Stanford coach
Richard Quick made his way to the
*edge of the pool, gave both his swim-
mers , congratulatory kiss, and pro-
ceeded to pump his fist as he walked
back down the deck.
That one scene went a long way to-
ward summing up what transpired this
weekend at the NCAA Women's Swim-
ming and Diving Championships:
Stanford would swim, Stanford would
win, Stanford would celebrate.
This may seem redundant, but swim-
mers and spectators alike were advised
to get-used to it.
Quick acted in a similar fashion a
pumber oftimes these past few days. Of
cout'iq, he had reason to; he watched his
team easily prevail, scoring an astound-
ing 478 points to win its fifth straight
national championship.
"We came here to swim the best we
could swim," Quick said. "We don't
want to settle for just scoring a certain
number of points or enough to win a
meet, we want to swim well. That's
what you train for all the time."
The Cardinal swimmers systemati-
cally amassed point after point as they
utilized unparalleled team depth.
While other teams featured impres-
sive individual performances,
Stanford's strategy involved placing as
many swimmers in the finals as pos-
sible in order to score points.
Moreover, what is remarkable is that
the Cardinal was able to sustain its
intensity throughout the weekend.
"1 think the team effort helps the
team to swim well," Quick said. "But
there's no secret about motivating a
We don't want to settle for just
scoring a certain number ofns.
we want to swim well."
- Richard Quick, Stanford women's swimming coach,
on his team's dominant victory at the NCAA championships
team that wants to swim well; you just
talk to them about the goals they've
been working for all year long."
Leading the pack for the Cardinal
were senior Jessica Tong and junior
Claudia Franco. Tong's best swim came
in the 100-yard backstroke; she won
that with a time of 54.09. Franco won
the 100-yard freestyle with a time of
49.39. Both Tong and Franco were part
of Stanford's winning 200-yard med-
ley relay and 400-yard freestyle relay.
The key to Stanford's success could
have been the motivation that the team
received even before the meet began.
Competing against powerhouses Michi-
gan, USC and Southern Methodist, the
Cardinal was not even favored to win.
"It's satisfying because this team
came together to work real hard toward
a goal even though we weren't favored
to win," Quick said. "But we took that
as a challenge and really turned it into a
lot of fun."
The Stanford team also rode the mo-
mentum of an Olympic qualifier, senior
co-captain Lisa Jacob.
"When (Jacob) made the Olympic
team, she wasn't favored to do that
either," Quick said. "I proved to every-
body that what's written and what's
said doesn't make a difference; it's what
you do when it counts."
When it counted most, Quick and his
team were simply able to get thejob done.
This weekend's championship is the
sixth in Stanford history. However, for
Quick it is just another chapter in a
long, long book of NCAA successes. In
23 years of coaching on the collegiate
level, Quick has won 10 NCAA titles.
In the past 13 years, the lowest he has
finished at the championships is third
place, and he hit that low only once
during that time period.
"I've been blessed with great athletes
and two institutions, first University of
Texas then Stanford, that think women's
swimming is real important. I've just
been a small part of a puzzle that comes
together with great athletes and great
leadership from the institutions."
Quick will look to continue his ex-
cellence this summer when he coaches
the women in the Atlanta Olympics. le
will be joined by NCAA competitors,
Jacob, UCLA's Annette Salmeen,
Southern Cal's Christine Quance and
Florida's Allison Wagner.
Certainly Stanford deserved to stand
in the spotlight. Even with Southern
Methodist putting in a consistent per-
formance that kept them close to the top
for most of the weekend, and Michigan
surging back from sixth place to cap-
ture third in the final event, it was ap-
parent who demanded the most respect
at the conclusion of the meet.
It was Stanford, the team at the top of
the podium.
4. Mis in400 TM atOlymic trial
sours Quances3NCAtimh
By Donald Adamek
Daily Sports Writer
Kristine Quance dominated at the women's swimming
NCAA Championships, winning the Swimmer of the Meet
distinction. Despite her 60 points, victories in the 200-yard
breaststroke and the 200-yard and 400-yard individual med-
leys, her heart was at another meet.
"Nothing could evermake up for not making the Olympics (in
400 IM)," the Southern Cal junior said. "I guess I proved a little
bit more (at the NCAA championships)."
Quance will swim in Atlanta this sum-
mer. At the Olympic trials she qualified'
in the 100-meter breaststroke and the
200-meter IM, but was looking for a berth SW11m" i
in one more event.
