2B - The Michigan Daily - SportsMonday - Monday, September 18, 2000 _ CLUBSWEEKLY Edite byd h-v Jf Philps Table tennis star prepares Wor champ1onshp run While most Wolverines were tak- ing final exams last year, Ashoo Jain and Robert Billington of Michigan's club table tennis team were busy rep- resenting at the Associate College Unions International Tournament in Houston, Texas. By upsetting defending champion Brian Pace, Jain proved to be the best single collegiate player in the country. Jain is currently ranked fifth in the country for players under age 22, but his aspirations are set higher. "I was ranked number one in both the under-16 and under-18 leagues," Jain said. "So my sights are set on being the top-ranked player in the 'under-22 division." Billington also fared well in a lower level of competition, making it to the semifinal match in Division D. Being the best isn't just limited to individual players on the club. As a team, Michigan won the national championship in 1997, the last time a collegiate tournament was held. Though the club has members with some incredible talents, it is open to anyone interested in table tennis. The team plays at The Coliseum (across from Elbel Field on the cor- ner of Hill and Division) every Monday through Thursday from 7-9 p.m. Monday nights are for competitors of beginning to intermediate levels, Tuesdays have an instructional emphasis, Wednesdays call for the high-level players, and Thursdays are a free-for-all open to anyone who wants to play. - Dave Roth Knight might return ST. LOUIS (AP) - Bob Knight thinks he could return to coaching - in college or the pros -- as soon as next miionthl. "It isn't for sure I'm not going to be coaching by Oct. 15," Knight said, referring to the start of college prac- tice. "I've got some things I can do. I've got to see what commitment I can make." Knight, fired as Indiana's basketball coach, spoke Saturday in St. Louis, where he was attending the Cardinals' game against the Chicago Cubs. He is close friends with St. Louis manager Tony La Russa and trainer Barry Weinberg. Ever the coach, Knight helped out injured Cardinals pitcher Andy Benes in a simulated game, stepping to the plate for an at-bat. Knight struck out. "I was hoping he'd be a little more upbeat," La Russa said. "That's a lot of trauma. Twenty-nine years." Knight said he has offers from col- lege and professional teams, including the Indiana Pacers. Isiahi Thomas, a former Indiana star, is replacing Larry Bird as the Pacers' coach this season. Ex-Laker Rice to sign with Chicago CHICAGO (AP) - The Chicago Bulls couldn't land Eddie Jones, Grant [ill, Tracy McGrady, Tim Duncan or Tim Thomas in this sum- mer's free agent sweepstakes, but they are nearing a deal with Glen Rice. A source close to the Bulls, speak- ing on condition of anonymity, said Saturday that Rice, who played on the Lakers' NBA championship team last season, was close to signing. Reports say it would be a one-year deal worth about 57.5 million. The 33-year-old forward averaged 15.9 points last season but was unhap- py with his playing time and his diminished role in the postseason. A three time All-Star, Rice has a career average of 20.2 points. Who: Courtney Reno Sport: Golf Year: Junior Hometown: Grosse lie r ATHLETE OF THE WEEK E - Why: Reno shot 78-75-78 to win the Wolverine Invitational at Michigans home course. The 54-hole performance was good enough for a three-stroke victory over Baylor's Hanna Svenningson. Reno's medalist performance helped the Wolverines' "Blue' team to a seconi-place finish, nine strokes behind champion Baylor. 0 M' schedule Today Men's golf at Inverness Intercollegiate, all day Tomorrow Field hockey vs. Miami (Ohio), 3 p.m. Men's golf at Inverness Intercollegiate, all day Wednesday, Sept. 20 Volleyball at Michigan State, 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 22 Women's soccer vs. Wisconsin, 4 p.m. Field hockey at Indiana, 5 p.m. Men's tennis at Notre Dame Invitational, all day M' assembling solid class despite setbacks Men's rugby squad pounds Ferris State at Palmer Field Saturday, Sept. 23 Men's golf hosts Wolverine Invitational, all day Women s cross country at William and Mary Invitational, 10 a.m. Men's cross country at Huskie Invitational, 11 