10B - The Michigan Daily -- SPORTSMonday, March 16, 1998
Senior stars shine brightest as 'M'
women gymnasts pound UMass
By Nita Srivastava
Daily Sports Writer
Michigan women's gymnastics senior co-
captains Heather Kabnick and Lauren
LaBranche performed for the last time in
front of a home crowd at Cliff Keen Arena on
Saturday afternoon. They led the second-
ranked Wolverines to a victory over
Massachusetts with 197.550 points - tied
for a season high. Michigan also finished
with that total on March 6, against Michigan
State.
Kabnick's final home meet ended on the
highest note as she won the all-around com-
petition with a career-high of 39.675.
Contributing to her success in the all-around
was her season-best score in the floor exer-
cise of 9.975 and a career-high 9.900 on the
uneven bars. Kabnick also finished first in
the vault (9.925) and second in the balance
beam competition (9.875).
I am so excited," Kabnick said. "I really
just wanted to put on a good performance,
and not put too much pressure on myself."
LaBranche said she was happy with her
performance in her final meet at Cliff Keen
Arena. She competed in three events and con-
tributed a score of 9.825 to the team total,
with a fourth-place finish on the balance
beam. LaBranche performed exhibition rou-
tines in the floor exercise and on the uneven
bars.
"Lauren's performances are a highlight this
afternoon," Michigan coach Bev Plocki said.
"She has had her ups and downs throughout
her career here, and it is so nice for me to see
her go out on a high."
Sophomore Sarah Cain and junior Lisa
Simes finished close to Kabnick in the all-
around competition marking scores of 39.575
and 39.450, respectively. With an average
score of 39.025 in the all-around competition,
Simes qualified nationally as the eighth-
ranked performer.
"There were bobbles here and there, but
overall, everything was very good," Cain said.
The Wolverines are looking forward to a
strong performance in the postseason, begin-
ning with Big Ten Championships next
Saturday in Iowa City.
Both Kabnick and LaBranche said that
they are sad to see the season coming to a
close, but are looking forward to a good post-
season.
"It's sad that I won't be performing in front
of a home crowd anymore, but the season
isn't over yet. We still have Big Tens to look
forward to and we want to do our best and
bring home the seventh Big Ten
Championship," Kabnick said.
The rest of the Wolverines said that both
Kabnick and LaBranche have offered a great
deal of support for the team and they are
sorry that the season soon will be coming to
an end.
"They are both incredibly supportive,"
freshman Bridget Knaeble said. "Lauren is
extremely understanding and Heather is a
great leader."
Both seniors claim that the most memo-
rable experience for them was capturing the
NCAA Regional Championship title last
year.
"It was the first time we ever won,"
Kabnick said. "And it was the greatest feeling
ever."
Although the regional title was the single
most exciting experience, both LaBranche
and Kabnick said that friendships were the
best part of being on the team,
"Through the ups and downs, our team-
mates help us through," Kabnick said. "So
many times my performance was for them
more than it was for myself."
JOHN KRAFT/Daily
Michigan junior Kathy Burke performs earlier this season. The Wolverines closed out their home
schedule with a victory over Massachusetts on Saturday afternoon.
What
IS
MESSIANIC
U I
Is i Judaism?
Is it Chistiani.
Is it both?
Is it neither?
An open lecture presented by Dr. Mark Kinzer
Executive Director ofThe Shoresh Institutefor the Study ofJudaism & the New Testament
THE
Wed. March 18, 8:00pm. SHORESHT
INSTITUTE
Michigan League A A
Henderson room, 3rd floor 4 A
f T
FOR TME STUDY OFJUAISM & THlE NEW TFSTAMENT
-U
Thano's
Lamplighter
" Ann Arbor's
Original Sicilian Pizza
" Full Greek Menu
NIGHTLY
SPECIALS
Mon. & Tues.
20% off all Pizza
&a
FREE soft drink
wed.
20% off all
Greek Entrees
421 E. Liberty
996-0555
open 7 days
No. 8 'M' crew upsets No. 3
Virginia at Lexus Invitational
0
Victory over Cavaliers is 'pretty big deal' for
Ford, Wolverines
By Stephanie Offen
For the Daily
While watching Virginia's No.3-
ranked varsity eight-person boat
race Wisconsin on Saturday morn-
ing, Michigan crew assistant Emily
Ford knew this could be a chance for
the Wolverines to pull off their first
upset. She saw that if they could get
the lead at the start, then the
Wolverines could win the race.
In what Ford said was a "strong
and consistent race," the No. 8
Michigan boat got the great start it
needed and held it for 6:31.4, the
time it needed to beat Virginia at the
Lexus Invitational at Oak Ridge,
Tennessee.
In only its second year as a varsi-
ty program, Michigan's top boat beat
Virginia by three seconds over the
2,000-meter course.
The Wolverines also won the var-
sity four-person race, and finished
second in the other varsity eight-
person race behind Virginia.
The win against Virginia was a
"pretty big deal," Ford said.
This was the Wolverines first vic-
tory over Virginia since crew
became a varsity sport.
The last time they had a win over
Virginia was in their final year as a
club sport.
The fans were on their feet, cheer-
ing for the Wolverines to complete
the upset as they crossed the finish
line for the victory.
Kate Johnson, Lisa Labadie, Tina
Stutzman, Kate MacKenzie, Jen
Kinon, Jaime Stilson, Michelle
Wolbert and Alison McKey, along
with coxswain Belinda Koo, led theO
Wolverines to victory in the upset of
the Cavaliers.
The victory was a great way to
start the season for the Wolverines.
But Virginia will be ready for the
rematch in a couple weeks, when
they come to Belleville Lake for
Michigan's first home race.
I
I
, 1
The University of Michigan
Department of Recreational Sports
INTRAMURAL SPORTS PROGRAM
WHAT'S
HAPPENING
University of Michigan
Hillel and
Greek Week 1998
present
I I
0
RACQUETBALL
SGLS & DBLS
ENTRIES DUE:
Thurs 3/19, 4:30 PM, IMSB
ENTRY FEE:
$5 per individual
$9 per team
TOURNAMENT DATES:
Sat & Sun 3/21 & 3/22
IMSB
TABLE TENNIS
SGLS & DBLS
ENTRIES DUE:
Thurs 3/26, 4:30 PM, IMSB
ENTRY FEE:
$5 per individual
$9 per team
TOURNAMENT DATE:
Sat 3/28
Sports Coliseum
Comedian
Norm
Mac Don
Saturday, March 21
Hill Auditorium
University of Michigan
8:00 pm
Tickets: $10/students,
$15/non-students
at Hillel 1429 Hill Street,
(313) 769-0500 & Ticketmaster,
(313) 763-TKTS to charge by phone.
For more info call (313) 769-500.
A Hill Street Forum
presentation I Hillel
SOFTBALL
ENTRIES TAKEN:
Thursday 5/7 ONLY
5:30 PM, IMSB
ENTRY FEE:
$50 per team
MANAGER'S MEETING:
MANDATORY
Thurs 5/7, 5:30 PM, IMSB
PLAY BEGINS:
Tues 5/12
Elbel Fields
"04
SAND
VOLLEYBALL
ENTRIES TAKEN:
Thursday 5/7 ONLY
6:30 PM, IMSB
ENTRY FEE:
$40 per team
MANAGER'S MEETING:
MANDATORY
Thurs 5/7, 6:30 PM, IMSB
PLAY BEGINS:
Tues 5/12, Elbel Courts
I I I I'
rv