4B - The Michigan Daily - SportsMonday - January 11, 1999
Michigan hockey team entertains
fans, but few students take up offer
By Mark Francescutti
Daily Sports Writer
Yesterday beyond the blowing
snow and the arctic wind, almost 200
people spent some time with the
Michigan hockey team.
The Dekers Blue Line Club, whose
goal is to raise funds and support for
the Wolverines, held its second annu-
al "Deker Night at.--...............
Yost," which Hocke
included a tour ofy
the lockerroom, ommeua y
autographs from-...............
players and Greg Crozier acting as
the official greeter as fans came
through the door.
For a $5 entrance fee any member
($25 annual general membership,
$10 student required), gained access
to the world of Michigan hockey.
But money wasn't the thought on
this night. The defining word was
"fun."
All of the players made an appear-
ance, signing autographs and greet-
ing the fans, but the real treat of the
night is gaining access to the usually
A negative showing
The Michigan wrestling team
defeated George Mason, 46-(-1).
Negative one! George Mason
lost every single match to the
Wolverines, but took a one-point
deduction for forfeiting the 285-
point weight class.
ft's doubtful that the loss will be
on George Mason's highlight reel.
"closed" Michigan lockerroom.
Not even the media gains access to
that area usually. But on this night,
all could see the "hidden" areas -
from the lockerroom with the team's
list of season goals, to the secret
door in the shower area - ironically
it led to the outside hall where it
locked from the outside.
And the fun was just beginning.
Mike Comrie led my tour with
Craig Murray doing backup color
commentary, but almost every player
received the opportunity to lead an
entourage of guests. And every fan's
eyes, young and old, were wide as
the sky as the "secret area" was
revealed.
In the actual "locker" area, the
team's jerseys hung neatly all color-
coded by line position - dark blue
and white for the defensemen, black
for the goalies and red, yellow, light
blue, and maroon for the forwards.
One had to just imagine the great-
ness of talent that had once graced
this area.
And not one person didn't have a
smile on his face.
Goalies Josh Blackburn, Greg
Daddario and Kevin O'Malley
worked the photo booth where fans
put on the goalie pads and had their
pictures taken.
Little kids like pads. Blackburn
even admits that's why he first
picked up the goal stick.
Yes, pads are cool, pads are fun,
but as the fans found out, pads weigh
a ton.
Near the end of the event, the
aroma of sandwiches and chips led
all to the table area in front of the
concession stands, where players and
fans together enjoyed dinner. The
raffles were drawn and prizes such as
sweaters and posters were given
away.
This type of atmosphere just does-
n't happen with a professional hock-
ey team.
But while almost everything at
this event fitted, something was
missing.
Of the 200 or so fans who showed,
the only university students that
attended seemed to be the Michigan
hockey players.
There are many diehard student
fans out there, as any Yost hock
game would demonstrate. But to
perfect opportunity to get to know a
team that one cheers for wasn't
snatched up by the students.
The club's officials say they have
undertaken efforts to try to get stu-
dents involved. This season two
Dekers' booths are available in Yost
to give information about the events
and membership.
Blue advertisements about the
event blanketed the Yost seats t
past weekend. The Dekers even o
a 60 percent discount on student
memberships.
Yet Michigan students seemed to
stay away.
Maybe it isn't that important that
students didn't show.
Maybe the higher ticket price
soured some fans. And mother nature
certainly didn't help yesterday.
But just remember, it is called t
University of Michigan hockey teai.
MARGARET MYERS/Daily
After two nights of facing Ferris State, the Michigan hockey team took a break
yesterday and hosted the second annual "Deker Night at Yost."
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Grapplers drop final in Virginia
Wolverines take 19 of first 20 matches in tourney's first two rounds
888-188257) Wi V'I WI I
By Michael Shafrir
Daily Sports Writer
Bouyed by the confidence of a
productive Christmas training peri-
od, the Michigan wrestling team took
a trip to the Virginia Duals looking
to carry its momentum into the new
year.
Over winter break, the Wolverines
won the 17-team Sunshine Open in
Florida.
They almost rode that momentum
all the way to the championship
round. Only a final-round loss to
first-seeded Illinois prevented the
Wolverines from taking home the
championship.
The Virginia Duals, in its 19th
year, is a single elimination tourna-
ment featuring 16 teams including
North Carolina, Virginia and
Cornell.
It also featured two lesser known
schools, George Mason and Lock
Haven, the Wolverines first- and sec-
ond-round opponents, respectively.
Apparently, there is a reason few
people have ever heard of these
schools, as Michigan thumped
George Mason 46-(-1) before rolling
over Lock Haven 40-3.
The 47-point victory over George
Mason was Michigan's largst margin
of victory since a 50-point win over
Morgan State in 1988.
125-pound Chris Viola was domi-
nant in both matches. He recorded a
technical fall against George
Mason's Steve Daggett before pin-
ning Lock Haven's Mike Kusick at
1:30.
The only match the Wolverines
lost in either contest was Art
Romence's 7-4 loss in the heavy-
weight division against Lock
Haven's Craig Tefft.
No. 14 Oregon State stood in the
way of Michigan and a date in the
finals, but like the two opponents
before them, the Beavers found
themselves on the losing end of the
match.
Performing well in the match
against the Beavers was 174-pound
Otto Olson, Damien Logan at 141,
and junior Frank Lodeserto at 197.
"This is the best we've wrestled
year" Michigan coach Dale Bahr
said. "The kids were really dominat-
ing."
The win over Oregon State set up a
championship match with first-seed
and Big Ten rival Illinois.
Familiarity did not work in
Michigan's favor as they dropped a
22-17 decision to the Fighting Illiri
on Saturday night.
Michigan was hurt in the fite
match by the absence of heavyweight
Matt Brink. This forced the inexperi-
enced Art Romence to wrestle in his
place.
"Missing Brink didn't hurt us in
the first three rounds, but it really
hurt us against Illinois," Bahr said.
Michigan's Joe Warren was named
the outstanding wrestler of the tour-
nament.
"He really impressed me," B
said. "He dominated three opponen
and beat an all-American.'
Spdng Commencement
Student Speaker
Ca or Entdes
The Office of the Vice President for Communications
is issuing a Call for Entries for a Student Speaker at
Spring Commencement.
Saturday, May 1, 1999
9:30 a.m.
Michigan Stadium
The student speaker must be receiving a bachelor's
degree during Winter 1999 or Summer Term 1999.
Submit
- Curriculum Vitae (or resume) highlighting U-M
scholarship and campus leadership
- Typed draft of speech (less than 5 minutes In
length)
- Audiocassette tape of the author reading the
speech
Questions
- Contact Beth Moceri at 615-0520 or by e-mail,
bmoceri@umich.edu
m