a.m. Men's soccer at Penn State, 3 p.m. Football at Illinois, 6:30 p.m. Women's golf at Mary Fossum Invitational, East Lansing, all da Men's tennis at Notre Dame Invitational. all day 0 By David Mosse Daily Sports Writer With a home crowd of nearly 200 fans, the Michigan men's college rugby club A-side defeated Ferris State 23-10. The A-side battered Ferris State, dominating nearly every aspect of the game. '"We were able to get the ball whenever we wanted," club member Mike Cavnar said. The A-side was faster to the ball than the Bulldogs, beating them on their own lineouts, and pushing them back on scrums. Lincouts and scrums are the ways the possession is decided in rugby, -much like throw-ins in soccer and face-offs in hockey. "They had an inexperienced thrower (on line-outs) and we took advantage," Cavnar said. The club was perhaps motivated by the home crowd. After falling to Michigan State last week, they returned home to a welcome gather- ing, as well as the elder men's rugby club - who serve as mentors the college club. "They have a big role in teaching the younger players," Cavnar said. The college club is reserved for Michigan undergraduates and play- ers aged younger than 25. The men's club is open to older players who can take the beating - including players as old as 45. "It was nice for the men's club to stick around and cheer us on," Cavnar said. The men's club has many former college club members, which helps the college learn the game well. The B-side also won for the club, showing promise for the seasons to come. The next home match for the club will be Sept. 30 against Bowling Green State on Palmer Field. For more information contact Aaron Bennett at aCbCenttC(wllch.edl. - - Jeff Phillips Drew Henson has vet to start a game in a Michigan uniform, and the pressure is already growing to find his successor. A pressure made even greater by the possibility of lenson bolting after this season to pursue baseball full-time. While Michigan coach Lloyd Carr continues to reel in top-notch recruits, the Wolverines have yet to sign a bonafide signal caller for the future. But it hasn't been for a lack of trying,. In 1999 Carr strongly pursued Leff Smoker from Manheim, Penn., regarded as the second-best quarter- back in the country by recruiting spe- cialist Rivals.com. Smoker chose Michigan State over Michigan and this past Saturday made his first career start, leading the Spartans to a 13-10 victory at Missouri. This summer the Wolverines went after a pair of blue-chippers: Casey Paus, the younger brother of injured UCLA quarterback Cory Paus, and Matt Leinart. Michigan appeared to have the inside track on Paus. from New Lenox, Ill. But a visit to Washington turned the tide and soon after Paus committed to the Huskies. Lienart, from Santa Ana, Calif., was pursued by virtually every top school in the country and eventually whittled down his choices to Michigan and Southern Cal. After CLUB SPORTS The Michigan Daily accepts club sports scores until 4 p.m. Sunday, for print in Club Sports Weekly. Email results to dailyclubsports@umich.edu, or call the sports desk at 647 -3336. several weeks of waffling back and forth between the two schools, the pressure to stay home was too strong and Leinhart opted for the Trojans. The latest setback came this past week when Owen Daniels, a talented prospect from Naperville. Ill., com- mitted to Wisconsin, though Michigan had yet offer him a scholar- ship. So what's left for the Wolverines'? Michigan did receive an intriguing verbal committment from a quarter- back this summer - left-hander Spencer Briton, currently on a two- year Mormon mission. Briton was a highly touted prospect in 1997, ranked No. 10 in the country by PrepStars and the No. 4 pro-style quarterback by The National Recruiting Advisors. lie shocked observers by choosing San Diego State over such schools as Ohio State, and actually started five games for the Aztecs his freshman season before being released from his scholarship to pursue his Mormon mission. He returns next May and has three years of college eligibility remaining. Michigan is still involved with superstar quarterback Joe Mauer from St. Paul, Minn, rated the third- best quarterback in the country by Rivals. But Mauer, a standout base- ball