The Michigan Daily -- SportsMonday - February 21, 2000 - 38 'Grapplers learn to believe in rivalry By Jon Schwartz Daily Sports Writer COLUMBUS -- Maybe the wrestlers were wrong. After practice last Thutsday, several Michigan wrestlers vehemently denied Sany belief in wrestling's version of the Michigan-Ohio State rivalry. They claimed that it was great for football, but that it really didn't mean anything to them. That could be, but then another expla- nation would be needed for the strange atmosphere that dominated St. John Arena yesterday, as the Michigan grap- plers ended their dual meet season with a 22-15 victory over the Buckeyes. With yesterday's victory and the 20-17 Win at No. 21 Penn State on Friday night, Michigan upped its record to 12-3-1 and 3-0 on the various senior nights that they have wrestled in - home against Indiana, and in State College and Columbus. At Penn State, Michigan won a thrilling match. Dawn 17-10 with two matches left, 149-pound Mike Kulczycki recorded a major decision over Dave Martini, and in possibly the most shocking finish to date, Michigan's 157-pounder, Tony Holifield, notched a fall over Nate Wachter only 1:53 into the match, thrusting the Wolverines into the lead. But at Ohio State, the truth came out. The rivalry does exist, a reality that led many of the Michigan grapplers to go back on their words from the previous week. "There's a lot of emotion between Michigan and Ohio State," Michigan coach Joe McFarland said. "I don't care what sport you're in." The proof was found in the old arena, where things happened that would have been considered impossible on any other day. On any other day, 141-pound Matt Michalski would have been a huge underdog. On any other day, Joe Warren would probably be working himself back into shape in the 133-pound class after a six- week injury. And on any other day, a meet between the No. 7 team in the country and an unranked opponent wouldn't have been interesting at all. But yesterday wasn't just any day - it was Michigan-Ohio State day.. "There was a lot of fire today" Michalski said. And the fire manifested itself in the most unlikely of characters - Michalski himself. Filling in for Damion Logan in the 141-pound class, Michalski, usually a substitute in the 133 class, won his first dual meet of his career in what will also be his last college wrestling match - unless Logan is not healthy enough to wrestle in the Big Ten Championships, to be held in two weeks in West Lafayette. "I made up my mind that if this was going to be my last dual meet before I graduate, I want to go out on a high note," Michalski said. But for McFarland, Michalski's 13-3 major decision over Sean Petersen was almost magical. Acting like Michalski's father, the coach beamed over his finally victorious wrestler. "I was so happy for Matt," McFarland said. "What a way to go out." But Michalski's victory was just one of Michigan's shining moments. Warren, in only his fourth meet back from the knee injury, was able to pin Jesse Leng to put Michigan on top 6-3. For Warren, the recovery stage is over, and the pin was just proof of that. "I said it would take a few matches," he said. "Now I'm feeling like every- thing's starting to click." But the team also got a pin from 184- pound Andy Hrovat and decisions by Kulczycki and HWT Matt Brink to fin- ish Michigan's first two-win weekend in the Big Ten season. "I was happy with the way we per- formed," McFarland said. "Some of my guys are really coming together." T*J. BERKA Teeing Off I Berenson shouldfill athletic director slot gymnastics home stretch The Michigan men's gymnastics team is coming into the final stretch of its season ranked No. I. Here's a look at the defend- ing national champions' major matchups this season, and the challenges that lie ahead. Homecomings sweet for three M' wrestlers Date Jan. 15 Jan. 22 Jan. 29 Feb. 4 Feb. 5 Feb. 19 Date Feb.24 Feb. 26 Mar. 4 Opponent Rank Ohio State No. 2 Iowa No. 5. Illinois-Chicago No. 13 Penn State No. 2 Ohio State No. 3 Massachusetts No. 13 Result Loss, 224.9-225.725 Win, 228.825-225.625 Win, 226.575-222.425 Win, 230.55-227.3 Loss, 229.9.229.95 Win, 231.125-221.225 By Dan Williams Daily Sports Witer Event Michigan State at Big Tens at NCAAs Notable Last home meet - Michigan leads season series, 1-0. Michigan peaked at the perfect time last year and won it. Justin Toman led the Wolverines to a team title last year. Gymnasts victonous, retain top ranking By Dan Dingerson Daily Sports Writer Following a weekend without inter- collegiate competition and two weeks removed from its second loss of the season to Ohio State, the No. I -ranked Michigan men's gymnastics team trav- led to Amherst. Mass., with some- thing to prove. Despite coming into this weekend ranked No. I in the traditional point- derived poll. and in five events, the Wolverines found themselves behind Ohio State in the newly-instituted coaches poll. Although the team has a practice of not following the exploits of oppo- 9ents, the pollsters do. If the Wolverines could have kept track of meets going on simultaneously with theirs on Saturday, they would have seen that Ohio State was in the process of eclipsing Michigan's national sea- son-high score of 230.55 with a 230.725 mark While Michigan's score this week- end was certainly not a response to Ohio State's, it should serve as a mes- sage to the coaches who the top team in She