The Michigan Daily - Friday, February 4, 2000 '11
ootball rivals offer pool challenge for 'M'
By Jeb Singer
Daily Sports Writer
Ohio State's and Michigan State's swimming teams
will likely compete for second place when they come
to town for a three-way meet this weekend.
In this threesome, the Wolverines should be the
eaders and best.
While it's important to finish the dual meet portion
of their schedule strong, facing their archenemies
from East Lansing and Columbus is in no way a cli-
max for this season.
"Nothing special is going on in the pool this week,"
assistant coach Eric Namesnik said. "We are just run-
ning through the week as normal."
Michigan State swimmers (0-5 Big Ten, 1-6 overall)
have had a tough time staying afloat this winter.
Despite their woeful record, the Spartans do in fiet
have one strong link in their feeble chain. John
Munley, who qualified for the 200 freestyle Olympic
trials, will challenge Wolverines Jason Mallory arid
Mike McWha.
Ohio State (2-1, 7-1) will present a more formida-
ble lineup.
The Buckeyes are led by senior Jason Fox, who won
three events last week in the butterfly and IM.
Bruce Malich and Mike Reilly have each swam
strong this season for Ohio State, making the freestyle
events a focal point for the Huckeyes. They also pos-
sess firepower in the freestyle events.
Diving is a strength for both vi, itors. Michigan
Stat's C asey Gitviller is coming off a strong perfor-
nmiance this past weekend against Indiana. Freshmen
Ieath Knowling and Chns Monson each won a diving
event as they defeated Northwestern and Kenyon by
large margins. Both Michigan State and Ohio State
were annihilated by Indiana Michigan's victim last
weekend.
It should he a good way for the Wolverines to finish
out the dual meet season at home.
"This will serve as our senior recognition meet,"
Namesnik said.
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Continued from Page 9
Mi hi'I Redd. Luesday night. Redd
outscored the more heralded Penn,
14-13 in Ohii State's victory over
Wisconsin.
Michigan might have more of a
chan ci outplay the Bucks inside.
Although Oio tae center Ken
Johnson was r icctl named Big Ten
player of the wveek and was important
in the Buckeycs victory over
M ns St junior center Josh
A ssehn has always had his number.
VLast vear at Crisler Arena, Asselin
had a 22-point, 10-rebound double-
double against Johnson as the over-
matched Wolverines steanrolled ;the
Final Four-bound Bucks, 84-74.
"We were able to exploit some
matchups last year," assistant coach
Scott Trost said. "Asselin played very
well last year, as did Brandon Smith."
Michigan's trip to Indiana, where it
scored only 50 points to the Hoosiers'
85, may have been the first 'tough
defense the young team faced. But as
Brian Ellerbe foreshadowed then,
Michigan State (which defeated a
Crawford-less Michigan by 20) and
Ohio State may have the most strin-
gent defensive players in the league.
"I've heard a lot of other coaches
say it takes two years to teach kids)
college defense," Trost said.
Cantin, Blue relish the Meyo
A Ron Garber
Daily Sports Writer
Fresh off a grueling month-long
stretch of training, the Michigan men's
wtrack and field team heads to South Bend
this weekend for perhaps its favorite meet
of the season, the Meyo Invitational.
Events start tonight at 6 p.m. and contin-
ue Saturday morning at 11 a.m..
This is no ordinary road meet. Notre
Dame's track is 300 meters long, as
opposed to the standard indoor length of
200 meters. The Wolverines are licking
their chops.
"They've got a great track down
there," Michigan coach Ron Warhurst
said. "We're looking to do some good
stuff, and for at least half our guys to get
personal bests"
One Wolverine is particularly excited
for the meet. Every time senior Jay
*antin runs in the shade of the Golden
Dome, big things happen for the distance
runner. His freshman season, Cantin set
the track record in the 1000 meters, a
record that he still holds. Last year at the
Meyo, he qualified for the NCAA
National Championships, and Cantin and
Warhurst expect that feat to be repeated
this weekend.
"I'm definitely capable of it if every-
hing goes well," Cantin said. "It's sup-
sed to be a fast race, and I love that
track."
With Mike Wisniewski already quali-
fied for the 3000-meter run and expected
to qualify in the 5000, Warhurst said that
running Cantin in the mile "will be like
having an ace in the hole."
Cantin is not the only Wolverine who
has fond memories of this meet. Last
year, four Wolverines Yvon individual
titles, including sophomore Bob Arnold,
hose high jump victory was especially
eroic since he was suffering from
mononucleosis at the time. Arnold may
not have the chance to defend his title this
year, as he is suffering from a leg injury
and may not make the trip.
Even if Arnold is held out of the meet,
scoring in field events should not be a
problem. Warhurst thinks that junior pole
vaulter Charles DeWildt is capable of
picking up the slack. If DeWildt can
improve his recent vault of 17-foot-1, it
could translate into a lot of points for the
Wolverines.
Senior thrower Patrick Johansson can
also be counted on, as always, to finish
well and put up points.
Michigan's sprint team might not be at
full strength, either.
Sophomore Ike Okenwa has been suf-
fering from a head cold and might not be
at his best. Michigan will need seniors
Steve Molnar and Steve Jenkins to con-
tinue posting good times if Okenwa does
not right himself
One Wolverine who Warhurst is not
worried about slipping up is sophomore
hurdler Derek Applewhite, who seems to
be finding his rhythm as of late.
"We're expecting a big weekend from
Derek," Warhurst said.
With some clutch performances in the
field events and sprints, in addition to
what are becoming the usual big finishes
in the distance events, the Wolverines
should be able to hang, step for step, with
the top teams expected to compete -
Alabama, Miami and Missouri, A big
weekend will also be very encouraging to
a team that is less than a month away
from competing in the Big Ten
Championships.
And if there is any track that the
Wolverines would like to have a big
weekend on, this is it.
"I've had some great experiences,
down there;' remembered Cantin. "That
track is like my home away from home."
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LOUIS BROWN/Daily
Jay Cantin loves running in South Bend at the Meyo Invitational. He'll get another
chance to run the 300-meter track this weekend.