The Michigan Daily - Thursday, February 19, 1998 - 11A kecords, Hoosiers may fall this weekend in seniors' last hurrah By Jordan Field Sly Sports Writer Tomorrow, when the No. 13 Michigan wrestling team faces Indiana at Cliff Keen Arena, will be the final home dual meet for senior All-Americans Bill Lacure, Jeff Catrabone and Airron Richardson. The three starters - along with Steve Basmajian and Brandon Howe, who was an All-American two seasons ago - will be honored before the match as part of an annu- al senior night to salute their careers at Michigan. As for the matches, the Wolverines do not anticipate having any problems with the unranked Hoosiers, but the team is quick to say that no Big Ten dual match comes easily. "You can never underestimate anyone in the Big Ten," 126-pound Joe Warren said. "There are 11 teams in the Big Ten, and some are weaker than others, but none are easy wins. You always have to be ready." Although Warren is reluctant to admit it, on paper the Wolverines should be able to *ndle the Hoosiers. Michigan boasts six ranked starters including Warren, who is No. 15. Indiana does not start any ranked wrestlers. "We are a stronger dual-meet team, and we know we can beat Indiana," Michigan coach Dale Bahr said. "We have been working real- ly 'hard this week, and this is the type of match we think that will let us end our dual meet season with a win." Indiana's best wrestler, Mike Powell - ranked seventh at 167 - will not compete because of a concussion problem. He has suf- fered six concussions, and Bahr said he heard Powell's wrestling days are over. Powell's absence leaves No. 4 Catrabone to likely face unranked Butch Hildebrand. Catrabone has 15 falls on the season and he needs one more to tie Rob Rechsteiner (1983-84) for Michigan's record for falls in a season. Reichsteiner hit his record more than a decade ago in the 1983-84 season. "I though I was going to have to pin (Powell) for the record," Catrabone joked. "But with someone else in there, well, that changes everything." Aside from Catrabone's mark, other Wolverines are also flirting with the record book and personal bests. Damion Logan, at 134, is riding a team-best six match win streak and Catrabone, Lacure and Richardson continue to climb on the all-time victory list. A win for Richardson would be his 126th, and will move him out of a tie for seventh place on Michigan's all-time list. For other Wolverines, this match offers an opportunity for some of the guys who have been struggling all season to get a win under their belts Bahr hopes the match will help build some confidence heading into Big Tens, which begin March 8. "It would be nice to get wins at weight classes that we don't always have," Bahr said. "We want to go out there and have everyone wrestle hard. I think all of our guys have an opportunity to leave with a win." Ryan Balcom, Michigan's starting 190- pounder said he feels confident going against Indiana and preparing for Big Tens. "This match can really be a big confi- dence-booster for some of us, and it'd be great to get things rolling heading into Big Tens," Balcom said. "I think we can run the board against them." If the Wolverines do shut out the Hoosiers, it would be the first blanking of the season, and would be their program's 50th win all- time against Indiana. But Bahr just wants to make sure that Michigan gets the victory. "We've been working so hard getting ready for Big Tens, that I just hope our legs aren't too tired," he said. "We are at the point of the season where the guys can see the light at the end of the tunnel, and want to just work on Big Tens, but this is a good last test for us, and you always want to end your dual season with a win." Catrabone said the seniors especially want to end the season, and their careers, with a win. "I think it's going to be interesting for us" he said. "The five of us have been here for a long time, and every match we've had I knew no matter what happened, we're going to do this again, but this time is the last, and that is major motivation for us. We want to end with a win, and I want to put on a show." LOUIS BROWN/Daily Senior Jeff Catrabone said he wants to "put on a show" at tonight's season-ending dual meet with Indiana. If Catrabone can win his match with a fail, he'll move into sixth in the Michigan record books. Michigan men's track team splits, travels to separate meets to capture NCAA bids By Josh Borkin Daily Sports Writer For the first time this season, the Michigan men's track team will be split. The separation will deter- mine whether the sprinters can hold their own with- out the top distance runners. Michigan's sprinters, along with some of the younger distance runners, will travel down Washtenaw Avenue to participate in the Eastern Michigan Classic tomorrow at 1 p.m. While the sprinters will stay close to home, the "Big Three" of Kevin Sullivan, John Mortimer and Jay Cantin, along with strong 800-meter runner Don McLaughlin, will travel to Boston for an invite-only meet. After its defeat by Eastern Michigan last week- end, Michigan will attempt to capture several first- place finishes and a couple of NCAA bids. The Wolverines have depended on the distance runners for most of their points this season. With Big Tens coming up next weekend, Friday's meet will test whether the sprinters can do it on their own. "This is our last chance before Big Tens to show everyone that we are a strong sprint group," co-cap- tain Brian Theisen said. "Many of our runners will use this weekend for one or two solid races, and try to get mentally prepared for next weekend." A key component of the Wolverines No. 3 nation- al ranking has been the distance team's week-after- week dominance. While the sprinters acknowledge that, several runners also believe the team needs contributions from other areas. "Although the distance team is one of the best in the country and they have earned us valuable points, we can only succeed as a team," sprinter Martin Bowman said. "While the sprint squad has been molding and improving every week, the sprint and distance squads have realized the importance of each other." Martin Bowman, the twin brother of sprinter Kevin Bowman, will sit out this weekend after pulling a hamstring in last week's Central Collegiate. The top sprinters - Kevin Bowman, Theisen, and Steve Jenkins, who will make his return Friday from a hamstring injury, will use the EMU Classic as the last