nation is. The Wolverines reclaimed the sea- son's top score with a mark of 231.125, defeating Massachusetts, which posted a 221.225. The score was the best for the team not only because it was the highest of the year, but also because it was the most consistent performance. It also marked the largest margin of vic- tory for the Wolverines this year Michigan scored above 38.0 )n all *ix events for the first time this season. Up to this point, there has been at least one event in every meet that has kept high score. "Consistency is important to us," Michigan coach Kurt Golder said. "I was impressed with the way that we competed this weekend." Michigan completely dominated this weekend's meet. The team took four of the top five places in every event. and placed first in every event other than high bar. Junior co-captain Justin Toman paced the team with two event titles, in the floor exercise and parallel bars- both were school records. It was a strong performance by the entire team, though, that made it a successful meet. Scott Vetere, LaLo Haro and Daniel Diaz-Luong also won event titles, and 10 Wolverines placed in the top five of an event. Bryan Pascoe earned his Fet- ter by placing third in the pommel horse. Diaz-Luong was impressive in his first meet back from an ankle injury, which had sidelined him for the begin- ning of the season. In addition to win- ning the pommel horse, he finished third in the still rings, and fourth in the parallel bars. "He competed for the first time in six months, and won the event in his first routine," Golder said. "That just shows his talent, that he can come near the school record so early coming back." The Wolverines won the meet and set their high score despite not competing with their top lineup. Brad Kenna was out due to injury, Diaz-Luong missed his All-American event, the vault, and Vetere competed in only one event. "We definitely can still be better than this," Golder said. "We probably won't have our strongest lineup until Big Ten COLUMBUS - For three of Michigan's wrestlers, last weekend's vic- tories over Penn State and Ohio State were a little bit sweeter than your run-of- the-mill dual meet wins. Sophomore Andy Hrovat, freshman Mike Kulczycki and junior Jason Rawls shunned in-state universities in order to come north and don the maize and blue. This weekend was a chance for them to prove they made the correct choice. "They wanted to perform well," McFarland said. "They wanted to look good and represent Michigan well, and they did." For Cleveland native Andy Hrovat. Sunday's match against Ohio State's Donovan True clearly had more mean- ing. Even before he came to Michigan, Hrovat hated the Buckeyes. His disdain was compounded early in the dual meet when Ohio State coach Russ Hellickson attempted to have Hrovat's dad, Bob, thrown out of the arena for improper conduct. "As a coach, I think I have the right to get emotional, Hellickson said. "But I don't need to have someone on the side yelling obscenities and vulgarities and demeaning stuff." Bob Hrovat denied the allegations. "I didn't say anything that was deroga- tory to him or to his players," the elder Hrovat said. "That's why Andy is at Michigan, where a coach is a coach, not some guy who thinks he can fight the fans" An exceptionally motivated Hrovat proceeded to pin True in the first period. "I've hated Ohio State with a passion ever since I was a little kid,"Andy Hrovat said. "I'm not going to come back here and lose. This is my state." Sixteenth-ranked Mike Kulczycki also had extra incentive to return to his home state of Ohio and tally a victory against the Buckeyes. They never showed much interested in signing him to wrestle for Ohio State. "They never really looked at me or recruited me, Kulczycki said. "It's theiri loss" He succeeded in proving to Ohiol State that they made a mistake when hej overcame No. 15 Brian Roskovich, 6-2. Kulczycki controlled the match from the outset, and missed a major decision by a few close calls. For Harrisburg native Jason Rawls, the choice to attend Michigan rather than nearby Penn State was never difficult. Rawls has the perfect pedigree to wrestle at Michigan, having a father and two brothers that grappled for the "That's Why Andy is at Michigan, where a coach is a coach, not some guy who thinks he can fight the fans." - Bob Hrovat, Father of Michigan wrestler Andy Hrovat His Pennsylvania homecoming was bittersweet. He was able to overcome Penn State's Doc Vecchio I 1-8, taking the lead early and maintaining an edge throughout the match. "It was a pretty good match," Rawls said. "I put him to his back, and got the win with a few late take downs" But facing the Nittany Lions doesn't conjure extra feelings of contempt for Rawls. "I don't like Penn State." Rawls said, "But I feel about them like I feel about every other school in the Big Ten" For Rawls, playing in State College meant an unusual opportunity to have his family see him wrestle. But due to the inclemente weather in the Pennsylvania area, his relatives were not able to make the trip. "I just wish I had my family there:' Rawls said. "I don't get to see them that much." Besides the individual wins, the week- end was also meaningful for all three Wolverines because the team scored vic- tories over both Penn State and Michigan. They can return home with bragging rights over neighbors and friends. And although there isn't always bad