6B - The Michigan Daily - SportsMonday - February i, 2000
Senior swimmers shine in finale
By Jeb Singer
Daily Sports Writer
The meet belonged to Michigan and
its seniors.
In a matchup against its two biggest
rivals, the Michigan men's swimming
team took care of business on Saturday
defeating Michigan State, 210-123, and
Ohio State, 204-148 on Senior Day.
Michigan State coach Richard Bader
said "the sessions went real quickly and
we got a lot of swimming in'
Ohio State coach Bill Wadley was
most excited with the Buckeyes perfor-
mance on the second day.
"We didn't swim well yesterday, so to
comeback and beat Michigan in their
own pool in a couple of relays, we have
to be happy," Wadley said.
These sentiments may merely be con-
solations for outmatched teams. For the
two runners-up, all the events were
scored giving each competitor the poten-
tial to turn in a noteworthy performance.
While Michigan State was a non-fac-
tor, Ohio State did have some shining
moments. Diver Chris Monson and
sprinter Jason Fox each captured impres-
sive victories. Monson placed first in the
three-meter and second in the one-meter
events. Fox took first in the 200-yard
butterfly and 200-yard individual med-
ley.
Michigan coach Jon Urbanchek noted
the importance of the two-day meet for-
mat that gave his team a chance to expe-
rience the championship environment.
On Friday night alone, fiveMichigan
swimmers turned in all-time bests.
JOANNA PAINE/D
Tim Siciliano and the Michigan men's swimming team easily disposed of Big Ten
foes Michigan State and Ohio State on Senior Day at Canham Natatorium.
Sophomore Matt Raines led the
brigade, turning in a personal record time
in the 50-free and was only .03 second
off his lifetime best in the 100-free.
"Our relay teams did an excellent job
in preparation for the Big Ten champi-
onships," Urbanchek said. And sopho-
more Tim Siliciano and junior Chris
Thompson "continued to control all the
distance freestyle events."
Thompson's time in the 1000-free set
a pool record.
The youth of the team also shined as
Garrett Mangieri and Tony Kurth went 1-
2 in the 200-free. Ryan Earhart won the.
100 and 200-back.
Scott Werner continued his dominance
in the breaststroke winning the 100 and
200. Also turning in a lifetime best was
sophomore Eric Wilson in the 200-fly
"Eric will be a contender for the finals
in the Big Ten championships,"
Urbanchek said.
However, leading the festivities was a
recognition of the seniors on the squad.
The team currently features only fo*
seniors Josh Trexler, Scott Meyer, Mike
McWha and Francisco Suriano Siu.
The meet marked the end of the dual
meet season; however, this year's Big Ten
Championships will be held at Canham.
"It's just lucky that they will have
another time swimming in the home
waters, Urbanchek said.
Men's soccer kicks off fall recruiting.
By Rhonda Gilmer
For the Daily
With the start of a new year comes a
new season for the Michigan men's soc-
cer team. Michigan coach Steve Burns,
has high hopes for the future of his team.
In the past couple of years, Michigan has
proved itself as a club team powerhouse
and is now ready to take the big step
towards the varsity level.
On March 26, 1999, the men's club
soccer team along with the women's
water polo team was granted varsity sta-
tus. The men's club soccer team has been
successful in the past few seasons, win-
ning back-to-back National Club Title
Championships in 1997 and 1998. Last
fall, the team faltered in the quarterfinals
of the NIRSA tournament.
"In order to win at any level of the
national championship, you need the
breaks and the luck," Burns said. "We
didn't get the breaks and we didn't have
the luck:'
Burns said a lack of bonding and
injuries were a major factor in last year's
unsuccessful season.
"Soccer is an orchestra on the field,
and we cannot underestimate the impor-
tance of everyone playing within the
team, and working hard for one another"'
Burns said.
Despite that upset, the men's soccer
team is looking forward to a new season.
With a 22-player roster there will be a lot
of freshmen on the team. Of the club
team members, six to 10 are expected to
return and play on the varsity team. Due
to an influx of new players, the men's
soccer team expects growing pains.
"We need to make sure that our
strength of schedule reflects that we're
going to have a young team that makes
mistakes" Burns said.
Indiana University, who won the
NCAA Championship the last two years,
is just one of the many opponens-'
Michigan will have to face this seascdt:
Although this coming season's schedale'
will be tough, expectations are that the
men's varsity soccer team will finish
above .500 for their first year.
Over the next three years, Burns said
he hopes to build up the men's soccer
team to a nationally competitive level and
for this upcoming season he said he envi-
sions a hardworking first year team.
"A lot of the game of soccer is won in
the final 10 to 15 minutes depending on
which team can continue that same work
rate and win the game," Burns said.
His current focus is with the recruit-
ment process for this current season.
"Soccer players recognize the univer
ty's athletic tradition, and academic repu-
tation," Burns said.
Michigan is a strong soccer state, and
in the past it has lost some of its best
players to programs outside of the state.
"It's time to keep those kids in state,"
Burnssaid. "Our recruiting philosophy is
we're putting up fences around the state
of Michigan."
During the next few seasons, Bun@
said he hopes to add depth to the team by
building upon the existing foundation.
"As we begin to add the next recruiting
class and the next recruiting class, we
establish the foundation in that work
ethic," Burns said. "We can begin to add
more skilled players, more artistic players
that will give us more flare in the way we
play."
Anyone interested in being a part of
the first year team should contact Burns
at(734)615-5141.
Over the last 140 years, many
more graduating classes have
left their mark on Michigan's
landscape with living memorials.
This year, the Alumni Association
invites the Class of 2000 to join
in the renewal of the Tappan Oak
tradition. Gather with your class-
mates and President Bollinger at
April's Senior Ceremonial to plant
your own Tappan Millennium Tree
and unveil the stela that will for-
IF yo rpasFor
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