The Michigan Daily - SPORTSMonday - February 3, 1997 -,78 Michigan women's swimmers honor 'phenomenal' senior class By Josh Kleinbaum Daily Sports Writer Friday night, the seniors on the Michigan women's swimming team were kidnapped. Saturday, they helped propel the sixth-ranked Wolverines to victories over Notre Dame, 82-58, and Eastern Michigan, 122-17, snapping a three- meet losing streak. It was Senior Recognition Day at Canham Natatorium on Saturday, and the Wolverines have been celebrating all week. "They've done things special everyday during the week for the seniors," Michigan coach Jim Richardson said. Those special things included the abduction, in which the seniors were "kidnapped" by the rest of the team and taken out to dinner. "Sometimes I wonder about task focus versus relationship focus," Richardson said. "With women, they tend to be wonderful in the area of focusing on the quality of relation- ships. I keep telling them at this time of year, it's not that you don't care about these kinds of things, but you really have to step up and task focus." The Wolverines did swim slower than in the past. Not a single Wolverine swam an NCAA qualifying or consideration time in the meet, showing that they were not at their peak. "There were some swims for us that were really good, but there were other swims that we were still really tired," Richardson said. "We've been having very good workouts, some of the best workouts we've had in a long time. When you train that way in the week, it's a little tougher to step up and swim fast on the weekends." Melisa Stone, a senior captain swimming in her last home meet of her Michigan career, had an excellent day, winning the 100-yard backstroke and the 100 freestyle. Stone was also part of the 400 medley and 400 free relay teams that finished first. But other than Stone, it was mostly the non-seniors that led Michigan (3- 0 Big Ten, 6-3 overall) past Notre Dame and Eastern Michigan. Freshman Shannon Shakespeare finished first in the 100 and 200 breaststroke. She was also a member of the 400 free relay team that took the top spot. Kerri Hale and Talor Bendel, both juniors, also won events for the Wolverines. Hale won the 400 individual med- ley with a time of 4:24.04, while Bendel took the 50 free in 24.12 sec- onds. Notre Dame's Linda Gallo did her best to put a damper on the Wolverines' celebration, winning three individual events. In all three events, second place went to a Michigan senior. In the 1,000 free, Gallo beat out Michigan's Lidia Szabo. In the 200 free, Gallo defeated Michigan's Jodi Navta. In the 500 free, Gallo finished ahead ,of Michigan's Anne Kampfe. In the diving competition, Michigan freshman Hanna Shin had one of her best meets of the season. Shin won both the one- and three- meter competitions, with scores of 245.18 and 254.20, respectively. E At the beginning of the meet, the nine seniors were honored, and Richardson presented each of them with a flower and a hug. "They've done things that no women's swimming senior class has ever done in the sport," Richardson said of the senior class. "They fin- ished second and third in NCAAs, and that's pretty phenomenal." The senior class includes Kampfe, Navta, Stone, Szabo, Leigh Bassler, Lisa Butzlaff, Wendy Gendler, Rachel Tustin and Melissa Sullivan. Although Butzlaff will return next season as a fifth-year senior, and Gustin was red shirted this year for medical reasons, both were honored as part of the recruiting class. MARGARET MYERS/Daily T' Michigan women's swimming team dedicated this week to its seniors, a class that has finished second and third at the NCAAs. Several of the seniors were responsible for snapping the team's three game losing streak this weekend. Despite wins over Notre Dame and Eastern Michigan, the Wolverines were not totally pleased with their effort. No Wolverine managed to swim an NCAA qualifying or consideration time. MI' men's swimmers say C-Ya to flu problems By TJ. Berka ySports Writer ,With the Big Ten championships less than -a month away, the Michigan men's swimming and diving team is looking to a new ingredient to find success. *imost seasons, the Wolverines would look-to the experience of their countless Olympic swimmers, their impeccable tra- ditien or the knowledge of coach Jon Urbanchek. Due to the flu epidemic that has hit the team in the last month, howev- er, -the key ingredient this season can be found at the local drug store. "I have been buying quite a few Vitamin- C ~tablets in the past few weeks," Urbanchek said. "The flu is a tough thing ight. It takes a week to get over if you .nothing and seven days if you use med- icine. It won't hurt you mentally to try to figovit, however." The worst is over for the Wolverines healthwise. For the first time since the new year, Michigan