The Michigan Daily - SPORTSMnday - Monday, April 15, 1996 - 3B

(ymnast Klinger fails to make nationals

By Sharat Raju
Daily Sports Writer
The Michigan men's gymnastics
coach for the past 13 years, and the
team's top gymnast for the past four,
have just ended their respective ca-
reers.
Wolverine senior Kris Klingercom-
ted this weekend in the NCAA east
regional championships in Iowa City,
but he did not manage to qualify for
nationals.
"It's good to see friends and fellow
coaches of the gymnastics commu-
nity for the last time as a coach," said
Michigan's Bob Darden after his fi-
nal coaching appearance. Almost three
weeks ago, Darden announced his de-
cision to resign after the season.
Klinger competed on the high bar
is weekend at the regionals and re-
ceived an 8.9. His score tied him for
38th in the 48-gymnast field.
Of the four. Wolverine regional
hopefuls - Klinger, junior Jason
MacDonald,junior Flavio Martins and
senior Chris Onuska - Klinger was

the only one to qualify for regionals.
This season, now officially over,
was a difficult one for the Wolver-
ines. If you take a quick look at the
Wolverines, and notice the glaring 0-
12 final record, you might think that
they were just not a good team. The
reality is that the team is just over-
matched by other schools.
The program was in danger of los-
ing its varsity status two years ago. To
save the program, several benefits
were sacrificed, including several
scholarships. This season, Michigan
felt the repercussions of the program
being "cut," Darden said.
Compound that with Darden's res-
ignation, and having to compete in
the Big Ten - arguably the toughest
gymnastics conference in the nation
- the results are understandable.
"Although it was disappointing
when you look at our record, we did
well with what we had," Onuska said.
Despite all the negatives, there were
many highlights this season. Soon
after Darden's resignation announce-

ment, the Wolverines hosted the
Michigan Invitational in March. An
inspired Michigan squad posted a sea-
son-best 217.75 points in the final
home appearance for Darden and the
three seniors - Klinger, Onuska and
Brad Terris.
Nine of the 11 Wolverines on the
squad scored season highs at that meet,
and six of those gymnasts had career
highs. The team also scored season-
bests in four of the six events - floor
exercise, pommel horse, rings and par-
allel bars.
A bright spot for the future is fresh-
man Randy D'Amura. The freshman
showed signs of brilliance at several
points throughout the season, at times
leading the Wolverine cause in the
floor exercise.
Tim Lauring had a strong perfor-
mance at the Big Ten championships,
placing the highest among the Wol-
verines on the vault (9.35), in fourth
place.
Klinger, MacDonald, Martins and
Onuska were the clear leaders of the

team throughout the season, though.
Klinger and MacDonald always per-
formed well on the high bar and the
floor exercise, while Martins and
Onuska did theirpart in the all-around.
Onuska demonstrated his senior lead-
ership by placing the highest for the
Wolverines on the pommel horse at
every meet.
The future of the program is still
somewhat up in the air. The Athletic
Department is actively searching for
a replacement for Darden. It might be
difficult to persuade coaches to head
a program that has limited scholar-
ships, and will consequently be over-
matched by opposing schools. The
gymnasts are confident about the pro-
gram, though.
"The program should continue to
go up and up," Onuska said. "We're
just looking for scholarships, but other
than that we are fully backed by the
school.
"The issue of whether we'll be cut
completely is not a problem any
longer."

. .

