The Michigan Daily - Tuesday, November 28, 2000 - 13
op high school wrestlers work endlessly to perfect their
technique. They throw on excessive layers of clothing
and run their hearts out because making weight is
atory. They wrestle against the best, they wrestle against
ier competitors. And when all is done, some get their
rd.
was like a dream come true" Michigan's 165-pound
man Steve Sentes said.
was not referring to winning prestigious tournaments
as the state title or national title. He was talking about the
d of walking into the wrestling practice room for the first
as a Wolverine.
The early days
Sentes will probably not be part of the Wolverines' starting
lineup this season. The team is loaded with veteran leaders,
returning All-Americans and even possible national champions.
No true freshman is expected to start at Michigan, which is an
unfamiliar position for Sentes and 125-pounder Shaun Newton.
"h's weird because I've never wrestled anyone for a position
don't know how to act around that person when I am
kt to wrestle them," Sentes said.
aid Newton: "College actually makes me feel as though I
earning how to wrestle all over again, and I have to start at
bottom"
e stages of a wrestler's body development is also a factor
in the transition.
"You are wrestling guys that are physically stronger"
Michigan coach Joe McFarland said. "They are a little more
mature and two to four years older than you. Some guys make
the transition, some guys don't. It's a whole new level. No ques-
tion about it."
Sentes feels he no longer has a training advantage that he
:enjoyed in high school.
.".1was just one of the hardest working kids on my team. Now
feel like everyone works the same and I don't really feel like I
.a doing anything different."
tA difference between high school and college wrestling
in the practice room.
verall the intensity level is a lot higher," Michigan's 157-
Md freshman Ryan Bertin said. "You are wrestling a lot
tougher guys and you have got to be ready to pick it up to anoth-
er level."
Prior Preparation
Bertin and 125-pounder Chris Rodrigues, both state champi-
ns last year. are the most highly regarded freshmen among the
olverines. Bertin is from St. Edwards High School a
wrestling factory in Ohio that also produced Michigan's 149-
pound starter, Mike Kulczycki.
"I came from a program where the style was kind of a col-
style," Bertin said. "I was pretty well adept when I got
spite winning three prep school national championships. a
ge in style was necessary for Rodrigues. "When I first got
lit was totally different," Rodrigues said. "I wrestled more
the outside. I had more of these crazy moves that people
vdidn't know and I could trick people up. but these guys
'hey know all that, everyone knows that here."
=crtin and Rodrigues join the rest of Michigan's true fresh-
n in the redshirt boat. Both are happy to be in that situation.
know that if I started right now I would not be the best that
OSS On in
nued from Page 10O n i
verines finished second at both
$Sundodger Invitational and the By Ryan C. Moloney
nrav Keatinge Invitational and Daily Sports Wtr
e their strongest showing at the
A regional, where they finished Six minutes and 3
'nth out of 31 teams. second period Satur
arhurst felt that since all of the man Bob Gassoff s
Ehmen had success at one point glided over to the ce
'mg the season was promising for blueline, whirled aroi
4x vear's cross country team. to the Wolverines' b
With the commitments of Nathan Gassoff's xenture
nen of Preston High School in play was stopped be.
.m bridge, Ont. and Alan Webb of Minnesota zone. Gia
th Lakes High School in Reston. the bench for the rest
two of the top prep milers in to record any reguat
thAmerica - and the return of Though Gassoff
siewski, Warhurst is excited for bench presene thro
ssibilities of next year. "DNP" is all the rec
"The bottom line is that I thought for it. Michigan co
We ended the season on a high note," strategy to compen
urst said. "All I can say is wait maligned defense cco
1I next year." ter on a five-defense
'Its not fair to
inning on empty? played enough to b
--ning n- speed of this game"
Is year saw several of last season's Michigan's 4-1 wi:
3ss country regulars watch from the "You'd hate for hir
liines as redshirt s Perhaps an inter-
ALEX WDU LKAay
Chris Rodrigues (left) and Ryan Bertin (second from right) face tough obstacles in practice each day. As freshman, they have to deal with abuse from the elder Kyle Smith (second from left) and Andy Hrovat (far right
I could be" Rodrigues said. "I know now that I can come in the nity to develop into an All-America, or perhaps even national lcing a part of the wrestling team definitely can be advanla-
next four years after this and I will be better than if I would have champion caliber wrestler. Rodrigues and Bertin both have that geous when making this adjustment.
started this year. level of raw potential. "The guys are really supporting and helpful," Rodrigues said.
Said Bertin: "I wouldn't be upset if I started" he said. "But "We all hang out. That is the one thing I noticed when I went bn
there are a lot of good guys here and it will be a good vea' of Life off the mat all my college visits. At other schools I was with one or twof
learning for me. It's a nice option, to have." Finally, once all is taken care of on the mat, wrestlers still them at the same time. At Michigan, if I was with one ofthem
Folev Dowd knows that redshirting can be very beneficial. have to adjust to academics and social life at Michigan. I was with all of them. It's like a big family it really is."
Last year NCAA third-place finisher Joe Warren started at 133 "The schedule is pretty structured. Wrestling and academics In addition to a family away from home, there arc m
pounds while Dowd redshirted, takes up a huge part of their day,' McFarland said. "You should- incentives to wrestling at Michigan.
