12-The Michigan Daily - Friday, November 22, 1996 'M' tankers set to tangle with Longhornis By UJ Berka Dilye Sports Writer Atier a dual meet against Eastern Michigan two weeks ago, the Michigan men's swimming and diving team will jump into the 19'96-97 season with a dual meet Saturday against the top- ranked Texas Longhorns at Canham Natatorium. The fourth-ranked Wolverines will use this weekend's natchup against the Longhorns as an indicator of where they stolid among the elite of the country. With this being the last meet of the fall semester, it will be used it as a jumpstart for the meat of the schedule, which starts in January. Ae're pretty much on track with where we want to be right now Michigan coach Jon Urbanchek said. "However, we ha ecben training for three months, so this meet will help us see \here we are and where we need to go. "However, this meet is simply a practice meet. No one will repicmber the winner of this meet in March." Though the Wolverines lost Olympic gold medalist Tom Doan from last year's third-place team, the cupboard is not bare. Returning stars include sophomore Tom Malchow, who took the silver in the 200-meter butterfly in Atlanta, and senior John Piersma, who won the consolation heat of the 400 free'tyle at the Olympics. Michigan is shorthanded in the sprints this season, as lead- ing sprinter Jason Lancaster injured his shoulder in the presea- son. which forced Urbanchek to redshirt him. With the Longhorns specializing in sprinting, the Wolverines will use their distance swimmers to stay competitive. "Sprinting is a real weakness for us, so our plan this season is to cover up that hole with our distance swimmers, who should be very strong this year," Urbanchek said. Amiong the swimmers expected to pick up the slack this sea- son are junior sprinter Derya Buyukuncu, a native of Turkey, long-distance individual medley specialists Andy Potts and Owen von Richter, along with senior middle-distance mainstay Chris Rumley. Tire Wolverines also boast some experienced divers, as sophomores Brett Wilmot, Al Fleming and Nate Shepard are coming oll scoring performances at last year's Big Ten cham- pioniships. Michigan is also looking for sonic production out of this year's freshmian class. Leading the crew is Canadian Mike McWha, regarded as one of Canada's leading distance swim- mers. The Wolverines are also looking for contributions from Scott Meyer and El Salvador Olympic breastroker Paco Suriano. The Wolverines will be facing a very balanced Texas team, led by Neil Walker, who competed at this year's Olympic trials. "Walker can compete in any event lie is asked to," Urbanchek said. "He is an all-around star." 'he Longhorns also boast hotshot freshman sprinter Brian Jones and 200-yard freestyle specialist Chris Ackerman. With Texas owning the advantage in the short-distance events, and Michigan having the advantage in the longer dis- tapees, the meet will likely come down to the relays. This plays into the Longhorns' hands, as Texas won every relay at last year's NCAA championships. "(Texas) is very strong at relays," Urbanchek said. "We just have to capitalize on the opportunities we are given. We will try to make it as close as we can. * Women's cagers hope' to make most of invite By Pranay Reddy Dai y Sparts \\ritcr It's time. No more games against Eastern-bloc globe- trotters. Enough of the talk about the new coach. After many intersquad scrimmages, it's time for some real competition. The Michigan women's basketball team will begin its 1996-97 campaign by traveling to Kalamazoo to participate in the Western Michigan Invitational. The Wolverines will face Kentucky on Friday night at 6 p.m. in the first round of the four-team tournament. Western Michian and Northeastern Illinois round out the invitational and face each other Friday night at 8 o'clock, following the Michigan-Kentucky matchup. Saturday's games will pit the winners of Friday's contests against each other at 4 p.n1. with the losers preceding at 2 p.m. The Wildcats, unlike their male counterparts. are nowhere near championship-contending form. The team is coming off a 8-19 season, iii which they were 2-9 in the Southeastern Conference. Northeast Illinois is the only team competing in the Invitational coming off a w inning season. The Golden Eagles finished 16-12. Throw the Broncos into the mnix with their 13- 14 record from a year ago, and you have a pret- tv mediocre field. Regardless. after Michigan's 7-20 record from last season, a number of teams should pose welcome challenges to the Wolverines this year. Friday night's game will be Sue Guevara's fi.rst regular-season galie as Michigan coach. I owever, the task isn't quite as daunting to fiery coach as it once was. "I am not quite as nervous as I was for that exhibition game (against the Slovaks)," Guevara said. "I am going to be into the game as much a I was (Friday night), so I just hope the outcome is the same." For that to happen, the Wolverines are goinig$ to need more offensive support from mainst;V Pollyanna Johns. The junior center was unstop- pable against Slovakia, scoring 27 points on 9- of-I 1 shooting. Guevara, however, knows that the Wildcurst will be on Johns like glue. What will be key is if the outside players can provide enough of ai ance to give Johns some breathing room under-Y neath. "Kentucky got that film (from the Slovakia gaimle), so you can bet that our perimeter gaIm* is going to have to be on this week," she said. "'" would think they would double- and triple-teai in the post, so we need to get much more offen- sive power from our perimeter game." And after a so-so performance against Slovakia on Friday night, the Michigan guard trio of Jennifer Kiefer, Ann Lemire and StaceV Thomas will need to show more. poise, ill Guevara's