tenis drops Ohio
State, falls to Indiana

By Jiten Ghelani
Daily Sports Writer
Things were looking good for the
Michigan's women's tennis team Sat-
urday night.
The Wolverines had easily disposed
of Ohio State earlier in the day, break-
ing their home-court jinx. Michigan
had dropped all three matches at Lib-
erty Sports Complex prior to the week-
end. The 5-2 victory over a weaker
Buckeye squad put the Wolverines in
a good position heading into
yesterday's match against a stronger
Indiana team.
Michigan took a three-game win
streak into the Indiana match, but the
Wolverines lost to the Hoosiers, 5-2.
The match was much closer than the
score indicated and provided excite-
ment for the home crowd.
Against Ohio State, Michigan
showed great intensity in singles play.
Players ran down shots that seemed
unreturnable, served with confidence
and placed shots accurately, many for
winners.
The Wolverines started off slowly, a
recurring problem this season. All three
doubles teams were down early in their
matches. Only Sarah Cyganiak and Sora
Moon overcame their early deficit.
Cyganiak and Moon went on to win, 8-
3,-by taking the last six games of the
match.
Tumeka Harris and Sibyl Smith were
down 6-3 before rallying. The duo broke
serve and then traded games to cut the
deficit to 7-6. Harris was broken on her
attempt to tie the match as Ohio State's
Kadri Kanepi and Monica Koplas pre-
vailed, 8-6.
The Buckeyes also claimed the No. 3
doubles match to steal the lone doubles
point. Michigan coach Bitsy Ritt wasn't
happy with the doubles play.
"We were not sharp at doubles," Ritt

said. "Even on court one, (we were) not
as sharp.
"(I was) really pleased with the way
the team came back. We played smart
singles."
Michigan rebounded to win five of
the six singles matches, four of which
were straight-set victories. Cyganiak,
Harris, Tara Graff and Smith all won in
convincing fashion. Moon took her
match to three sets - after losing the
first, she was in control the rest of the
way.
Moon used solid groundstrokes anda
strong serve to overpower Chrissy
Splawnyk. Moon served up numerous
aces, including one to close out her
match and the Michigan victory.
The Wolverines started off the same
way yesterday. Indiana took the
doubles point, winning at the second
and third spots. Already down one,
Michigan needed four singles victo-
ries to win.
Once again, the Wolverines seemed
to bounce back from their slow start.
Cyganiak, Harris and Smith played well
in the first set. Each of them looked to
be in command, but only Cyganiak com-
pleted the victory. Harris and Smith let
the Hoosiers battle back, and each fell
in the third set.
"We backed off when we were up,"
Ritt said. "We became a little tentative.
"When you're up, you have to stay
aggressive and stick with the game plan.
We have to learn to step up and go for
it in those situations."
Indiana showed why it is the nine-
time defending Big Ten champion and
owner of 12 conference crowns. Michi-
gan played well at times, but didn't
show the same intensity it did Saturday.
The Wolverines had trouble on their
first serve, couldn't place many of their
key shots and were victims of numer-
ous unforced errors.

DARREN
EVER SONai
Darren to be Different
Booayfr f/tcsat/bi
dlub? Say a ye, MSA.'
T he Michigan Student Assembly's Budget Priorities Committee is
charged with the task of determining how MSA should fund certain
campus clubs - a noble purpose, to be sure. Some groups are surely
somehow more deserving than others, and it's this committee's job to
figure out just who they are.
Recently, this committee met to decide on how MSA ought to fund the
Michigan sailing club; more specifically, the issue was whether the club
should get enough money to buy a new boat. Unfortunately, the committee
reached the wrong decision, which is to say that it turned down the club's
request.
I urge the committee not only to reverse this decision, but to reconsider its
funding of clubs entirely. It's as simple as this: Take whatever money you have
- I mean all of it - and give it to the Michigan sailing club.
I don't care what their record is. I don't care if they've capsized every boat
they've ever had. Quit playing around and give them the money.
You see, over the past year, I've learned there are two things in life you just
don't mess with: Texas and this school's sailing team.
For proof on point one, you need only talk to a varsity football or basketball
player here. And as for point two, you need only talk to me.
Now, I realize that means you'll have to suffer through what is sure to be an
exceedingly incoherent and uninteresting column, but please bear with me. As
you'll find out, it's for your own good.
Late in the afternoon on an autumn day last year, I was working here at the
Student Publications Building when a member of the sailing club happened by.
We won't use his real name here; let's just call him ... the Dread Pirate
Roberts, for reasons that will become clear later on.
So, our young pirate friend has stopped by, he tells me, in hopes of getting
some coverage of his club in the paper. No problem, I tell him.
To facilitate this, he's going to give me his team's roster, some information
on their last regatta and some pictures - pictures of boats, pictures of he and
his teammates - pictures, unbeknownst to him, that will become our own
personal Little Brown Jug. That is to say, they will become the source of our
rivalry.
Unlike the Minnesota football team, however, I never challenged pirate boy
to come over and try to wrest his pictures away from me. Maybe I would've,
but you see, I kinda lost 'em.
Now, how he didn't know that I'd lose his pictures at practically the
moment I got them is beyond me. But he didn't, proven by his numerous
calls to my house and to the paper asking ... then pleading ... then demand-
ing their return.
Such inquiries are understandable, given the circumstances. They change
from sensible to psychotic, however, when they're made every day for about
four months, and when they're made in a way that scares the daylights out of
whoever is unfortunate enough to answer the phone.
While sitting at home on one of these occasions, I fielded his call. Before
saying who he was, the pirate asked if Darren was there, to which I responded
in the negative.
Roberts, however, wasn't fooled.
"That's odd," he said, after identifying himself as the Dread Pirate Roberts,
my absolute worst nightmare. "Tell me - does another black guy live in that
house?"
"Uh, yeah," I said, this time telling the truth.
"Oh. It's just that I see this black guy sitting in a chair through a window on
the phone, so I thought it might be him."
Oh my, I thought, as I nervously cried, "No, it isn't!" and hung up the phone.
He's no longer just the Dread Pirate Roberts. Now he's like a professional
stalker, 007 and the ex-girlfriend from hell all rolled into one - and he's after
me.
And this is just about a bunch of questionably-focused pictures! Think of
how he and his friends will come after you, MSA, if you don't give them the
money they desire. So I say unto you, give them what they want - and then
some - unless you want the Dread Pirate Roberts on your trail.
Believe me: You don't.
- When he isn't hiding under his bed gripped with fear,
Darren Everson can be reached over e-mail at evey@umich.edu.

