12 TheMichiganDaily - Wednesday, November 12, 1997
Tennis paves way for 'M' star Paradzik
By Mark Francescutti
Daily Spors Writer
Dave Paradzik has options, but his parents didn't. It
is the kind of generation gap that binds a transition of
how people live their lives.
David's parents, Luke and Maria Paradzik, were
immigrants from a war-torn Yugoslavia. Both had
fought for freedom. Both had experienced the fighting
and the oppression of a communist government. Both
watched the events of their nation unfold while they
sat in their home in Cleveland.
But they also got to watch David, one of the top play-
ers on the Michigan men's tennis team, achieve the
accomplishments that most people from their home
country could only dream.
The trials and the difficulties of succeeding in
America are just as hard as being a parent. But David
and his parents did their best to balance the tasks.
"I can attribute all my success to my parents,"
Paradzik said as he sat on new chairs of the Tisch ten-
nis facility.
"Without their guidance and their drive to help me
accomplish my goals, I wouldn't be here today."
Luke and Maria were blue-collar workers and could
not even visualize sending David to a prestigious four-
year college. So the three of them had to find a path
that would get him there.
"The only way I could get here was to play tennis,"
she said.
So Luke and Maria dedicated their time and money
to make sure that David had the resources to make him-
self a top player.
Even though he started at 12 years old, Paradzik
instantly excelled in tournaments. He was eventually
recruited and given a scholarship by University School
in Cleveland, where he compiled a 135-9 record and
won the Ohio state singles championship as a senior.
Then, every past minute of making money for tennis
practices, driving to tournaments 100 miles away and
fighting doubts turned into a letter from Michigan for a
full scholarship.
Paradzik has had an excellent Michigan tennis
career, providing a consistent effort in each tourna-
ment. le played No. I singles last year and is sharing
that responsibility this season.
But his tennis career had to live with several bumps
in the road, especially those engulfed with controversy.
Paradzik is very outspoken and is not afraid to speak
his opinion.
For example, he highly speaks out about the tennis
team's grade-point-average. Their combined 3.3 aver-
age is one of the highest among sports teams at
Michigan. Paradzik also says unlike what many
believe, he doesn't get many breaks from teachers.
"Most of the time I have to turn everything in early,
I don't get many breaks," he said. "It is especially hard
for guys like Brook (Blain) and Arvid (Swan), because
they are in the Business School."
Still, his biggest opinion is on the subject of last sea-
son's otf-court events - a bump in his road to success,
Paradzik was suspended for the last three weeks of
the season for a hazing incident that occurred at Penn
State. The suspension caused him to miss the Big Ten
championships where Michigan struggled without him.
Paradzik is deeply offended that while he got pun-
ished, other players on ditferent teams commit similar
violations and receive no punishment. He recalled
many violations by other teams including receiving
free kegs of beer and vandalizing property.
"It happens on all the teams, most of the times e
coaches just turn their head," Paradzik said.
He also feels that he was the scapegoat for the ath-
letic department to show that they are cracking down
on these types of violations.
But that is all in the past, and Paradzik looks at a
future full of options. Paradzik also loves to write, and
is an English major. English opens up a whole world
of possibilities. He already has an internship available
with Penguin Books and would also like to enter the
journalism field.
But first, Paradzik hopes to play tennis professi <1-
ly. Because of his dual citizenship, he can always go
back to Croatia and be a top player there. That could
make pro tournament admissions much easier.
. can go to Croatia and say I am in the top five play-
ers," he believes.
Luke and Maria's job ended in success. One little
option for them became so many for their son.
FILE PHOTO
Michigan's David Paradzik came from a blue-collar background and his playing ability
nwade college an option. Paradzik has played No. I singles the last two years.
Rothstein disappointed
with crew season finale
By Peter Romer-Friedman
For the Daily
Confident, united and determined,
the Michigan crew team traveled to its
last race of the fall season, the
Princeton Chase Regatta, last Saturday.
But a sixth-place finish and a mediocre
performance left coach Mark Rothstein
with a bad taste in his mouth.
"The race was disappointing,"
Rothstein said. "There was good compe-
tition at the race, including two teams
that may win the national championship,
Princeton and Virginia. I had expected
to be closer to them. We didn't compete
very well with them.
"It's clear we that we have a long
way to go."
Prior to the weekend, a number of
the rowers on the varsity-A boat said
Michigan was working so efficiently
that it could surpass a number of teams
at the Princeton Chase.
"As a team, technically we've
improved," rower Melanie Duncan
said. "We've learned a lot and have
come together. Everyone will have a
good attitude going into it. We should
have the best row of the season."
But all the rowers did not have a
good attitude, Rothstein said.
"We need to get everybody on the
same level of commitment and attitude,
to believe that we can be a good, fast
program," Rothstein said. "We have
some great attitudes, but we don't have
everyone buying into the program."
But on the other hand, since many
Wolverines lack experience on the var
sity level, Sophomore rower Jaim
Stilson thought the race ended the sea-
son on a good note and the team race
fairly well.
"It was a good race. It was a goo
to the season," Stilson said. "We saw
good competition. We'd obviously like
to do better, but we're getting there."
Injuries and other unexpected situa
tions forced Rothstein to switch a num
ber of rowers from the second boat t
the varsity-A boat in the middle of the
season, creating inconsistency. But the
team is only in its second year as a var-
sity program, and according to
Rothstein, it may need more tino
compete on a competitive varsity level.
"In some ways, we're still making a
transition from a club to a varsity team,"
Rothstein said. "The coaching staff has
to be patient because it's not going to
happen overnight. But this is Michigan
and there's no reason why we can't com-
pete with anyone. We can get to the top."
Following the Princeton Chasc
Regatta, the Wolverines officially
began their winter training sexw
They will practice on rowing machines,
lift weights and run, in addition to trav-
eling to Tampa Bay, Fla. twice tc
escape the cold weather of Michigan.
"Winter training is crucial,'
Rothstein said. "A good winter train-
ing is the key to a successful spring. 1
we can have good winter, we'll be fast
If we don't, we won't win races.
expect the team to do well this spring.'
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SARA STILLMAN/DaiI
While the Michigan football team still has two games remaining before It knows
whether Pasedena Is an option, fans have to wait a little longer. Tickets for the
Grandaddy of Them All will be made available to the general public beginning Dec. 8.
Rose Bowl tickets
available
- almost
FI
U
Fl
PASADENA, Calif.(AP) - A lim-
ited number of tickets to the Rose
wide by telephone only througi
TicketMaster.
.
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