She swam well enough in the 400 I M Notebook
- she finished ahead of all other com-
petitors - but not clean enough. A con-
troversial technical disqualification for
an illegal turn left her with only two spots
on the U.S. Olympic team.
"I think sometimes I didn't do a very good job (at the
Olympic trials)," she said. "All my emotions were in one
meet. It was hard to get ready for this meet. The trials are for
yourself, the NCAAs are for the team."
Winning all three of her individual events at the NCAA
championships was not enough for Quance. Perhaps she was
upset that her relay teams failed to win. Or maybe it was that
Southern Cal lost a late lead to Michigan and fell to third
place overall. Or perhaps not - she sat out the Pac 10
championships to rest for the Olympic trials.
So in an ironic sense, her efforts ended up backwards. Her
trials performance motivated her for the NCAAs -helping her
team. Her NCAAs performance earned her a personal award-
but didn't let her team place in the top three for the meet. ;
WORLD RECORD HOLDER STILL WAITING FOR GOOD DAY:
Nebraska senior Penny Heyns wasn't completely happy
with her performance at Olympic trials either. But her situ-
ation is a bit different.
For starters, she wasn't in Indianapolis - her Olympic
trials came at the South African trials. And while most people
would be disappointed with a technical disqualification like
Quance's, anybody else in the world would be satisfied with
Heyns' time at trials. Especially since nobody else has ever
recorded a time as good as Heyns' 1:07.49 in the 100-meter
breaststroke.
"I was happy with the time, but not happy with the swim,"
Heyns said. "I'm sure I can beat that on a good day."
Apparently Friday was not a good day for the world record
holder. Although she won the event, and set the Canham
Natatorium record;she "only" swam a 1:00.27, which in the
100 yards is a full two seconds off her personal best. It was
good enough to make her the first female Cornhusker swim-
mer to ever strike NCAA gold.
Heyns is South Africa's best hope foran Olympic gold this
summer, which she is certainly capable of if she has a "good
day."
UCLA SWIMMER HAS A HOME COMING: Swimming in Ann
Arbor was nothing new to UCLA's Annette Salmeen. The
senior used to live in Ann Arbor, but chose to go to UCLA
instead of Michigan.
"UCLA offered the opportunity with academics, and go-
ing was a better option than staying in Ann Arbor," she said.
"I lived here for four and a half years."
Salmeen finished second in the 500 freestyle, and also
qualified for the U.S. Olympic team.
MARK FRIEDMAN/Daily
Jodi Nafta and the Michigan women's swimming team managed to snag third place at this weekend's NCAA championships,
held in their home pool, but they were far from posing a threat to dominant Stanford.
Oympics could make Dolan a star
Sucess at Games would steal Michigan tanker's amateur anonymity
p
By wiog Stevens
Daily~ prts Writer
By the end of the summer, Tom Dolan
coulde a household name in the United
Stateg
At"Michigan. like at every other insti-
tution across America, sports fans arrive
in droves to cheer on their men's basket-
balld football teams. These are the
marue teams.
Every diehard knows which ball play-
ers will make All-American and which
athletes could ultimately reach the pin-
nacle of their sport, succeeding at the
Oprofessional level.
To many students who attend a big-
time sports school, it is truly a big deal to
run into one of these athletes on campus.
It is alWays fun to see someone whose
face is consistently plastered in the news-
papers and on television.
Unfortunately for Wolverine fans,
rarely could they take pride in seeing
arguably the most accomplished athlete
t the.school. This is not because he
doesn't take classes. It is not because he
doesn't stand out. It is because no one
recognizes him.
In the world of men's swimming, Tom
Dolan is a giant, and not simply because
his 6-foot-6 frame makes him one of the
tallest on the Wolverines' squad. His
resume is as packed as any other colle-
giate swimmer in the nation.
The list is endless ... 1994, 1995 U.S.
Swin merofthe Year, worldrecord holder
nthe400individual medley,1 995 NCAA
Swimmer of the Year, five-time NCAA
Champion, seven-time Big Ten Cham-
pion, 1995 Michigan Athlete of the Year,
1994 World Championship gold medal-
ist, key member of 1995 NCAA Cham-
piof team ...
In fact, the only thing missing from his
resume is the elusive Olympicgoldmedal.
Two weeks ago, Dolan took a giant step
forward toward achieving that end. He
qualified for a trip to Atlanta by winning
r
three events at the U.S. Olympic trials.
