The Michigan Daily - Friday, February 19, 1999 - 13
*M' wrestlers say
goodbye to Bahr
Men's gymnastics to
tango with UMass
By Chris Grandstaff
Daily Sports Writer
A 21-year-old chapter of Michigan
restling history will come to a close
this weekend when Michigan wrestling
coach Dale Bahr walks the maize and
blue mat of Cliff Keen arena for the last
time as the Wolverines' coach. Bahr
leaves behind a legacy of 219 victories
- second only to the legendary Cliff
Keen.
The Wolverines also close out the
dual-meet season against Big Ten foes
Penn State today and Ohio State on
Sunday.
R Michigan's first opponent, the
ittany Lions, look to extend their cur-
rent three-match winning streak.
"We've gotta change that streak
around," Bahr said. "Overall this should
be a good matchup."
The key matchup of the evening pits
Michigan's fifth-ranked 174 pounder,
Otto Olson, against the nation's second-
ranked wrestler in that weight class -
Penn State's Glenn Pritzlaff.
Pritzlaff will test Olson's perfect 13-0
dual record when the two collide in the
match that could decide which wrestler
notches the number one seed in the Big
Ten tournament at Crisler Arena two
weeks away.
"It's a big match for both of them
with all that is on the line'" Bahr said.
"It's definitely going to be the match of
the evening."
Another key matchup is in the 125-
pound weight class, where eighth-
ranked Chris Viola will lock up with
Penn State's second-ranked Jeremy
Hunter.
"There's going to be some matches
that go either way against Penn State,"
Bahr said. "The key to victory will be
at 149, 165 and 184 pounds."
On Sunday, four seniors and one out-
standing coach bid farewell to Cliff
Keen arena. Viola ends what has been
one of the most successful runs for a
lightweight in recent Wolverine history.
DAVID ROCHKIND/Daily
Sunday's contest against Ohio State will be the last Michigan dual meet coached
by Dale Bahr, who will retire at the end of this season.
Along with Viola, 149-pounder Corey
Grant, and Michigan backups Luis
Aguilar and Brian Aparo also say their
goodbyes.
The 25th-ranked Buckeyes have
struggled this season, managing only
one conference win.
"If we wrestle the way we are capable
of wrestling, we should handle them
pretty well," Bahr said. "We need to
make sure that we don't take them for
granted, though."
The focus of the meet is less on the
individual matches, but on the end of an
era.
"You know I haven't really thought
about it," Bahr said. "This season has
been going by so fast, it's been tough to
think about (it ending). It will probably
hit me come Sunday, but the real nos-
talgia won't come until I reflect back in
the offseason."
By Dan Dingerson
Daily Sports Writer
The Michigan men's gymnastics
team returns to action after a week off
of team competition. Although five of
the gymnasts went to Las Vegas to com-
pete for national honors, most of the
team used the week to relax a little.
For a team that has been decimated
by injuries all year, the week off should
be a good break from a grueling season.
This weekend's meet is another break of
sorts for the team - they have the week
off from the top-ranked Big Ten, and
face out-of-conference foe
Massachusetts.
The Big Ten is undoubtedly the
toughest conference in the nation - the
top six teams in the rankings are all
members of the Big Ten. But other
teams are looking to break the strangle-
hold, including the 10th-ranked
Minutemen.
Massachusetts poses a real challenge
to the Wolverines. The meet against
Michigan is very important to the
Minutemen - so important that
Massachusetts canceled its meet this
past weekend against Army so that the
team would have more time to prepare
for its trip to Ann Arbor.
Although the reason for
Massachusetts' determination is
unclear, it is something that has to con-
cern the Wolverines. Michigan has lost
two meets by very close scores recently
- one to Penn State, and one to Ohio
State. Michigan coach Kurt Golder has
not been concerned with his team win-
ning or losing, but instead with the per-
formances. The team itself, though,
does not like to lose.
In Las Vegas this past weekend,
Massachusetts' Jeff LaVallee was able
to finish ahead of Michigan's all-
arounders. In the NCAA rankings,
Michigan's Daniel Diaz-Luong is third
in the country leading a contingent of
four Wolverines in the top 25 - Diaz-
Luong, Scott Vetere, LaLo Haro and
Josh Levin. Massachusetts' LaVallee
and his teammate Steve Pryor rank
ahead of all but Diaz-Luong though,
l Ith and 12th respectively.
"There may be a little rivalry between
our guys and their all-arounders.