warm-up before Big Tens. Jenkins had the strongest start this season but recent injuries have hampered his performance. He had captured top-three finishes in several promi- nent meets. Jenkins "has tremendous potential" according to Michigan coach Jack Harvey, and tomorrow night will be his last test before Big Tens, when he goes head-to-head with some of the best sprinters in the country. Kevin Bowman and Brian Theisen have been the biggest surprises this season. Last year, both recorded average times and were unable to compete with the premier runners in the Big Ten. This season, however, Bowman and Theisen con- tinue to record personal bests. Bowman has run a team best 22.08 in the 200 meters, while Theisen recorded a 48.89 400 time. Cantin, Sullivan, Mortimer and McLaughlin will use the Boston invitational to build speed. "Our workouts this season have been very demanding," Sullivan said. "We have worked a lot on endurance and conditioning, but just recently we have begun to do some intense speed workouts." Sullivan will run in the 1,000, an event that is shorter and quicker than he is accustomed to. "I am excited to run ii this event," Sullivan said. "I have not really ran a 1,000 in a while and I think running a shorter race will help me build up my. speed for Big Tens and NCAAs." Boston will feature some of the best distance run- ners in the nation, from many eastern schools as well as several top-ranked teams, including Arizona, Arkansas and South Carolina. MARGARET MYERS/Daily n Mortimer will be foregoing a trip to Ypsilanti this weekend. Mortimer and three teammates are going to Boston, having received invitations to a meet there. Track stars to cut back on events at EMU Invite W1lhat could have been.. An Achilles' tendon injury has relegated freshman Julie froud to a spectator's role for the indoor season. Froud most likely would have been a major contribu- tor in the indoor season, Below, a list of her cross country acheivements. By Chris Duprey Daily Sports Writer For the Michigan women's track team, Saturday's *stern Michigan Classic will serve as a crystal ball. Michigan head coach James Henry and distance coach Mike McGuire have opted to leave many of their best athletes at home this weekend as a precau- tionary measure. With the Big Ten Championships looming on the horizon - Feb. 28 and Mar. I - the runners already are beginning to taper. Instead, Michigan's young runners will be given the opportunity to compete at a top-level meet. "Our overall focus is rest," Henry said. "We're not ing to double or triple (event) our top athletes." Almost half of the Wolverines' normal lineup will not run at all. The other half will be running an unusu- al combination of events. Top guns Tania Longe and Katie McGregor will see very little action. Longe will only compete in the 55- meter hurdles, skipping the long jump this weekend. McGuire and McGregor will decide prior to the meet if the distance star even steps on the track at all. But Michigan isn't conceding the meet by any stretch. The athletes that will be running have a great chance for success in Ypsilanti. "We have a number of athletes who would be trav- eling and competing for other programs," Henry said. "They've been training hard, and they will compete well." FROUD LIVES: Distance runner Julie Froud would like the world to know she is alive, but for now, she's missing in action. One thing's for sure - the fresh- man's anxious to get back on the track. "Running's such a part of my life," Froud said. "Without it, I lose focus." - ---------- A severe bout of tendinitis in Froud's ankle has sidelined her for the entire indoor track sea- Notebook son. Froud and McGuire opted ------------------ to redshirt her for the indoor season, allowing Froud a fifth year in both cross coun- try and indoor track. Froud was one of McGuire's most solid contributors during cross country this past fall. She could always be counted on to finish in the top three, along with McGregor and Elizabeth Kampfe. Now Froud must rehabilitate a stubborn ankle, and she isn't exactly being patient with it. "I always tend to come back too fast," she said. "That's what's so frustrating." In the meantime, Froud lap splits on the sidelines, occupies herself by taking longing for the days when going to the track meant competing. Her injury will likely carry over into the outdoor season. How she rebounds from such a setback should prove consequential "I love a challenge," Froud said. "But not these challenges." BIG TENS ARE A BIG TASK: For the Wolverines, Big Tens represent an opportunity to accomplish something only two Michigan women's indoor teams have done since 1980: win the Big Ten champi- onship. The last time the Wolverines captured the title was in 1994, led by distance runner Molly McClimon, who was named athlete of the championship. But two teams stand in Michigan's way this time. Wisconsin sports a strong distance squad, which car- ries the Badgers a long way. Kampfe, McGregor and Ouellet will have to come up big in the long distance events to prevent Wisconsin from dominating. Illinois has been the team of the '90s, winning four indoor titles. "They're definitely the favorites," Henry said. "But anything can happen." Event Michigan finish Michigan Open First Spartan Invitational Second William & Mary Invitational Second Michigan Intercollegiate Third Wolverine Intercollegiate Second Big Ten Championships Third NCAA District IV Championships Third NCAA National Championships Third Overall finish First Third Third Fourth Fourth Ninth Fifth 65th Points 1,825 1,744 1,705 1,751 1,747 1,746 1,808 1,740 'M' women golfers to go west for Midwest Classic By Stephanie Offen For the Daily The Michigan women's golf team is *pecting a good showing this week- ,end when it participates in the 'Midwest Classic at the Desert Springs course in Phoenix, Ariz. The Wolverines are coming off a 'disappointing performance at the Regional Challenge in California last State, Notre Dame, Penn State, Illinois State, Northern Illinois and Southern Illinois. Minnesota and Northwestern will also participate and will host the tournament. Michigan competed against Northwestern last week in California but has yet to face any of the other teams. The team will play 18 holes on each of the two days it competes and LoftStyle I,2 &3 Bedroom,.. Apartment Homes Deluxe Loft Style ' 24 Hour Fitness Center nmw:Am m I I - r...uu i': ballL min.. I