18A -- The Michigan Daily - Thursday, April 16, 1998
Kabnick 'didn't expect'
to win regional title
GYMNASTICS
KABNICK
Continued from Page 13A
downs, keeping us motivated - their
good attitude makes it easier for us."
Kabnick has had a stellar year in vir-
tually all of her performances, finishing
the regionals as the all-around champion
two weeks ago, scoring a 39.375.
"it was really exciting, but I didn't
expect it," Kabnick said. "It was a trade-
off and I would have taken it the other
way if our team
had won."
She said her
fondest memory
as a Michigan
gymnast was win-
ning the regionals
last year, because
it had never been
achieved by any
team other than
Kabnick Alabama in 10
years.
She would have traded her individual
victory to give herself and her team th t
feeling again.
Kabnick is also a member of the
Student Athletic Advisory Counsel - a
-group organized to help involve
Michigan's athletes in the community.
Through this, she participates in ser-
vice activities, including reading to kids
and visiting Motts Children's Hospital.
In the future, she. hopes to pursue a
career in the medical or health field.
Kabnick attributes much of her suc-
cess as a Wolverine to the strength of the
Michigan gymnastics program, on both
the athletic and academic levels.
"It is an incredibly strong program,"
sie said. "We have been up and coming
for a while, and we have a lot of poten-
tial to do really big things:'
The only thing that Kabnick said she
regrets is that she did not appreciate her
experiences as a gymnast earlier.
"You realize how good everything is
right before it is about to end. The
incoming freshmen should enjoy it,
appreciate it, because it all goes so fast.
"It is an important four years where
you make a lot of memories."
Blue gymnasts
prepare for NCAAs
NCAAS
Continued from Page 13A
-ing on their upcoming performance.
This time around, the team has a different mentality. "We're
ready both emotionally and physically," Simes said.
Although seeding has little effect on a team's performance --
the sole advantage of being one of the top-seeded teams come
in the form of a choice of the order of events -- \ichigan has
the psychological advantage of being a No. 5 seed. Since the
Wolverines finished second at regionals, this high seeding
speaks well of the strength of the Central Region.
Ranked above the Wolverines are a trio of SEC teams -
No.1 Georgia, the clear favorite that has sat atop the nation all
season, Florida and Alabama - and Washington.
Also at stake this weekend are individual championships.
Co-captain Heather Kabnick has a legitimate shot at winning
gymnastics' most prestigious individual honor -- the all-
around crown. At the NCAA Central Regional Championships
considered by many to be the strongest of the five regions, sl
came away with a first-place finish. Kabnick prevailed on the
floor exercise with a 9.950 en route to her victory.
Needless to say, Kabnick's performance and leadership will
be crucial as Michigan tries to make this a triple-crown year for
Wolverine athletics.
"I hope this weekend goes well." Kabnick said. "And we can
follow the trend that other Michigan sports have ... this year."
Michigan's Heather
Kabnick finished as
the all-around
champion.in the
NCAA regionals
two weeks ago.
The senior names
last year's team
victory in the
regionals as the
fondest memory of
her illustrious
Michigan gymnas-
tics career.
JOHN IKRAFT/ Diy
i
UT PR
303 S. STATE S-T. BY LIBERTY.998-3480."OPEN 7 DAYS
FORTH FRS 1IMIEEI
Toman may be Blue's
best hope to make top
six in individual events
QUAI I ERS
Continued from Page 13A
chance of becoming an All-
American."
All-American status is awarded to
the top six finishers in each event.
After tonight's prelims, the top eight
in each event will advance to the
finals on Saturday, where they will
compete for the honor.
Another freshman standout, Kenny
Keener, will vie for a spot in the finals
on still rings. Keener his led the
Wolverines in the event all yea'r, and
tied his own school record of 9.750 at
regionals to qualify for NCAAs.
Golder said that if Keener can con-
tinue his strong performance, he could
make Saturday's cut.
"A lot of times it all comes down to
the dismount." Colder said "He's pret-
ty consistent on his dismount."
Senior Tim Lauring will represent
the Wolverines on vault. Traditionally
Michigan's forte, the event's spon-
taneity makes the results difficult to
predict. Unlike NCAA women's com-
petition, where the score is based
the average of two attenipts, the men
have just one chance to hurdle the
horse.
Vault "is like a high jump. YOu
either nail it or you don't," Golder
said. "You could go from All-
American to 20th place."
Lauring was part of a four-man
Michigan contingent to reach the Big
Ten vault finals, but with a 9.700,
and all-around qualifier H aro were t
only two able to maintain the same
intensity at regionals.
Although every qualifying athlete
will participate tonight, only the all-
around title will be awarded by the
end of the evening. The night serves
as a preliminary round for the team
competition and the individual events.
Haro and the other all-around com-
petitors will also be eligible to qualify
for Saturday's individual finals on
single-event basis.
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