eyes. "I expect better outside shooting from (Kiefv and Lemire)," Guevara said. "1hey got 0 100 looks at the basket, (tle shots) just didn't go._lt's just a matter of being consistent. "I just want Stacey to be much more aggr& sive on the perimeter than what she was. To oilly take one shot and not even go to the free-thriow line is not the Stacey Thomas I know." Amy Johnson was the only force at guard fr' Michigan in its exhibition game, and Guevara expects more of the same this weekend. "Amy Johnson was the spark plug: she was the lift coming off the bench, (uevara said. "I 'G . verv. very pleased to see that." MARGARET MYERS/Daily Catherine DiGiacinto and the Wolverines jump it up for the first time in the regular season this weekend at the Western Michigan Invitational at Kalamazoo. Sue Guevara will coach her first regular-season game for the Wolverines. Blue wrestlers start season with Michigan Open By Tracy Sandler Daily Sports Writer The No. 10 Michigan wrestling team -- led by All-American juniors Airron Richardson.1 Bill Iacure and Jeff Catrabone --- prepares for its first meet of the season this weekend The Wolverines will travel to East Lansirrg for the Michigan Open, which lasts all day Saturday and Sunday. "This meet will give everybody a chance to wrestle:" Michigan coach Dale Bahr said. "It's close to home, and it's an excellent chal- lerige for the veterans. Our three returnirng All-Americans should be contending for titles." Since the Wolverines' important team- competition meets happe' lfrom Jarnuarv to March. Michigan is conserving its 16 comli- petition dates by havingc each wrestler enter unattatched. "Tiis first tournriam1ent is i2011n to be a stepping stone' Catrabone said. "It will be an introduction to how good of shape wcre iII and what everyone needs to work on. WC'll see everyone's pros and cons. while compet- ing with other competition, besides Michigan guys in the room (during practice)." According to Lacure. this tournament also gives the Wolverines a chance to wrestle competitively without a lot of pressure. "TI here will be a lot of good competition l.acure said. "This weekend will be a good riarkcr of how we compete with average and abovc-avcrage teens.' Since junior All-American Brandon FHowe is out for the season with a shionrlder injury. M ichigan is looking to the younger members of the team to de\elop and riake an impact right away. The freshman that will probably start thisseason are Damian Logan (126 pounds), Otto Olson (158/167) and Joe DeGain (177). "Hopefully. (our freshmen and sopho- mores) will place in the top six this week- end" Lacure said. "We like the younger wrestlers to get a lot of matches in. so in the second half of the season. they can have some experience under their belt." As long as everyone stays healthy, Bahr has high cx pectations for his squad. "low high we can be in the top 10 depends on how healthy we can keep guys." Bahr said. "I lavini a good guy like Brandori out can be worth quite a few points ini th NC'AA. \We can't afford to lose anybody else." Catrobone, who went into the nationals seeded in the top five in both his freshitian and sophomore years. is one of those that needs to stay healthy. Last year, he placed seventh after wrestling four matches with a broken hand. "This year, I want nothing but the best. Catrabone said. "If' I'm healthy at the end of the year, I want nothing less than the nation al championship: I'm training for a nationa title" I JOIN THE MOST PROMISING PROFESSION OF THE 21 ST CENTURY Prospective Teacher Education Meeting Tuesday, December 3, 1996 6:00 p.m. Whitney Auditorium Room 1309 School of Education Building Call 764-7563 for more information. University of Michigan School of Dentistry New Patients Welcome Barnett says no to Irish CHICAGO (AP) - Though " h bled and flattered" that Notre D ri would consider him to replace LouI Holtz, Gary Barnett said no thanks y s- terday. He is staying at Northwestern. Barnett, who took Northwestern fromi the depths of college football to the Rose Bowl last season, told Notre Dame offi- cials he no longer wanted to be consid- ered as Lou Holtz's successor. Holtz announced his resignation luesday and later that day Barnett said he had been contacted by Notre Dam* about the job. Reports said he was tfk leading candidate for one of college Football's most prestigious positions: "I am very humbled and flattered thift Notre Dare has asked me to be consid- ered a candidate for their head coachini football position." Barnett said in a statement. "However, for very personal and pri- vate reasons. I have informed Notr' Dame officials that I wish not to be co sidered as a candidate. Regardless of the rumors. an offer was never extended to me by Notre Dame. This is all 1 will say about this matter." Need a dentist while you're away from ho e? Call us or quality dental care at a nmoderate cost. OF ' Insurance and Medicaid Accepted Major Credit Cards Accepted .. Appointment and General Information 763-6933 i Mon-Fri 8 AM - 5 PM 1011 N. University, Ann Arbor FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 29 & SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 30 MICHIGAN Friday, November 29 Michigan vs. Minnesota " 4:30 pm Michigan State vs. Wisconsin " 8:00pm Saturday, November 30 Michigan vs. isconsin * 4:30 pm Michigan State vs. Minnesota + 8:00 pm ROADWAY PACKAGE SYSTEM PACKAGE HANDLERS PERFECT FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS Saving for tuition? Find part-time work, year round at RPS! - Earn up to $8.50 per hour Roadway Package System, a small package delivery service, hires package handlers to load and unload package vans and semi-trailers. If you are not afraid of hard work, are at least 18 years old and want to work 4-5 hours per day 7 I