player, is looking to play both sports in college, so he will have to be sold on Michigan's baseball pro- gram if he is to commit to the Wolverines. In spite of the quarterback woes, Michigan is enjoying a stellar recruit- ing season. The latest blue-chipper to Oive Lloyd Carr'a commitment was Pennsylvania's Tim Massaquoi, rated the No. 2 tight end in the country by Rivals. Massaquoi is also ranked in the top 100 list by CNNSI.com and FoxSports.com. But where Michigan has held itself the most is on the defensive side of the ball. Two of the top 10 defensive backs in the country. safety Ernest Shazor and corner Marlin Jackson, are head- ed to Michigan, as are linebacker Scott Mcklintock and defensive end Dave Spytek, who should help Michigan rebuild its front seven. Sunday. Sept. 24 Men's golf hosts Wolverine Invitational, all day Field hockey vs. Ohio State, noon Women's soccer vs. Minnesota, 1:30 p.m. Volleyball at Ohio State, 2 p.m. Women's golf at Mary Fossum Invitational, East Men's tennis at Notre Dame Invitational, all day Yesterday's scores AMERICAN CONFERENCE East W L T Pct PF N.Y. Jets 3 0 0 1.000 67 Buffalo 2 1 0 .667 57 Indianapolis 1 1 0 .500 58 Miami 1. 1 0 .500 30 New England 0 2 0 .000 35 Central - W LT Pct PF Baltimore 2 0 0 1.000 55 Jacksonville 2 1 0 .667 76 Cleveland 2 1 0 .667 54 Tennessee 1 1 0 .500 30 Cincinnati 0 2 0 .000 20 Pittsburgh 0 2 0 .000 7 West W L T Pct PF Denver. 2 1 0 .667 111 Oakland 2 1 0 .667 71 Seattle 1 2 0 .333 54 Kansas City 1 2 0 .333 70 San Diego 0 3 0 .000 43 Pittsburgh 20 PA Cleveland 23 49 58 Philadelphia 3 52 Green Bay 6 13 41 Buftfalo 14 NY Jets 27 PA 36 Cincinnati 0 46 Jacksonville I3 54 30 Denver 33 39 37 Oakland 24 Minnesota 21 PA New Endland 79 70 Tampa Bay 31 74 Detroit 10 79 3 Lansing, all day I 13 NATIONAL CONFERENCE East W L T N.Y. Giants 3 0 0 Arizona 1 1 0 Washington 1 1 0 Philadelphia 1 2 0 Dallas 0 2 0 ?: t } } REC SPORTS N TRAMURA L S The University of Michigan Department of Recreational Sports INTRAMURAL SPORTS PROGRAM WHAT'S HAPPENING Central Tampa Bay Minnesota Detroit Green Bay Chicago West St. Louis Atlanta Carolina New Orleans San Francisco w 3 2 2 1 0 W 3 2 1 1 0 L 0 0 1 2 3 L 0 1 2 2 3 T 0 0 0 0 0 T 0 0 0 0 0 Pct 1.000 .500 .500 .333 .000 Pct 1.000 1.000 .667 .333 .000 Pct 1.000 .667 .333 .333 .000 PF 68 48 30 62 45 PA 41 52 32 53 73 PF 93 43 39 40 34 PF 119 65 65 48 74 PA 26 34 51 50 85 Sarn Franciico 24 St. Louis 41 Atlanta 15 Carolina 10 San Die<"o 10 Kansas City 42 NY Giants 14 Nlew Orleans 10 Seattle 20 Baltimore Miami, inc. . I I ROLLER HOCKEY ENTRIES DUE: Thurs 9/21, 4:30 PM, IMSB ENTRY FEE: $50 per team MANAGER'S MEETING: MANDATORY Thurs 9121, 7:00 PM, IMSB TOURNAMENT DATES: Saturday 9/23 & Sunday 9/24 Elbel Pad r ULTIMATE FRISBEE ENTRIES DUE Weds 9/20, 4:30 PM, IMSB ENTRY FEE: $35 per team MANAGER'S MEETING: MANDATORY Thurs 9/21, 6:00 PM, IMSB TOURNAMENT DATES: Fri, Sat & Sun 9/22, 23 & 24 Mitchell Fields PA 94 80 57 61 115 cl - - updated as of 1 P.m. \esterday VF I Nt / Consider Living This Fall in THE STUDENT HOUSING CO-OPS Approx. $400/month Includes utilities, laundry, parking, social activities and all the food you can eat. 662-4414 Student Owned - Democratically Run Getting wild The leaders for the American. League and National League . wild-card spots: e nd 79 66 - Oakland 79 67 .5 Boston 78 70 2.5 Toronto 78 71 3 NY ets 85 64 - Arizona 79 68 5 t { / i TEAM TENNIS ENTRIES DUE Weds 9/20, 4:30 PM, IMSB ENTRY FEE: $25 per team MANAGER'S MEETING: MANDATORY Thurs 9/21, 6:30 PM, IMSB TOURNAMENT DATES: Fr, Sat & Sun 9/22, 23 & 24 UM Varsity Tennis Center Located on South State Street TRACK & FIELD MEET ENTRIES DUE: Tues 10/3, 4:30 PM, IMSB ENTRY FEE: $25 per team $5 per individual MANAGER'S MEETING: MANDATORY Tues 10/3, 6:00 PM, IMSB MEET DATE: Thurs 10/5, UM Varsity Track "/ TO THE EIGHTEEN '31 E SCHOLARS WHO WILL BE WEARING THIS PIN ON THE CAMPUS THIS FALL ,;Ar < SEAN AUGENSTEIN PHILIP CHERDRON BRIAN HO-YIN CHEUNG MEAGAN E. FLYNN JARED MARUSKIN CARRIE PETERSON BRIAN WALBY DEREK STEELE JEANNE WHALEN Eric T. Carlson Kacy Beitel Daniel C. Berkenstock Patrick J. Goleski Jeffrey E. Harrington Christopher Kierkintveld Crystal J. Kornak Nathan J. Payne Katherine Po lasek 6 Il...a. 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