The Michigan Daily - Friday, April 14, 2000 - 25 w Top Big Ten foes on deck for Michigan crew at home By Albert Kim Daily Sports Writer The No. 7 Michigan rowing team hopes to avoid getting snowed under - both literally and figuratively - this weekend as it hosts rivals Ohio State and Michigan State at Ford Lake in Ypsilanti on Saturday and Sunday. Despite the cancellation of last week- end's race due to weather, the team hasn't lost intensity. Practices have been good, and the team chemistry is still positive. In some ways, the weekend off has made the Wolverines hungrier. "There have been no signs of rusti- ness, and no problems with team chemistry. We're just looking forward to racing again," Michigan coach Mark Rothstein said. The Wolverines are looking forward to taking on arch rivals Ohio State and Michigan State because they are qual- ity teams - ranked No, I1 and 17 respectively - and they will come in looking to upset the Wolverines. "It's going to be a tough two races this weekend. We have a lot of respect for both programs," Rothstein said. This weekend is more important than just the rivalries, though. This is the first and only home meet of the season for the Wolverines. It's a chance to shine in front of the home crowd for the team, and the only chance for fans to see their national Crewsing on This weekend is your one and only chance to witness seventh-ranked Michigan at home as they face their - arch rivals, Michigan State and] Ohio State on Saturday and Sunday. Then the Wolverines continue on to the NCAAs where they finished fifth last season. Here is the rest of this season's schedule for Michigain: Apr. 15 Ohio St. 'Ypsilanti* Apr. 16 Mich. St. Ypsilanti* Si.Apr. 29 Big Tens Madison championship caliber Wolverines. The rowers must prove it on the water, but the preparation starts with the coach. Rothstein has been coach- ing for eight years at Michigan, five on the club level and the last three on var- sity. In those three years of varsity exis- tence, Rothstein has built a top-10 team capable of winning the national championship every year. He gets the most out of his team, as evidenced by fifth-place finishes the last two years. His rowers respect him as a person and a coach. "He's a great person, and [ feel very lucky to have been coached by him, All-American Kate Johnson said. As expected this early in the season, there have been lineup changes. Junior Melanie Duncan (port) and sophomore Angela Bierhuizen (starboard) have both moved up to the varsity boat. And most notably freshman coxswain Helen Dalis moved up to the varsity boat. In a sport where experience counts for so much, Dalis has progressed at a rapid pace since her arrival at Michigan. A native of Augusta, (3a., she was the coxswain of the first boat for the National Junior Team over the summer, the second year in a row she had participated, Considered the best high school coxswain in the country, Dalis was expected to make an immediate impact on the team, and she has not disap- pointed. She established herself as the second-boat coxswain early in the win- ter, and has matured quickly into varsi- ty-boat material. "I'm pretty excited about it, and we've had some good practices the last few days," Dalis said. It appears to be the perfect timing for Dalis to get a chance with the var- sity boat, because Ohio State's coxswain is a former teammate of Dalis from Augusta. In addition, the coach for Ohio State was one of the coaches for the National Junior Team, Dalis' Michigan pride is on the line, and she is hoping to produce. "In a nice way, I'd like to kick their butts," Dalis said. The next four races for this squad will show a lot about the Wolverines. The team's resolve and mental tough- ness will be tested. The biggest thing that these races will do is prepare for the major concentration of the season - the Big Ten, the NCAA regional and NCAA tournament. These three will be the true measur- ing stick of whether the season will be deemed a success or not, They are an opportunity for the Wolverines to shine, and there is no doubt that the team controls its own destiny. "We know we have the ability to be a very fast team, now we just have to go out and prove that on the water" Rothstein said. NETTERS Continued from Page 22 went on to take the Big Ten by storm - capping their cin- derella season off with a Big Ten title. Other teams note how dangerous the hosting Wolverines could be. "I definitely wouldn't feel safe playing them in the first round," Merzbacher said. . UP IN THE