LaVallee finished ahead of us," Golder
said.
In addition to having revenge against
LaVallee on their side, the Wolverines
could be aided by the experience they
gained in Las Vegas this past weekend.
Diaz-Luong, Vetere and Levin all per-
formed well in front of a national com-
mittee.
The other Wolverines hope to be
fresh returning from their layoff, so that
they can return to a top level of perfor-
mance. Although the week was helpful,
it wasn't long enough for the team to get
totally healthy. Brad Kenna is still
recovering from an injury as is Tim
Dehr. Both Kenna and Dehr, along with
Kevin Roulston, will be out this week-
end. Justin Toman is also not healthy
enough to compete on still rings.
All are expected to be back by the
Big Ten Championships - a critical
time for the team to be at full strength.
But they are used to the injuries,
competing in all of their meets this year
without a full team available. The team
has stepped up consistently and covered
for their fallen teammates.
This weekend, the Wolverines will
compete at home for the first time in
three weeks before going on the road
the next two weeks. The meet is an
important chance for the team to assert
itself, and prove the Big Ten's domi-
nance of the sport.
"The guys didn't like losing at home,
and we're ready to kick some butt this
weekend," Golder said.
Women gymnasts to battle Bulldogs
Daily Sports Writer
Merely halfway through the season, the women's
gymnastics team has already had its fair share of tri-
als. Problems with injuries, consistency, and confi-
dence have tested the Wolverines more than they
would have anticipated prior to the season.
In what will perhaps be its biggest test of the year,
lichigan will head to Athens, Ga. to face the sec-
ond-ranked Bulldogs. It will be the first meeting in a
home-and-home series that will bring the two teams
back to Ann Arbor the following weekend.
Georgia is last year's NCAA champion and its
average team score of 195.720 is higher than any
score the Wolverines have been able to muster this
season. In case there is any speculation that
Georgia's tear has been all bark and no bite, chew on
this.
In their history, the Bulldogs have posted a .9333
winning percentage. That impressive statistic has*
partly been fed by a perfect 6-0 record against
Michigan.
"We never have a patsy schedule," Michigan coach
Bev Plocki said. "I believe that you're only as good
as the teams you compete against."
If that's true, the Wolverines could be very good
heading into this weekend.
Georgia is undefeated in six meets - and fresh
from toppling No. 1 Alabama with its season-high
team score of 197.300.
In addition, Georgia is home to the nation's best
performers on three of the four routines the two
teams will be competing in. Only the balance beam
keeps the Bulldogs from a clean sweep.
Michigan senior Lisa Simes knows how difficult it
will be to perform, not only against Georgia, but in
unfamiliar surroundings as well.
"It's a new arena and you don't have your home
judges,' Simes said. "You have to go in there with an
attitude. The results will take care of themselves."
In addition to their attitude, the Wolverines will be
taking an impressive statistic with them this week-
end. With a team average of 48.967, Michigan clings
to the nation's best score on the vault.
If the Wolverines hope to leash the Lady Bulldogs
and muzzle the vocal home crowd, they will need
every inch of advantage that performance gives
them.
Women
face two
at home
By Joshua Isaac Borkin
Daily Sports Writer
0Anticipation could not be greater
for the Michigan women's basketball
team this weekend. The Wolverines
can seal their fate when they face
Iowa and Indiana at Crisler Arena.
Every weekend this season has had
some sort of implications surround-
ing it.
The weekend against Louisiana
Tech tested the team's strength. The
olverines kept up with the Lady
chsters, but eventually folded
under the pressure and talent they
encountered. And in the same week-
end, Michigan lost embarrassingly to
Minnesota.
And recently, the Wolverines faced
Illinois and Michigan State in a two-
day span. Those two games demon-
strated Michigan's character, even
though they lost a close contest to the
Spartans.
This weekend will determine
Wether Michigan will make a return
trip to the NCAA Tournament or
whether they will attempt a run at the
NIT.
"The magic number was 18 (victo-
ries)," Michigan coach Sue Guevara
said. "We lost to Michigan State, but
I think we are ready to take on this
weekend and make a good run in the
Big Ten."
Even if Michigan does drop both
games this weekend, it still has the
possibility of making it to the 'Big
Dance' if it wins the Big Ten tourna-
ment and earns the automatic bid.
But Michigan should be able to
handle Iowa and Indiana. It has
already beaten both teams already
this season, and both games will be
played in the friendly confines of
Crisler.