NOPPORN KICHANANTHA/Daily
Michigan's Tumeka Harris won her singles match Saturday against Ohio State, but
f1 Sunday in action against indiana.
A h beenid
ionth for Wolverines

By Jiten Ghelani
Daily Sports Writer
The Michigan women's tennis team
has turned things around in April. After
te dismal month of March when the
team went 1-7, it has gone 3-1 so far this
month. The Wolverines' only loss came
yesterday against atalented Indianateam.
A strong finish next weekend could
boost Michigan all the way to third place
in the Big Ten, and give the Wolverines a
head of steam
heading into the
Big Ten champion-
~rn5.
rps. egnus
LAST HURRAH:
The past weekend Notebook
was the final home
match for seniors
Angie Popek and
TaraGraff. Popek
was unable to play v. _ . _
because of the sea-
son-ending knee injury she suffered dur-
ing the prior homestand against Notre
Dame.
Graff, on the other hand, went out in
style. She made a miraculous comeback
against Hoosier Candice Donahoe. The
Indiana freshman claimed the first set, 6-
2, and then had Graff on the ropes in the
second with a 5-2 lead. Graff showed
veteran poise, though, keeping a level

head and trying to cut the lead a point at a
time.
"I never felt that I was out of the
match," Graff said. "I just tried to play
aggressive and play it point by point."
Graff eventually tied the match at six
and then won the tiebreaker, 7-5. After
that, the match was all Graff. She finished
Donahoe off and ended her home career
with two wins.
Graff defeated Linda Magid of Ohio
State Saturday in convincing fashion, 6-
1,6-2.
In each match, Graffused long, drawn-
out groundstroke duels to wear down her
opponent. Her consistency and funda-
mentals enabled her to oust both oppo-
nents.
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIR: Four players
participating in the past weekend's
matches are native to foreign countries.
Three Buckeyes and one Hoosier were
born abroad.
Michigan didn't have any mercy for
the international players.
None of the four came up with a vic-
tory in singles play. Kanepi Kadri
(Haapsalu, Estonia), Monica Koplas
(Ontario, Canada) and Carolina Nahuz
(Sao Paulo, Brazil) all are key singles
players for Ohio State, with Nahuz play-
ing No. 1. Natasha Joshi (Ahmedabad,
India) plays at No. I for Indiana.

NOPPORN KICHANANTHA/Daily
Michigan's Jodi Brewer lines up a forehand. The Wolverines are picking up steam
In the month of April, winning three of their past four meets.


10 Great Reasons
Why YOU Should
Choose Air Force Nursing
1. Change, Challenge, Growth
2. Management opportunities early on
3. Rapid advancement

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