blood, a wrestler only gets one or two chances in their collegiate career to return home vic- torious. "Some of these guys are almost con- sidered traitors," senior Mike Michalski said. "They want to come back and prove that we have the better program." Wen Tom Goss "resigned" as Michigan's athletic director on Feb. 8, it marked the cul- mination of a rocky four years in the athletic department. Ever since I arrived on this campus in September 1996, the athletic depart- ment has seen its share of chaos. Boosters with Ford Explorers, football players taking blue-light specials a little too far, forced resignations and allega- tions of dealings with - -- agents have allhaunted the heil athletic department. i When I was in high sch school, I thought Michigan thcr was the model of how Mich intercollegiate athletics should be handled. The the n Wolverines won a ton of how i games and sold truckloads legiat< of merchandise while ics sh keeping the program off har the police blotters and - away from the investigative reports. I would laugh haughtily as schools such as Nebraska, Florida State and Michigan State were dragged through the mud on Sportscenter due to viola- tions or overzealous athletes. But now when the phrase 'thug pro- grams' is mentioned, Michigan is on the tip of many people's tongues. This disturbs me greatly. Unfortunately, these negative points are out in the open for everyone to see. There are many reasons why this prob- lem has arisen, but one rises above the others in my opinion - lack of stabili- ty in the position of athletic director. The successor to Goss will be the third athletic director that Michigan has had since my parents have sent checks to the Office of the Registrar.. Joe Roberson was athletic director my freshman year, Goss served as boss the last two-and-a-half years, and Flippy von Slapalot will fill the post when Goss' tenure expires at the end of March. Three athletic directors in four years. That's poor no matter how you slice it. The lack of stability in the head posi- tion of any business is bound to cause problems. When you add that you are dealing with kids ranging in age from 18 to 22 and a governing body which is intent on finding any sort of violation - from new vehicles or a free super sizing of an extra-value meal -- the instability can cause problems. So when Michigan chooses its next AD, it should go with someone who will be a rock in the athletic depart- ment. That person: Michigan hockey coach Red Berenson. I know Berenson hasn't given any indication that the job interests him. For all I know, his chances of applying for h 0u 'ig no ins the position are about as good as the chance of me getting a date with Anna Kournikova. But Berenson is the best candidate for the job for many reasons. The pri- mary reason is that Berenson is a win- ner. Lost in the rubble that has become the men's basketball program is the national power that the hockey program has become under Berenson's watch. While Ed Martin has been buying birthday cakes, the hockey Iwas team has won two nation-. ti h al titles and been in six o, Iw Frozen Fours. And tht Berenson's team has done an wa this while graduating l was almost all of its players. idel o The hockey team hasnt terco t- faced any allegations of athiet- wrongdoing during my. Uld be time at Michigan. The r lied. only time that Michigan - - hockey players have been. in the local news is after games. In fact, the only member of the Michigan hockey program to get in trouble with the law during the past five years is Berenson, who got arrest- ed for public urination - a two-days- per-week offense for most college stu- dents. Berenson also has the intelligence necessary to fulfill the job of athletic director. While playing at Michigan in.. college, Berenson was in the Business School and got his M.B.A. early in his; NHL career. As a hard-nosed guy with a business degree, Berenson is more than quali- fied to handle the complicated budget issues that an athletic director has to deal with. Considering the deficit that occurred in Goss' reign, a guy like Berenson would be great to get thingsl back on track. The last, and possibly most impor- tant, reason that Berenson would be a great athletic director is his loyalty to Michigan. Ever since the days of Fielding Yost and Fritz Crisler, there has been an emphasis on hiring "Michigan mei" to coach here Berenson has been part of Michigan for four decades as a student, player, alum and coach. Berenson has manned the bench for the hockey team since' 1984, forsaking possible professional positions to coach at the school he loves. I would be greatly surprised if Red Berenson is the next athletic director. But if he is, it would be one hell of a move. - TJ Berka has ajersevfom Red Berensons hockey camp, even though he can 't skate worth a damn. He can be reached via email 'at berkaticumich.edu. I I >Do you have what it takes ? . -. Vahan's Clothing & Tailoring Student Special for shirt and ties 15404 front beach rd Panama city, fI 32413 850.234.6644 www.ho Iowayhouse. coim 1.800.346.4709 CIA Directorate of Operations Clandestine Service THE ULTIMATE INTERNATIONAL CAREER For the extraordinary individual who wants more than just a job, this is a unique career - a way of life that will challenge the deepest resources of your intelligence, self-reliance, and responsibility. 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