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