AIR: Here are the top teams in the conference who are going to be grinding it out for the No. I seed. Minnesota (5-1, 13-3) - No. 33 Minnesota has been the hottest team in the Big Ten of late, riding a 10-match winning streak going into this weekend. With a talented core of three seniors, and an impressive trio of freshmen, Minnesota has the balance needed to run the table and take the title. The only problem is that the Gophers' final four matches are on the road. Remaining: at Northwestern, at Illinois, at Indiana, at Purdue. Ohio State (5-1, 12-6) - The 40th-ranked Buckeyes are fresh off their upsets over No. 15 Northwestern and No. 28 Illinois, and own an intimidating 9-0 record at home. Being solid at the No. 1-4 singles slots, if their opponents don't win the doubles point, the Buckeyes could easily run the table. They also have one of the more favorable schedule, playing only one more team with a .500 record in the conference. Remaining: Purdue, Indiana, at Michigan State, at Michigan. Illinois (5-1,9-10) - No. 28 Illinois' lone conference defeat was to the Buckeyes last weekend. After starting the season 3- 9, Illinois has won six of its last seven. The Illiniwiffalsoehjo home-court advantage in their last three matches of the year, making them one of the favorites for the top seed. Remaining: Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa. Northwestern (5-2,15-4) -The fifteenth-ranked Wildcats are defending Big Ten champions, and they looked like they were well on their way to sweeping through the conference schedule - until an injury challenged their depth. Northwestern has since lost two straight and fell to a second- place tie with Indiana. But don't look past the Wildcats, who will be home for their final matches. Remaining: Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin. Indiana (5-2, 12-8) - The Hoosiers squeaked past the Wolverines last weekend and have quietly sneaked into the thick of things. The owner of 14 of the last 17 conference titles is just one match back of the leaders, but has two difficult road matches down the road - making the quest for No. 15 a chat. lenging one. Remaining: at Penn State, at Ohio State, Minnesota. Iowa (4-2,7-10) -The Hawkeyes raised the bar of success last year, making the team's first-ever NCAA tournament appearance. They didn't stop there, as Iowa upset two top-20 teams en route to a Sweet Sixteen finish. The healthy Hawkeyes look to turn some heads once again and contend for the team's first ever Big Ten title. Remaining Michigan, Michigan State, at Northwestern, Illinois. _ . , cas0-h In. At campus.HotDispatch com. Is your brain full of HTML, Java, or C/C++? Is "Linux" your middle name? campus.HotDispatch:com can turn that knowledge into cash! HotDispatch is the online marketplace where people buy and sell Check Us Out 11 MI 19 www.homecitylce.com : ,Great Job Opportunitiesil Hiring Students rt-Time NOW end Fulilme Ouilng SUM lr FBreaks We offer 10-40+ hours/week Route Delivery & Packaging Positions $8.0$1.Ooper hour 734-955-9094 Located just minutes from Campuse We Also Have Facilities in Other Cities, Call Us! Lexon,'.KY 1-400933.3575 Daytonlspongfid 1-808-283.551t Umnatucyiut 1.600890-0529 Toledo 1400499.8070 Cle elidAkronCaslone 1800874.0880 Pnsb.,,gi,1.80W-2834423 Cran9tN Kentucky 1-$W-288.4040 Wl Vrginia14=-5454423 Mens~e AsMan d 1.800494-.0529 Souout oho 1800-545-4423 No Experience Necessary. Train in one faciliy during school and work in another duing summer break. We offerSchedule Flexibility. Start training NOW. Schedule an Interview A.S.A.P. Bring a Friend! www.homecityice.com May 13 Regionals Oak Ridge, - - Tenn. May 26 NCAAs Camden, N.J. * indicates home meets at Ford Lake TM DRFANWNKS PICTURES tot aM~k.& Wd '0Rj er n 0 < 4-- }? - 4 F - k4 ro F *m -4 'art '='>,+ ;.md ..~ dw---- - 4 :a .. a 0 . -4W4v 1 4. 4 /- 4 n. ,i y g MI 4.j 4A~' A 4 wows yaw +. 00 www.omnipod.com WHEN AND WHERE. Qualityl 6 April 26 WHAT. Cardmembers get a compli- mentary pass for two for a preview screening of Dreamworks new film Roadtrip to be released May 19th. HOW. Just bring your American ' Express* Card and your student ID to the location listed below to pick up your pass. SPECIAL OFFER JUST FOR APPLYING. Receive a complimentary pass for two when you apply for the American Express Credit Card for Students (stop by the location listed below). MORE TO COME. Road Trip is one in a series of major motion pictures to be previewed on your cam-, FREE ADVANCE SCREENING Tuesday, May 2 - ME. FULL-TIME. IN NO TIME: