The Michigan Daily - SP0RTSMonday, March 9, 1998 - 78 Wolverines grab awards, Jut no title By Jacob R. Wheeler Vaily Sports Writer If the Michigan men's swimming team found any solace in its 714-641 loss to underdog Minnesota last week at the Big Ten Championships in Minneapolis, it was in the seven individual titles the Wolverines won. Michigan's domination at the top of most races was no different than the past 11 championships. Nr different Wolverines - Derya Buyukuncu, on Malchow, Andy Potts and Chris Thompson - look home individual titles, most of them in distance events. Wolverines dominated the season-achievement ceremonies as well. Malchow, a junior, won swim- rner of the year honors and Thompson was named freshman of the year over Gopher phenom Alex Massura. Besides taking the big cake, Minnesota coach ennis Dale garnered coach of the year honors for e third time in his career. The championship was Dale's second over Michigan in three years. It was .extra sweet for Dale because the Gophers finished second behind the Wolverines every year from 1990- 1995 and again last year. Except for the championship trophy, Michigan nearly monopolized the awards table. Buyukuncu, in particular, was in a zone all weekend. Competing in his last Big Ten Championships, the senior won three different races and each performance earned him an NCAA automatic qualifying time. During the second day of competition, Buyukuncu broke the Big Ten record in the 100-yard backstroke and also won the 100 butterfly. He solidified swim- mer of the championships honors on the last day, with another record-breaking performance in the 200 back. Despite Junior Tom Malchow's victory in the 200 butterfly, Minnesota's depth proved to be the de at the Big Ten Championships and the Golden Gophers broke through Michigan's numerous individ Buyukuncu's wins were especially significant because no other Wolverines placed very high in those events. Instead, Minnesota sent numerous swimmers to the 100 and 200 backstroke finals and the Gophers won most of those points. "I just wanted to win to break up their four swim- mers' Buyukuncu said after the 100 back. "I got lucky." Ultimately, Minnesota's depth in numbers doomed the Wolverines, who were able to win certain events but couldn't place anyone else in the top six. The 200 fly on Feb. 28 was a classic example. Michigan's Malchow won the race with an NCAA automatic qualifying time of 1:46.36, But the next Wolverine to finish was Chris Laskowski - two seconds and eight places behind Malchow. In contrast, the Gophers made the difference in the preliminaries, placing four swimmers in the 200 fly finals and three in the 100 freestyle finals. All in all, Minnesota qualified II swimmers for the final heats on the last day and Michigan only managed nine. "The meet was won in the preliminaries," Malchow said. "It wasn't won in the finals. Minnesota had more people going in and they just picked us apart with numbers. They were deeper, they were winning the eighth places and we weren't." But that won't be a factor at the NCAA Championships. The season's climax is based solely on performances at the top with little emphasis on depth. "We know we're better than them," Malchow said. "Everybody knows we're better than them. They know we're better than them. We'll prove that at the NCAA championships." SWIMMING Continued from Page 11B the Championships honors for his victo- ries in the 100 fly, and 100 and 200 back- strokes. But no Big Ten title. Urbanchek said his team would trade all the individual honors for the trophy the Gophers lifted above their heads. Michigan qualified 11 swimmers for NCAAs, more than at last season's championships. But last year, Michigan won the Big Ten title. Just one Minnesota swimmer finished first in any race this year, but the Gophers flock of high-placing finishes helped them pull away from the pack. Relay scores counted double last week. Michigan's only weakness might have been in the relay events. Michigan's tradition of success in the 800 free relay continued. Mike McWha, Ryan Papa, John Reich and Malchow saw to that with their time of 6:30.79. But in the other relays, Michigan sput- tered. The 400 freestyle relay finished seventh and the 200 finished sixth. Thirty maize and blue banners signi- fying the Wolverines' 30 Big Ten cham- pionships hang on the walls of Canham Natatorium. But now, Minnesota has taken two of the last three titles, leaving Michigan's dynasty in some doubt. "I think that they're closing the gap on us each year," Urbanchek said. Michigan tends to recruit more indi- vidual stars, Urbanchek said. "Minnesota does a better job of bringing in the average swimmers ... a few stars can't win it for you." Michigan assistant coach Eric Namesnik remembers the days when everyone could say at the beginning of the year they came to be Big Ten cham- pions. "We're not in a position to say that anymore," he said. But is this the end of an era of Michigan swimming? "No," Malchow said. "Next year will be the beginning of a new legacy for Michigan" Gelt lak1st comiplete kr.'. the 'or l t e w l Andy Potts and the men's swimming team may not have won their 12th Big Ten Championship in 13 years, last week in Minneapolis. But the Wolverines think ey'll fare much better in the individual-oriented NCAA Championships. I The University of Michigan WHAT'S Department of Recreational Sports INTRAMURAL SPORTS PROGRAM HAPPENING Intraura 1Broomball fficials Needed!! ® No Experience * Get a Free Necessary -Shirt a Officials are * Flexible Paid for All Hours Games Worked Training Clinics Begin onday March 9, 7:00pm Intramural Sports Building NCAA WEST REGINA TiCKETS ARE AVAILABL : . .! -".z CALL WiCHGA ATLTCTvE OFC 6-27 For More Information, Please Contact: Rob Rademacher @ 763-3562 - 40 tor Additional Information Contact: Intramural Sports Program, IMSB, 606 E. Hoover, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-3717, (313) 763-3562 Frtault i.rccspartm_ ich. u it !