r IA - The Michigan Daily - Thursday, March 25, 1999 Best of the best compete in Iowa I I PICK 'EM! I By Da Dingerson Daily Sports Writer This weekend, the Michigan men's gymnas- tics team makes the trek to Iowa to compete for the title of Big Ten champions. The meet will take place tomorrow through Saturday in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The Big Ten Championships could be the most exciting meet of the gymnastics season. The GYMNASTICS honor of winning the Big Ten title may not seem to Commentary be the most prestigious ------------------__ award in the country, but this year it is. Throughout the season , the Big Ten has dom- inated the rankings as well as most of the invita- tional meets. Currently, the Big Ten has seven teams ranked in the nation's top 20. ,That might not sound particularly impressive, cpnsidering that in men's basketball, seven Big Ten teams graced the top 25 almost all year. But as in other sports, Big "Ten" is somewhat of a misnomer. Only seven Big Ten teams compete in men's gymnastics. In addition, the teams hold six of the top seven spots in the rankings. Michigan leads the way, having recently claimed the top ranking. The meet should also be a good preview of the NCAA East Regional. The top six teams in the Big Ten will probably qualify for the region- al. The six Big Ten teams ranked in the top ten - Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State, Iowa, Illinois and Michigan State - have all moved around the rankings this year. Three have been ranked No. 1. Breaking down the rankings, the Big Ten 4ominates. In each event the Big Ten has at least fivp teams ranked in the top ten. An athlete from 4 Big Ten school ranks either first or second in every event individually. "I think that any of the top four - Michigan, Penn State, Ohio state and Iowa - pave a chance to win Big Ten's and also a legimate chance to win the national championship,' Michigan coach Kunt Golder said. With that in mind; let's take a look at the Big Ten and assess each team's chance to win this weekend. No. 1 MICHIGAN: The Wolverines have had their best performanc es of the season the past two weekends. In both meets against Michigan State they scored over 230, and finally recorded a top score on the road. The scores are a direct result of the team's growth throughout the year and increased health in recent weeks. The added diversity allows Golder to place his gymnasts in their best events. Daniel Diaz-Luong leads the all-around, currently rnnked fourth nationally. Michigan is peaking right now. Look for them to continue their streak, as their confidence and tal- ent are at the highest level of the year. The Wolverines will look to avenge earlier losses to Ohio State and Iowa. No. 2 PENN STATE: The Nittany Lions have been one of the most connistent teams of the year without being spectacular. They've been ranked No. 1 for most of the season. The team is led by Brandon Stefaniak, whose scores have been consistently good - like his team's. Penn State is a very good team, but h,.1s not showed the abil- ity to score as high as son:me other teams. No. 3 OHIO STATE: Thie Buckeyes were the best team in the nation imt February. They beat Michigan in Ann Arbor aind became the first team to break 230 this season. Jamie Natalie is the top-ranked all-around performer in the coun- try right now. Ohio State has beaten Michigan twice and may be offended at the Wolverines' No. I ranking. The Buckeye s hate Michigan and now have one more reason t o perform well. No. 4 IowA: The Hawkeyes started the year ranked No. 1 and won the season-opening Windy City Invitational. Since then, the team has been consistently good but has not scored more than 230 this year. Competing at home will help the team as it did earlier this year when the Hawkeyes beat the Wolverines. Iowa has been a great program in the past, but doesn't seem to be performing as well as the Buckeyes or Wolverines this year. No.5 ILLINOIS: The Fighting Illini started the year at their worst, and have been improving since then. At an early season meet in Ann, Arbor, five out of six competitors fall in one event. The team finished second in the NCAA last year and most of that team is still in place including defending national all-around champi- on Travis Romagnoli. Currently he is ranked second in the all-around; his experience may give him an advantage. No.7 MICHIGAN STATE: Until recent weeks it didn't seem as though the Spartans were in the same class as the top five teams. In both meets against Michigan, the Spartans topped 229 and set their season-high both weeks. The team is peaking right now, ranking first in the floor exer- cise and in the top 10 in all six events. Michigan State is the sleeper team that some schools won't be ready for. Only Michigan has seen the Spartans perform their best, and there is no rea- son why they won't continue that trend this weekend. No. 17 MINNESOTA: Talk about March Madness. If Minnesota won the Big Ten Championships, it would be a bigger upset than Florida A&M beating Duke in basketball. Although the Golden Gophers are ranked, they are in a different class than