"We feel we are working as a unit
*w," Anne Thorius said. "We should
be able to finish strong and establish
ourselves as a contender."
The Wolverines will be without
Kenisha Walker who is out for the
season with a torn ACL.
Walker was a big factor in
Michigan's win against Indiana. She
recorded her first double-double of
the season against the Hoosiers with
' points and 11 rebounds.
MICIGANP STATE (73)
FO FT RES
MIN M-A *A O.T A F PTES
Smith 35 1-4 a2 1-14 0 1 2
Hutson 23 2-4 1-2 1-3 1 2 5
Klein 27 5412 0-0 6-7 3 0 11
Cleaves 31.711 2-2 0.1 4 4 19
Bell 16 3-5 0-0 0.1 0 5 6
Kelley 22 3-7 00 04 1 2 7
Cherry 0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0
Davis 9 1-2 0.1 0-0 2 0 3
Peterson 16 3-5 4-5 0.1 0 4 10
Granger 21 4-7 2-2 0-4 1 4 10
Totals 200 2457 9.14 21-36 12 22 73
FG%:.509. FT%:.643. 3.polnt FG: 6-16- 375
(Cleaves 3-6, Klein 1-5, Davis 1-2, Kelley 1-1, Bell
0-1, Granger 0-1). Blocks: 3 (Hutson 2, Smith)
Steals: 6 (Cleaves 2. Smith Kelley, Peterson).
Turnovers: 17 (Cleaves 8, Kelley 3. Hutson 2, Bell,
Cherry, Peterson. Smith). Technical Fouls: Cleaves.
MICHIGAN (88)
FG FT RES
MIN H-A H-A 0-T A F PTSE
Asselin 35 4-7 4-7 2-5 1 3 12
Smith 25 4-7 2-2 1-4 2 2 10
Vignier 30 1-3 6-6 0.5 1 3 8
Reid 37 515 2-3 1-4 1 1 13
Bullock 37 4-12 610 1-3 1 3 15
Jones 20 0-1 0-0 0.1 0 3 0
Oliver 1 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0
Young 15 0.1 0-0 0-0 02 0
Totals 200 1846 20-28 6-24 6 17 S8
FG%: .391. Ft%: .714. 3-point FG: 2-8, .250. (Reid
1-4, Bullock 1-3, Smith 0-1). Blocks: 2 (Asselin 2).
Steals: 4 (Smith 3, Reid). Turnovers: 13 (Bullock
3, Smith 3, Young 2, Asselin, Jones, Reid, Vignier).
Technical Fouls: Bullock.
Michigan State.............35 38 - 73
Michigan ...................28 30 -58
At: Crisler Arena
Attendance: 13,548
DAILY SPORTS.
BETTER THAN
LECTURE.
State wins lucky 13
against M', 73-58
SPARTANS
Continued from Page 11
second half. With 11:24 to play, just
after Michigan's Robbie Reid laid in the
ball to finish a fast break, Cleaves
turned to a referee and appeared to say,
"I get fouled every time I get the ball."
The referee, unimpressed, slapped
Cleaves with the technical.
Michigan did a good job containing
the Spartans' dynamic playmaker for
most of the game. A consortium of
Michigan defenders, led primarily by
Bullock, held Cleaves to just six first-
half points. But he exploded in the sec-
ond stanza, finishing the game with 19.
And when Cleaves didn't score, he
made up for it with court awareness and
leadership. The guard shelled out four
assists for the Spartans and ran an
offense that effectively cut through
Michigan's defense, getting the ball into
the low post and exploiting Michigan's
weak frontcourt.
"I was amazed by our unselfishness,"
Michigan State coach Tom Izzo said.
"Every night someone else seems to do
something."
Last night it was the Spartans' front-
court, as forwards Jason Klein, Morris
Peterson and A.J. Granger all scored in
double-digits.
The Wolverines played a little off-kil-
ter throughout the game. Bullock, nor-
mally automatic from the charity stripe,
missed four free throws. Michigan's
usually reliable 3-point shooting was
conspicuously absent, as the Wolverines
hit just two of eight long-range shots.
And throughout the game, the
Spartan fans were omnipresent. Despite
being smaller in size, the Sparties were
louder and more creative than
Michigan's counterparts. Their cheers
included "Seven walk-ons," "Should've
gone (pro) last year" and, to Michigan's
fans,"Why so quiet?" and "We can't
hear you."
"It was tough, especially for me as a
senior," Bullock said of the crowd.
"This is it for me. I certainly didn't want
to end it like this."
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