Dolan showcased his talents in front of
a national television audience as he took
the 200 1M and 400 freestyle, in addition
to his marquee event, the 400 IM. While
his performance in both the 400 free and
400 IM were expected, the win in the 200
IM was a pleasant surprise, considering
that he has been competing in that event
for less than a year.
Dolan's 200 IM win is even more
special if you consider that he has never
really competed in anything shorter than
400 meters. Throughout his college ca-
reer, the junior has focused on such events
as the 500 and 1,650 freestyle.
"I was surprised with my performance
in the 200 IM,"
Dolan said.
"Sprinting takes a
lot out ofmy body.
I was not sure I
would have
enough speed."
While every
one knows what a
big dealtheOlym- > ?
pies are, for Dolan
it is an unbeliev- Dolan
able opportunity.
Unlike in other sports in which there is the
potential to compete as a professional, in
swimming the Olympics are the ultimate.
"Every swimmer's long-term goal is
the Olympics," Dolan said. "Winning an
Olympic gold is the pinnacle in any
swimmer's career. If I win an Olympic
gold medal, it will be the pinnacle achieve-
ment for me."
One would imagine thatthe prospect of
having an Olympic gold medal wrapped
around your neck with the Star-Spangled
Banner playing and the hometown crowd
cheering in front of a worldwide televi-
sion audience would be enough incentive
to motivate a guy like Dolan. However,
for him, the Olympics represent a lot
more than personal glory.
Being someone who has dedicated his
entire life to swimming and has earned a
spot among the world's best, it is under-
standable that Dolan wants to benefit
financially from his accomplishments.
Given his outgoing personality, ath-
letic success in Atlanta will undoubtedly
make Tom Dolan a very marketable fig-
ure. Although swimming gets virtually
no national attention in a non-Olympic
year, American gold medal winners of
the past have achieved considerable fame
and fortune for their achievements.
People like multiple gold medal win-
ners Mark Spitz, Matt Biondi, and Janet
Evans have been on Sports Illustrated
covers, endorsed products and benefited
financially from their accomplishments
at the Olympics.
Unlike in other nations in which swim-
mers are as heralded as basketball and
football players are in the United States,
American swimmers need to take advan-
tage of any opportunity that comes their
way. In fact, Dolan noted that the guy
who finishes right behind him in the 400
IM at the Olympics will probably be a
millionaire. But things are improving.
"U.S. swimmers are the only true ama-
teur athletes left but a lot more money is
coming into the sport," Dolan said. "I'm
coming along at the right time. Success at
the Olympics will open up a lot of doors.
It is just a matter of taking advantage of it
while it is here."
While it might be presumed that the
combined pressure of potential national
fame and significant financial benefits
would be overwhelming for Dolan, he is
handling it quite well.
"Expectations are only from ourselves,"
Dolan said. "The pressure is motivating.
It is an honor and a privilege to be men-
tioned with those names."
If all goes as planned, maybe in 20
years some budding collegiate All-Ameri-
can will be honored to be considered the
next Tom Dolan.
INTRAMURAL
i SPORTS .
PRO GRAM
BREATHTAKING !
UPCOMING ACTIVITIES
Entry Deadline: Thurs 4/11 4:30pm IMSB Main Office
Entry Fee: $5.00 per individual
Course Length and Location: 3.1 m/5k Mitchell/Gallup
Race Date and Time: Sat April 13 9:00 a.m.
CROSS
COUNTRY
RUN
The deadline for submitting your nomination(s)
for the Athlete- and Manager-of-the-Year
is Friday April 19 at the IMSB Main Office.
Based on the nominations submitted, outstanding athletes and
managers representing each of the IM divisions - Independent,
Graduate/Faculty/Staff, Residence Hall, Co-Recreation,
Fraternity and Sorority -- as well as the overall
Outstanding Male and Female Athletes
will be recognized at the IM Sports Program
year-ending Awards Ceremony!
If you are going to be around during the Spring & Summer Terms,
plan on participating in Softball, Sand Volleyball,
3-on-3 Basketball, Tennis, Golf and the Cross Country Run!
SWIMMERS
Continued from Page 18
(2:00.53).
Hal described the meet as emotionally overwhelming.
(49.36), finishing just behind Stanford's Claudia Franco's
pool record-setting time of 49.04 and Southern Methodist's
Martina Moravcova's performance of49.23. She also picked
up a fourth-place finish in 200 Yard freestyle.
The sophomore freestyler realized that team needed a