The Michigan Daily - SportsMonday - February 7, 2000-- 7 After two weekend tests, gymnasts go pass - fail By Rohit Bhave Daily Sports Writer This weekend, according to Michigan coach Kurt Golder, was a preview of NCAA Championship- le gymnastics. The top-ranked Schigan men's gymnastics team faced the second and third-ranked teams on consecutive nights. Golder has emphasized consisten- cy and resilience to his gymnasts, maintaining that, at the Big Ten Championships, NCAA Championships and the Olympic Trials, each would have to perform his best on every routine. Following their sound defeat of 2 Penn State and Minnesota at Fff Keen Arena Friday night, the Wolverines hopped on a bus to Columbus to face No. 3 Ohio State in newly renovated St. John Arena. Before the meet, many Michigan gymnasts were excited to go to Columbus and face the Buckeyes. Sophomore Scott Vetere said he was pumped because it was his first trip Pcoming schedule to Columbus. "No one has beaten them at home in five years," Vetere said., His virtuoso performances on the parallel bars, rings and pommel horse were not enough to help Michigan defeat the red-hot Buckeyes, as they edged the Wolverines by .05, 229.95 to 229.9. Vetere was unable to help Michigan on vault and on floor exercise as a result of a back injury. In effect, the Wolverines' fortunes in Columbus were a reversal of their fortunes at Cliff Keen this past Friday. Against Penn State, Michigan responded to an early deficit by roar- ing through its last four events, even- tually posting an NCAA season record 230.55 point total. Saturday. night, the Wolverines raced out to a two point lead after their first four rotations, only to blow the meet with a very poor performance on the vault. Michigan could only wait as the Ruckeyes finished the meet with their strongest event, the high bar. Jamie Natalie eventually crushed the Wolverines with his score'of 9:9 on the final routine of the night. Although disappointed with the loss to the Buckeyes, Golder took a positive spin on the defeat. He point- ed out that the Wolverines' real goal was the NCAA Championships, and that this defeat should only motivate them further towards reaching their team and individual goals. "This defeat is only going to add fuel to the fire,"junior captain Justin Toman said. Top tweekend.; performances Several Michigan gymnasts rose to the occasion against' No. 2 Penn State and No. 3 Ohio State this weekend.; Some outstanding performers: THE GYMNASTS. Scott Vetere Sophomore 9.95 - Pommel Horse at Ohio State " 9.925 -Parallel Bars at Ohio State 9.85 - Rings vs. Penn State, Minnesota 9.8 - Pommel Horse vs. Penn State, Minnesota Justin Toman unior 9.9 - Rings at Ohio State 9.85 - Floor Exercise vs. Penn State, Minnesota 9.8 - High Bar vs. Penn State, Minnesota Brad Kenna Sophomore 9.85 - Rings vs. Penn State, Minnesota By Rohit Bhave Daily Sports Writer On Saturday, in a No. I versus No. 3 showdown determined by the closest of margins, Ohio State's Jamie Natalie stuck a dagger into the the Michigan men's gymnastics team with a score of 9.9 in the meet's final routine, allowing Ohio State to edge the Wolverines, 229.95-229.9. Coming off a resounding tri-meet thumping of Minnesota and No. 2 Penn State the previous night, the Wolverines looked to roll out of Columbus as the first team to defeat the Buckeyes at home in five years. They nearly did. Impressive event scores of 39.0 on still rings, 38.675 on the pommel horse, and 38.75 on the parallel bars were not enough for Michigan. The Buckeyes exploited their large advantage on the vault and the high bar to overcome sev- eral of the Wolverines' excellent individ- ual performances. Michigan received valiant efforts from sophomore Scott Vetere and junior captain Justin Toman. Vetere fired up a 9.95 on the pommel horse and a 9.925 on parallel bars while Toman performed a 9.9 routine on the rings in his first all- around meet of the season. Coming into the last rotation, the Wolverines led the Buckeyes by .075, and were soundly beating Illinois, the other participant in the tri-meet. Michigan posted a competitive 38.75 on the parallel bars, Michigan's strength coming into the meet. Needing to score a tough 9.85 just to tie, Natalie, ranked 'M' loses by closest of margins second in the nation on high bar with a season high of 9.925, hit a 9.9 routine. Toman cited the Wolverines' abysmal performance on the vault as the major reason for their downfall, as Michigan limped to a score of 37.025 on the event. "We pretty much gave the meet away on vault," Toman said The night before in Ann Arbor, Michigan defeated No. 2 Penn State and Minnesota in a home tri-meet. The Wolverines set a season-high in points with a 230.55, defeating Penn State's 227.3 and Minnesota's 223.425. This despite having only one gymnast, Toman, individually win an event. Friday, the Wolverines used their depth to wear out the highly touted Nittany Lions. After trailing Penn State after its first two rotations, Coach Kurt Golder's team turned on its championship form. Following a scintillating 39.0 event score on the rings, Michigan wrestled com- mand of the meet from the Lions, trump- ing their 227.3 meet score, as well as Minnesota's 223.425. "After the first two events, we decided amongst ourselves that we needed to pick things up," senior Tim Dehr said. Sophomore Bred Kenna rebounded from early-season struggles to score a 9.85 on still rings, tying te.ammate Scott Vetere's mark on the event. Admittedly over-anxious earlier in the season to overcome his nagging injuries, Kenna finally settled down to record his 4 itst performance of the season. Toman put up his best effort of the year on vault, hitting a 9.7 using his unconventional new routine. This came in addition to his 9.85 score on the floor exercise. But Toman, was dismayed at his performance on the pommel horse, as were the rest of his teammates. Michigan put up a disappointing 37.85 as Toman, Dehr, and freshman Jamie Hertza all fell from the horse. 4 Despite the hole they dug for them- selves on the horse, Michigan upped its intensity in the meet's last four event. As Michigan's tumblers turned up the dial, the Nittany Lions, boisterous and enthusiastic in the beginning of the meet, faltered mightily. They failed to top 38.0 in their last four events In summing the meet, coach :Kurt Golder expressed his satisfaction with the score of 230.55, despite several uncharacteristically low scores. "Things are going along with the plan, as we are hitting a little bit of a peak rigit now," Golder said. Although the Wolverines lost to Ohio State Saturday night, they should retain their No. I ranking for the third consec- utive week, as a result of Friday's score. Date Feb. 11-12 Feb. 19, Feb. 24 Feb. 26 March 4 March 10 March 17-18 *larch 30- April 1 Meet Winter Cup at Massachusetts Michigan State at Illinois at Santa Barbara with Oklahoma at Michigan State Big Ten . Championships. NCAA Championships r 1 tL Are you waiting too long to make your copies? Come to Dollar Bill. Our automated self-serve copiers have many features designed to get your projects done quickly and efficiently. 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