had a full practice work- loqd. With the exception of Chris Rumley, who is suffering from cold-like symptoms, the team is healthy and swimming at full strength. While that is a positive step toward the upcoming Big Ten and NCAA meets, the morale of the recovering swimmers is something that concerns Urbanchek. "The toughest thing in a situation like this is to convince the swimmer that the season isn't over," Urbanchek said. "After missing up to two weeks with the flu and the recovery that comes with it, many of the guys feel that their season is over." Lost in the ongoing hospital saga is the improvement of junior distance swimmer Steve Williams, sophomore David Stephens and sophomore breaststroke spe- cialist Jeff Flermoen, who took advantage of their teammates' absence and performed well in the past month. "Jeff has really stepped it up in the last few weeks," Urbanchek said. "We are weak in the breaststroke events. We did not score in the breaststroke at last year's Big Ten championships." Last year's Big Ten meet also serves as a rallying point for the Wolverines, as they saw Minnesota break Michigan's 10-year winning streak. With the Golden Gophers returning much of their championship team, Michigan will return without Olympic standout Tom Dolan. That loss, combined with the strength of Minnesota, will make a Big Ten champi- onship tough. However, Michigan boasts Tom Malchow, silver medalist in the 200 butterfly at last year's Olympics, 1996 Big Ten Swimmer of the Year Derya Buyukuncu and captain John Piersma. "Our main goal is to bring the (Big Ten) trophy back to Ann Arbor," Urbanchek said. "It will be very tough, though. The entire Big Ten has stepped it up this season, which forces us to swim our best to win." Michigan will continue the quest to regain the title this weekend with meets at Michigan State on Friday night and at home against Ohio State on Saturday. While the Wolverines can ill afford to look past anyone in their quest for a Big Ten championship, they are battle-hard- ened, as they have fought the most threat- ening adversary they will face this year. The flu. -k PARADISE Continued from Page 363 In time, Bahr's frustration gave way to satisfactiqoi. Nobody in the Big Ten has beaten Iowa in the tourn4- ment. He came the closest. And it appears that one day soon, somebody in the Big Ten may actually unseat Iowa. There are rumors that, dde to a variety of health problems, Gable's days at Iowa ate numbered. He is plagued with knee problems and receh - ly had a hip replaced. "The end of the empire usually comes with the death of the emperor," Bahr said. "Not that Gable's going to die, but he's supposedly going to retire this year. That's what he's told everybody." The Ottoman empire crumbled. The Soviets are gon$. One day, perhaps soon, Iowa will fall. And maybe then, with an experienced team - poss)- bly as soon as next season - Bahr will make a seriops run at the two championships that have eluded him dur- ing his illustrious career. He shouldn't really need either. Bahr will soon join the 200-100 club. Even Keen, the "father" of Michigan wrestling, didn't win 100 Big Ten meets. And he's a coaching legend. Bahr isn't a legend, but he's had a terrific career. That won't change. Even if he doesn't win a Big Ten or national title. - Barry Sollenberger can be reached over e-mail at jsol@umich.edu. U 4 The Least Expensive Way To Travel in Michigan 1 J Hands Down. Amtrak® Companion Fares: Two ride for the price of one*. Now is a great time to travel to Chicago, Detroit or any charming town in between. Just bring your companion and he/she rides FREE on any Amtrak Michigan train from January 13th through February 28, 1997. Get your ticket today! INTRAMURAL SPORTS PROGRAM UPCOMING ACTIVITIES SWIMMING & Entries Taken: until Weds 2/5 4:30pm IMSB (Main Office) DIVING MEET Entry Fee: $5 for individuals/$25 for teams Manager's Meeting (Mandatory): Weds 2/5 6pm IMSB Meet Date: Thursday 2/6 at Canham Natatorium FREE THROW Entries Taken: Now and through the event Friday 2/7 CONTEST & Entry Fee: $5.00 per individual 3-POINT SHOOTOUT Format: Free Throw (50 FT's); 3-Point (25 shots/75 seconds) Free Throw & Shootout Date/Times: Fri 2/7 11 a - 8p VOLLEYBALL Entries Taken: Mon 2/17 - Thurs 2/20 11am - 4:30pm (Pre-Season) RELAYS MEET Entry Fee: $30.00 team Manager's Meeting (Mandatory): Weds 2/20 6pm IMSB Tournament Date: Saturday 2/22 at IMSB Entries Taken: until Tues 2/25 4:30pm IMSB (Main Office) 0 w a w I" 0 MI r Entry Fee: $25.00 per team Events: 2- Meet Date: MY 4ile, 880 (1/2-mile), 1320 (3/4-mile), Mile Wednesday Feb. 26 at Track & Tennis Bldg R S ' Ann Arbor to Chicago: You $27 * Companion $0 Remember to get your teams together and start practicing for the IM activities that take place following Spring Break -- Y .