8B - The Michigan Daily - SportsTuesday - January 16, 2001 2001 WOMEN'S PRESEASON COACHES POLL Rank 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. Team UCLA Georgia Michigan Utah Alabama Nebraska Stanford Louisiana State Penn State Florida Arizona State Orbgon State Denver West Virginia Brigham Young 2001 ROSTER Name Year Lenna Doolan So. Janessa Grieco So. Bridget Knaeble Sr. Amy Kuczera Jr. Shannon MacKenzie Jr. Christine Mantilia Fr. Erin McWatt Jr. Christine Michaud Sr. Melissa Peterson Jr. Elise Ray Fr. Jodie Rosenberg Jr. Alison Rudisi Jr. Calli Ryals Fr. Karina Senior Sr. Cami Singer So. Tara Tagliarino So. Head Coach: Bev Plocki Assistant Coach: Scott Sherman Assistant Coach: Paul Scardina Although she isn't competing in Sydney, and even though her team now wears Maize nd Blue instead of red, white and blue, freshman Olympian Elise Ray would not trade her spot on the Michigan women's gymnastics team for anything. On Nov. 22, Michigan coach Bev Plocki received word from the NCAA that Ray had been given clearance to compete for the Wolverines this season. "It was a very stressful time for me because Elise strung out her decision till the end," Plocki said. "But after I heard the news, I was so excited that I couldn't sleep all night." Ray, captain of the US women's gymnastics team in Sydney this past summer, began her career at a very early age in her hometown of Columbia, Maryland.. "I started when I was six," Ray said. "I enrolled in a small recreational class that wasn't even a gymnastics class to begin with. I just kind of had a knack for it, so the teachers there told my coaches that I should be put in a regular gymnastics pro- gram. I have been competing ever since." From that point on, everything has seemed to come easily to Ray. "My biggest obstacle growing up was not believ- ing in myself enough," Ray said. "Sometimes I would get frustrated and stuck if I couldn't get some- thing, and that didn't get me anywhere. But my coaches and teammates helped me a lot with that" In 1995, Ray began competing for the Hill's Gymnastics Club under the tutelage of coach Kelli Hill. Hill, two time winner of the USA Gymnas- tics Coach of the Year award, has also coached the world championships team on four separate occa- sions. Ray said that the time spent at Hill's was impor- tant because she could watch older gymnasts per- form and learn from an excellent coach. "I have anvays been kind of the baby in the group, so I have always liked watching older gym- nasts because they motivate me. "When I joined the club in 1995, Dominique Dawes was just starting to train for the 1996 Olympics. It was really cool to be training with her" Ray said. While competing with the club, Ray also attend- ed Wilde Lake High School where her days would often become very long and difficult. "Coach Hill was a firm believer in the public school system," Ray said. "It was hard, though, because I would go to gymnastics practice before school for an hour-and-a-half, then come back after school for five more hours." Still, all the hard work paid off for Ray. In 2000, it was her turn to step into the spotlight and lead the Olympic team into Sydney for the summer games. "The Olympics was an amazing experience," Ray said. "It was really hard when we were there, but the team as a whole was wonderful. We all got along really well and we became really good friends. Also, Sydney was a beautiful city, and we had a lot of fun. "One of the best moments was the Olympic tri- als. When we found out we had made the team, we went out on the floor, confetti and balloons dropped, and it was amazing" Ray struggled a bit, finishing 14th in the all- around and eighth on the balance beam. The 2000 Olympic Games was not the only major competition Ray participated in during her five years on the US National Team. In 1999, Ray traveled to China to compete in the gymnastics world championships. Prior to the Olympics, Ray competed in New Zealand as a member of the 2000 Senior Pacific Alliance Team. But after five years on the national team, Ray had to choose a college. For coach Plocki and assistant coach Scott Sherman, it was their time to shine. After one trip to Ann Arbor, and one in- house visit by Sherman, Ray was convinced. "Recruiting Elise was a challenge for us because we knew every school would have loved to have her," Plocki said. "She made recruiting trips to Michigan, UCLA and Utah. I think she fit in really well with the kids here - she was really down to earth." "UCLA was our biggest fear because they do an excellent job with recruiting, Sherman said. "But I think everything clicked for her here. She was a perfect fit with the athletes and the girls really wanted her here." Ray is looking forward to competing at the col- 2001 SCHEDULE Home meets in BOLD Date Jan. 6 Jan.12 Jan.19 Jan. 26 Feb. 2 Feb. 10 Feb 17 Feb. 23 Mar. 9 Mar.17 Mar. 24 Apr. 7 Apr. 19 Meet Time/Score Super Six fourth place Oregon State W,1sa-wSas Minn. and Iowa 7 p.m. Kentucky 7:30 p.m. Fla. and Auburn 7 p.m. Georgia 7:30 p.m. SE Missouri State 4 p.m. Utah 7 p.m. UCLA 7 p.m. West Virginia 7 p.m. Big Tens 6 p.m. NCAA Regionals 6 p.m. NCAAs TBD lege level because of the team-oriented atmosphere that surrounds it. "Elite level gymnastics, like the Olympics, focuses on the individual. You're kind of out there on your own when competing," Ray said. "At the college level there is so much team spirit and it is a lot more fun." With the addition of Ray, the women's gymnas- tics team hopes that they can finally capture the NCAA championship that has eluded it for many years. Michigan finished as runner-up in 1995 and 1999, its highest finishes ever. Ray, who passed up an opportunity to compete at the professional level by staying in Ann Arbor, will make her first start of the season this Friday night at home when the Wolverines host Minnesota and Iowa. "She is a wonderful gymnast, and a wonderful woman," Plocki said. "We hope that she can bring pleasure to all of our fans." 