the other six Big Ten teams, their average is more than ten points behind Michigan. Minnesota will probably be the only team from the Big Ten staying home for regionals. DANA IUNNANE/Daily Josh Levin and the top-ranked Wolverines will compete to be the best of the best this weekend in Iowa City at the Big Ten Championships. i [ I Postseason begins for 'M' women gymnasts" This ain't your parents' £iw travel agency. With our staff of experienced travelers, a global network of offices, great prices, ticket flexibility and a ton of travel services, we know firsthand what it takes to put together a mind-blowing trip... ...just remember to thank mom for packing your suitcase. The Michigan women's gymnas- tics team looks at the postsea- son in a whole new way. LOUIS BROWN/Daily rr THE VALUE OF AN MBA A Lifetime of Opportunities" Presented by 668-8550 1103 S. University -Suite 1 STA TRAVEL WE'VE BEEN ThERE- S aIEI OM The Wharton School University of Pennsylvania Pond Room in the Michigan Union Friday, March 26 from 3:00-4:00 All Interested Students Welcome 3/9 or A, By Stephen A. Rom Daily Sports Writer It's a brand new season. And with that knowledge, the Michigan women's gymnastics team will travel to Michigan State on Saturday to compete in the Big Ten Championships. This will be the first of three post-season meets for the Wolverines that could culminate in the NCAA Championships in Salt Lake City on April 22-24. Winning the Big Ten Championship this weekend would be a fitting end to a season that saw the Wolverines go 4- 1 in conference meets and 13-4 over- all. But the title is not imperative for them to achieve their ultimate goal - a national championship. "We want to win the Big Ten crown,' Michigan coach Bev Plocki said. "But in all reality, it means noth- ing to our potential success in the NCAAs." Plocki knows this quite well. She has seen her team secure the Big Ten crown in six of the last seven years, but never once continue on to win a national championship. The closest the Wolverines ever came was a second-place tie in 1995. Nonetheless, this team is different than in years past. It has a strong mix GRADUATING STUDENTS Consider a lucrative career in commercial real estate sales. We're a local company, looking to hire a self-starting, business- oriented graduate with a good sense of humor. I have 32 years in real estate, yet keep an open mind and respect for the abili- ties and opinions of younger agents. Sound interesting? Call - Gary or visit our web site. Gary Lillie & Associates Realtors 663-6694 www.garylillie.com of both young and veteran gymnasts that will bring experience and enthusi- asm to the post-season. But perhaps if there is something the Wolverines should concern thenj selves with, it would be to remain trtW to what has earned them the succ that they enjoy today. 9 "We're trying to focus on the fact that just because we are going into the 'championship' part of the season, we don't want to change what we have been doing," Plocki said. What the team has been doing is putting up record numbers. In two of the last three meets, the Wolverines topped their season-high team score. Two weeks ago against UCLA, they brought home the sixth-highest tea score in Michigan history. And inlI weekend's season finale, the Wolverines dismantled Michigan State in the very same building that they will be competing in on Saturday. But, this trip to the Jenis p Fieldhouse will prove a little more challenging than the walk in the park they had last week against the Spartans. Yes, Michigan State will bq there for another stroll, but so m* five other Big Ten teams ranked in the top-25, including three in the top 10. k "This is going to be the toughest conference meet since I have been at Michigan," Plocki said. One team that Plocki said she feels will give the Wolverines the most trouble is Penn State. The Nittany Lions were ranked fifth at the end of the regular season and have been a constant thorn in Michigan's side, After Penn State jumped ahead Michigan in the national poll, thy Wolverines were never able to surpass the Lions again. But regardless of the caliber of competition, if Michigan can put together a mistake free outing, that will be enough to carry the team wherever it wants to go. "Concerning ourselves with the things we can control is what w" make this outcome a win,' Plo said. -.. A(( R . . t x D .. :. . _ . .. f ' l A , <, y _, ! t. ,. F : 1 Attention Marketing and Communications majors! SUMMER SCHOOL FOR PEOPLE ON THEIR WAY TO THE TOP. Are you having trouble finding a job that offers REAL business experience? The Michigan Daily has the answer.as our Circulation Manager you would be responsible for monitoring drop sites around campus, reaching out to local businesses, and expanding the Daily's - reach into the University and Ann Arbor communities. 4 If you didn't sign up for ROTC as a freshman or sophomore, you can catch up this summer by attending Army ROTC Camp rhalunca aanaird fie-week r/ qualify for a full tuition scholar ip and advanced officer training when yoi return to campus next fall. You'll also have the self- con fidence and discipline a nF Y' I