The Michigan Daily - Wednesday, December 6, 2000 -9 KGrant grows in Big Ten; avoids sophomore jinx By Job Singer Daily Sports %Vritcr A.J. Grant knows about the difficult ansition from high school to college. In high school, you are used to winning all the time, but you come to college and you get beat on a little bit," the sophomore srpd. Last year. Grant was the victim. This year he is the bully. After taking second place in this past weekend's Cliff Keen Las ,Vegas Invitational, Grant is 14-2 on the year. His runner-up finish was the best on the team - not badconsidering he didn't expect to start immedately when he tered Michigan last season. "I didn't plan on going varsity. I figured I'd redshirt." Grant said. G,'ant took abuse during the dual-meet scason en route to a 4-11 record in 1999- 2000. But as the meets got bigger, Grant got better. lie proved himself to be among the conference's best by taking fifth in the Big Ten Championships. Then he proved that he could compete on the national level by winning two matches at NCAAs. His improvements reflect on bettering his positioning with his feet. "Inli college. evervone goes after you." he said. "They don't care who you are. I am just staying in position and not letting peo- ple get in on my legs as much." Some thought top recruit Chris Rodrigues who also wrestles at 125 pounds - would take over Grant's starting spot right away. But Grant wasn't afraid. "I knew it was my spot last year and I just had to keep it"' Grant said. Michigan coach Joe McFarland lo\ es looking across the practice mat everyday in Crisler Arena and seeing the likes of Rodrigues. Grant and high ly regarded 133- pounder :oley Dowd going at each other. "(ireat wrestlers make other wrestlers great," McFarland said. "All these guys are pushing each other and their practices are that much better" HAWAII Continued from Page 8 will have some healing power as both swimmers are ke conipetitors in its NCAA fate. "Everybody's going," Urbanchek said. "The thought of going to Hawaii seems to cure everybody's illnesses. It seems like everybody gets healthy." After rigorous training in the Pacific, the Wolverines will fly to San Francisco for dual meets Jan. 5-6 against No. 3 Stanford and No. 5 California. "Stanford and Cal are going to be tough meets because we are going to be flying straight back from the harddst couple of weeks of training that we will be doing the whole year," captain Scott Werner said. "On the way back, we will probably only have a day or so to recowir-f With my experience two years ago, we didn't do so wel because we were pretty tired." Michigan won the meet last year against Stanfordbut a victory will not come without a struggle. None of the Cardinal's key swimmers graduated. The team was able to recruit more talented swimmers to its roster, making it even more of a challenge. "I don't know how that will shake out," Namesnik said. "Hopefully we will give them a good run. Chances arc, we probably won't beat those teams." But to briefly forget the pessimism, one can only be envious of the team's Hawaiian vacation. "It is secluded, but it will still be Hawaii," Werner said. "We will train outdoors and work on some good tans. And it's going to be a lot of fun." NORMAN NG/Daiy 125-pounder A.J. Grant has fought his way to a mark of 14-2 in his sophomore campaign. The Las Vegas tournament was the first time Grant placed highest on the team. McFarland believes the torch is being passed to Grant. "No doubt about it.'' McFarland said. "lle will probably be one of the future leaders of the team." One ofGrant's leadership qualities is the h igh aspirations he takes to the mat. "I definitely want to be in the top three in the Big Ten," Grant said. "I want to be an All-American." Despite their lack of success in Vegas, Grant knows many of his teammates will be at the top of their respective weight classes. "I had my bad weekend at Michigan State," Grant said. "This weekend was my time. Now I know I can wrestle with the big guys. "The big names are nothing but a name. ROEMENSKY #ntinued from Page 8 Roemensky's value. In even-strength sit- uAtions, Michigan has scored 14 more goals than its opponents have while he was on the ice. "He's just a solid overall defenseman? said Jeff Jillson, the anchor of Michigan's blue line. "He brings the puck out really well and plays good defense. You can always rely on him to play solid at both sides of the ice." The Wolverines are blessed with a *ethora of offensive firepower. But with the injuries to the blueliners, the team needs a way to stay in control defensive- * Coach Red Berenson sees that ability in Roemenskv. "He's nomally a reliable defensive defenseman and he gets the puck out of his own zone and has good defensive instincts." Berenson said. "That shows Lip in his plus/minus because he's not Ming up a lot of goals. "That's the kind of player that you need. They don't need to score a lot or have great statistics, but if they're not being scored on and they're doing their job in our zone, then they're important to o'ur team." -- -- - - - - Eyewitness West Bank & Gaza plus video footage Speaker: Sarah Flounders National co-director of the International Action Center Organizer of hurnanitarian and fact-finding delegation to the West Bank and Gaza Strip, late Oct. 2000 When: Thurs, Dec. 7, 7:30pm Where: Angell Hall Aud. C Lvent sponsors: American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee; Arab Students Association. International Action Center. Muslim Students Association. Palestine Committee P C 3 y . sr Badgers' Nick Davis 9trested for theft MADISON {U-WIRL) _ Wisconsina football player Nick Davis and a female friend were ,charged with felony retail theft Monday for allegedly stealing a $4,000 high-definition TV from a Madison Best Buy. Davis, 21, a junior wide receiver *d kick returner, and freshman Jenny Manikhan, 20, each face up to 15 years in prison and S10,000 in fines if convicted. According to the criminal con- plaint, Davis approached Manikham, a Best Buy cashier, and asked if she could "hook him up" with a TV The complaint states Manikham recorded and voided the purchase of a 38" RCA fiat-screen TV, but ye a copy of the receipt and a pur- chase order to Davis on Oct. 23. Davis, Manikham and several friends picked up the TV from the store on Oct. 24, and store officials noticed it missing with no record of purchase on Nov. I5. After locating the purchase order and voided transaction conducted by Maniklham, store officials con- 46cted police. Dupay Is back with Gators for State game GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) - Humbled and a little bit wiser, Florida guard Teddy Dupay earned his way back onto the team yester- day after a one-game suspension. Gators coach Billy Donovan «wldn't divulge whether Dupay 110l start tonight when No. 8 Florida plays at No. 2 Michigan State in a rematch of last year's national title game, but he said tlie junior guard w ild make the trip. "le took care of some things yes- terday and this morning," Donovan said. "Once he gets some final things completed, he'll make the trip and play." ADonovan wouldn't say what upay. had to do to earn his spot back after being suspended for "vio- lating team rules."' It seemed clear, hov ever, that Dupay apologized to tearnmates for the actions that led to his suspension last week. 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