'M'routs Beavers at home By Chris Burke Daily Sports Wrter on the Home meets in 2000 RESULTS Meet Super Six Challenge Minnesota Michigan State Kentucky Michigan Classic Georgia Georgia Maryland UCLA Illinois-Chicago UC-Santa Barbara Florida Bowling Green Big Tens BOLD Score Third place W, 195.175-1932 W,29S7592.85 W, L97.5I9.06 First place L 197.55196.8 W, 19727S93 L, 197.575-196.975 W, 196.975-192.5 W, 196.9751$$.95 W,197.075-14.5 W,mm5 75 First place gymnasts' A look at some of Michigan's best and brightest competitors Photos by Brandon Sedloff Senior tri-captain Bridget Knaeble leads the Michigan attack this season. She will compete in the all-around. 2000 NCAA RESULTS 1. UCLA 2. Utah 3. Georgia 4. Nebraska 5. Alabama 6. MICHIGAN 197.300 196.875 196.800 196.725 196.500 195.725 1999 NCAA RESULTS A first team All- American on vault last year, sophomore Janessa Grieco is one of the most consistent scorers on the Michigan roster. 1. Georgia 2. MICHIGAN 3. Alabama 4. Arizona State 5. UCLA 6. Nebraska 196.850 196.550 195.950 195.900 195.850 194.800 2000 ALL-AMERICANS m Sarah Cain (all-around, vault, balance beam, uneven bars) EJanessa Grieco (vault) Christine Michaud (vault) SShannon MacKenzie (balance beam) After taking first place honors In the all-around against Oregon State, senior Karina Senior will try to repeat her success of 2000. Senior was crucial to last year's Big Ten and Regional titles. Calli Ryals combines with three other freshmen to make up one of the most talented recruiting classes in Michigan history. This weekend in its first home meet of the year, the No. 3 Michigan women's gymnastics team had an opportunity to display its potent mix of new faces and experienced leaders. The Wolverines did not disappoint. Paced by seniors Karina Senior and Bridget Knaeble and freshman Calli Ryals, the Wolverines downed No. 12 Oregon State 194.075-190.925 in front of 1,061 fans at Cliff Keen Arena on Fri- day night. "This is a starting point," Michigan coach Bev Plocki said. "We will contin- ue to build on it, and try and work out the kinks. I feel good about it, though." Senior led Michigan with an all- around score of 39.125, good enough to take first place individually. She was fol- lowed closely by Ryals and Knaeble, who finished second and third, respec- tively, with scores of 39.000 and 37.825. "Winning the first home meet is moti- vational for the whole season," said Senior. "It's important, not only for the team, but for the fans." After strong showings on the vault and bars, Michigan ran into trouble on the beam. Two falls had to be counted against the team's top five scores. But junior Shannon MacKenzie finished the event strong for the Wolverines, posting a 9.750. The score was good enough to extend the Wolverines' tenuous lead at the time, and also gave Michigan some needed confidence heading into the night's final rotation. "It's important for the person after someone falls to do well," MacKenzie said. "It's just important to come through for the team" Oregon State hung with Michigan through the first two rotations, but two injuries severely hampered the Beavers' cause. The- second injury, sustained by sophomore Tanya Ricioli on the floor, effectively ended the Beavers' hope of winning the match. "Anytime you see a peer go down, it makes you count your blessings," Plocki said. "It's terrible, and it definitely has an effect." Michigan finished the evening on the floor and put together its best rotation of the evening, tallying a 49.275. With the score, the Wolverines were more than able to finish off the Beavers. Ryals, in her home debut, led the way with a 9.900 -good for second place. "It was a little nerve-wracking but it went well," Ryals said of competing in her first home meet. "We all tried to stay positive, and just get everyone hyped up and ready to go" BALANCED ATTACK Michiaan event winners against 6 i PREVIEW Continued from Page 1B leaders of the squad. Michaud earned first team All-America honors on vault last year, while Knaeble scored second team All-America on the uneven bars and will compete as an all-around per- former this year. Senior will also compete in the all-around with a second team All-America recognition already under her belt in the floor exercise. "I think it's going to take a little bit longer for this team to come together," Senior said. "It'll happen though. We've got a lot of leaders that have been here and some new younger leaders as well." One of those young leaders is sophomore Janessa Grieco. One year removed from Big Ten Freshman of the Year hon- ors, Grieco also earned first team All-America on vault and could be a force in the all-around this season. Grieco was given an opportunity to earn her spot on the team last year, as she took part in three event at NCAA's. "I really learned how to compete with the team," Grieco said. "I've learned how to go out there and be confident." Junior Shannon MacKenzie was the fourth Wolverine to be named first-team All-America, earning her honor on the balance beam. Fellow juniors Amy Kuczera, Melissa Peter- son and Erin McWatt also will look to break their way into the lineup, along with Jodie Rosenberg, a tri-captain of the team with Knaeble and Michaud. Sophomores Lenna Doolan, Cami Singer and Tara Tagliarino join Grieco as the second-year members of the 61 B"A"DON "EL" F " /Dily The floor exercise will perhaps be the key event that the Wolverines will need to excel in this season. FLOOR EXERCISE: Senior will lead the way on this event, possibly the strongest for Michigan. The team turned in