"After a year of wrestling, redshirting or not, you're going to n't have much time for a social life. Some days we have morn- "You get rewards when you put in those days," McFarland
come in the first couple of practices with a lot more confi- ing practice, school, afternoon practice, study tables. said. "You become an All-American, a national champion, you
dence," Dowd said. "I think I would have done well last year (if Sometimes you have to finish up papers, and then you have to get a great degree from the University of Michigan, what more
I'd started). If you don't redshirt you still get a lot better." start the whole day over again" can you say? It's a huge commitment but it is a very rewarding
Redshirts are expected to pay their way to open tournaments. Even with a structured day, life off the mat takes getting used experience.:
"Sometimes those guys can get as many matches in as the var- to. This year's freshmen can definitely help the Michigan
sity guvs," McFarland said. "They have to do that stuff on their "Social life is what is killing me," Rodrigues said. "In high wrestling program do something special.
own. I say to the parents when I'm recruiting that I'm going to school I was kind of the party guy. I still am (a party guy) here, "They are going to appreciate the effort that they put r"
want their son competing." but I'm toning it down. The classes are bigger, but I wouldn't McFarland said. "Right now they are preparing themselves for
The situation with Warren and Dowd that year was an ideal say tougher. Only the math is tougher because the teacher later on. To meet those challenges later. It is a transition going
situation for Mcarland It we the then-freshmen an onnortu- speaks in Russian and you can't understand what she is saying" from high school and developing into men."
:fit lAdt IV II IVI YILL "I IUlIi3. It Lt- a+t4., at + . ++ a a Y...+a +"a. v a a -. -uI v -
jury-plagued defense, Gassoff plays roll with pride
33 seconds into the
day night. defense-
epped onto the icc,
iter of the Michigcan
und and skated back
ench.
took place while
Ifore a faceoti' in the
assOff remained on
of the game, II iing
tion time on the ice.
remained a vocal
ughout the game. a
ord books will shoe-
ach Red Berenson's
sate for an injur\-
orps appears to cen-
man system.
Gassoff, he hasn't
e in svnc with the
Berenson said after
in over Minnesota.
m make a mistake.
especially if it's close -obviously it was
a close game, so we felt we had to play
with our top five."
The decision meant more minutes for
Michigan's top defenseman. Jeff .lillson.
The junior played approximately 28-
and-a-half minutes against Minnesota,
including over 10-and-a-half minutes in
the third period.
The Michigan defense showed little
evidence of fatigue in both weekend
Fames, but there is a possibility of
overuse, as defensemen Dave
Huntzicker and Brad Fraser are both out
with MCL injuries for at least another
five weeks.
Berenson said he wants to include
Glassoff in the lineup but said the senior
"hasn't earned our confidence yet."
Jillson is a staple on special teams and
because of the injuries, his presence in
even strength and in tight, third period
situations is warranted. Huntzicker was
one of Michigan's 'best penalty killers
and the team resorted to a collective
effort to replace him. Jay Vancik and
freshman Andy Burnes were both penal-
tv kill fixtures over the weekend games.
"Andy Burnes was a man out there,"
Berenson said, "and Jay Vancik was
solid.
But Berenson still prefers a six-
defenseman rotation.
Gassoff played roughly six minutes in
Michigan's 3-2 victory against
Wisconsin Friday night -- none on spe-
cial teams. ie started slowly in his first
two shifts, getting his legs tangled up and
falling to the ice at one instance.
A little past the midway point of the
second period, Gassoff was about to
leave the ice when Wisconsin broke out
of their end with a potential odd-man
opportunity. Gassoffsmartly skated back
to his defensive post and helped fend off
an offensive chance.
Yesterday, Gassoff was lighthearted
and diplomatic about his current status
- he remains content to contribute in
any way on the ice.
"I'm not at all (disappointed),"
Gassoff said. "Any time the team is suc-
cessful it's tough to be disappointed. We
got into a situation pretty early into the
game on Saturday against an offensively
explosive team ... the coaches wanted to
shorten the bench a little bit and'put the
guys out there who probably have a few
more goals in their past than I do.
"That's the way it goes sometimes. It's
funny, you don't have to play in the game
to make a difference - if you pick team-
mates up verbally and support them it.
goes a long way.
Nov. 27 standings
Team Record Pts
1. Michigan State 10-1-2 598
2. North Dakota 10-2-4 527
3. Boston College 11-3-0 483
4. New Hampshire 10-3-0 448
5. Michigan 10-3-2 424
6. Western Mich. 10-1-2 416
7. Minnesota 9-3-2 391
8. Providence 7-2-3 282
9. Colorado College 8-3-1 280
10. St. Cloud 8-3-1 267
It seems lie the only constant these days n the
USCHO1 poll is that Michigan State has not been
dethroned as No. 1. While North Dakota did pick
up two first-place votes this week, the Spartans
brought home the other 38. Three COHA tea ms
are represented in the top 10,.with Michiganmov-
ing up two spots after sweeping Minnesota and
Wisconsin in the College Hockey Showcase.
i
,
I
.-ing choice by cc
L t year's team fa
4 AA Championsh
uad. A comparis
LAST YEAR
ay Cantin - 13th place
* Mike Wisniewski - 26
* Mark Pilja - 43
.even Lawrence - 60
John Butsic - 140
Team finish:
5th of 31
eligible for this season
oach Ron Warhurst?
ared far better in the
ips than this season's
THIS YEAR
Mark Pilja - 17th place
Team finish:
no team score
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U of M
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