14 - The Michigan Daily - Tuesday, March 6, 2001
Senior tankers
leave school
on high note
By Kristen Fidh
Daily Sports Writer
Neither one has ever taken home an individual Big
Ten Championship plaque. In fact, neither has even
earned a top-five finish in a conference final.
A week ago, two senior swimmers on the Michigan
team hung their hats - successfully.
"The graduating seniors swam just the way we like
to see them end their career," Michigan men's swim-
ming coach Jon Urbanchek said.
G.J. Zann and Mike O'Connor made huge splashes
in their final performances, finishing their respective
races with personal-best times. After the Big Ten
Championship on Feb. 22-24, the two officially ended
their careers.
"Both G.J. and Mike finished their careers with the
highest note you can find in swimming," Urbanchek
said. "They both earned their personal bests at the Big
Ten Championship - our biggest meet of the season.
It was huge for them."
Zann, who did not compete last season, shed five
seconds off his personal best in the 200-yard breast-
stroke to finish third in the consolation heat, 11th
overall, with a time of 2:00.62. The next day, he
repeated his racing success with another personal best
time of 55.74 in the 100 breaststroke, touching second
in the consolation heat, finishing 10th overall.
"The races were exciting," Zann said after the tour-
nament. "I had never finished that high, and it was
great having all the guys yell for me on the sides."
O'Connor finished the 1650-yard freestyle with a
time of 15:29.85, taking 1 lth place overall and earn-
ing six points towards the Wolverine's runner-up fin-
ish.
This was over 12 seconds faster than his ninth-place
finish in 2000.
Baseball's MVP now*
playing in pinstripes
Senior G.J. Zann dives into the water in the 100-yard breaststroke consolation heat in the Big Ten
Championships two weeks ago. Zann finished 10th overall with a personal-best time of 55.74.
"I'm happy with it," O'Connor said after the race.
"It was nice to finally get some points."
But the senior had been earning points outside of
the water since he first came to Michigan.
For the past three years, O'Connor has earned both
Academic All-Big Ten honors and Michigan Athletic
Academic Achievement. In addition, he is one of only
two swimmers that has ever been accepted to
Michigan's business school.
"He is an exceptional student, and it just shows that
swimmers can have excellent academics as well as be
wonderful athletes," Urbanchek said.
Neither Zann nor O'Connor qualified for the
NCAA Championships, but each will pass a virtue on
to the team's underclassmen that characterizes
Michigan's standard of constant improvement.
Both swimmers slimmed their racing times
throughout their four years, ending on a high note -
a moral victory.
"Because they had such significant improvement in
their times, they swam exactly, the way we like to see
all seniors go out," Urbanchek said. "They left their
mark during their time at Michigan, and we are proud
of them."
By Steve Jackson
Daily Sports Writer
DUNEDIN, Fla. - While the
Wolverines opened their season in
Lakeland, Fla., the World Champion
New York Yankees were starting their
2001 campaign just down the road.
And Michigan's MVP from last sea-
son, David Parrish, was with them -
making his professional debut in
pinstripes.
Parrish, one of six catchers in
Yankee camp, wore the number 89
on his back - broadcasting his sta-
tus as a non-roster invitee.
"I just want to take full advantage
of this opportunity before I go back
to the minor league complex,"
Parrish said.
Although David, son of current
Detroit Tigers third base coach
Lance Parrish, was far from the
biggest name on the team, crowds
still gathered to get his autograph.
"You better put that in a box some-
where," one man told his grandson.
"That'll be worth something some-
day."
But Parrish wasn't in town to just
soak up the limelight. He was there
to learn.
"I've been doing anything I can,"
Parrish said. "Talking to the other
catchers, coaches, hitters, pitchers
- anything they know, I want to
know."
Before New York's spring training
opener against Toronto, Parrish was
in the bullpen warming up that after-
noon's starter - Dwight Gooden.
The Yankees' first round choice in
2000 made his first appearance two
days later, on Saturday, replacing Joe
Oliver behind the plate.
His line for the day - 0 for 1,
with a passed ball.
STREAKIN': Senior co-captain
Scott Tousa had at least one hit in
22-straight games dating back to last
season before going :0-for-4 in the
second game at South Florida on
March 1.
"He has been outstanding,"
Michigan coach Geoff Zahn said.
"He is a leader on the field, and he
really plays hard."
While Tousa's impressive string
came to an end in Florida, his dou-
ble-play partner, Bill LaRosa,
extended his streak to 17 games by
hitting safely in all seven of his
games last week.
2,300 SERVED: Michigan also
reached a team milestone while in
the Sunshine State. With its most
recent win against South Florida, the
Wolverines ran their all-time record
to 2,300-1,247-37. Michigan base-
ball has been competing since 1866.
WALKING IN THEIR SLEEP: The 10-
4 win that pushed Michigan to the
2,300 mark was aided dramatically
by the ridiculous amount of free
passes the Bulls gave them.
All nine Wolverines tallied walks
for a total of 13 before the evening
was over.
PLAY THAT FUNKY Music: The
sound system in South Florida's Red
McEwen Field added life to a game
bogged down by walk after walk.
An alternative rock-style compila-
tion, including music from Foo
Fighters, Smashmouth, Green Day
and Everlast provided the soundtrack
for the evening.
The event was even equipped with*
a windshield-shattering sound effect
that was played for foul balls, scar-
ing more than a few patrons the first
time it was played.
Overall, the ambiance earned four-
and-a-half stars out of five - omit-
ting Nirvana cost it a perfect score.
Youth movement
The young Wolverines have just three
players on the squad with SO or more
games played, led by seniors Scott
Tousa and Bill LaRosa.
MICHIGAN's ACTIvE ToP 10 IN GAMES
PLAYED :
Whitley stays cool under pressure at combine
By Jim Weber
Daily Sports Writer
INDIANAPOLIS - Ever since the
morning of Dec. 14, former Michigan
football players David Terrell and James
Whitley have gone in opposite direc-
tions.
Early that morning, the police stopped
the duo outside of a Hill Street apart-
ment after Terrell's ex-girlfriend called
the police claiming he was breaking into
her apartment. Terrell was not charged
with any crime. But Whitley was arrest-
4d for carrying a concealed weapon after
the police found a gun inside his jacket.
Whitley, a co-captain, was dismissed
from the football team by coach Lloyd
Carr later that day. He then went to trial
on a felony charge, facing up to five
years in prison.
Meanwhile, Terrell went on to catch
four balls for 136 yards and a touch-
down in the Citrus Bowl and was
defended by his former coach.
"1 want to make it clear: He's a good
Former Michigan
co-captain James
Whitley hopes
that he will be
wearing an NFL
uniform next fall.
After being .:
arrested for carry-.
ing a concealed ..
weapon, Whitley
was at the NFL
combine trying to .
make teams
forget his past.
AP PHOTO ;
person, he's a great kid and he's done a
great job for Michigan," Carr said after
the Citrus Bowl victory.
Both players were at the NFL com-
bine in Indianapolis last weekend, but
they faced entirely different situations.
While Terrell is prepping for his
workout on March 16 in order to hold
onto his projected top-five spot, Whitley
was at the event to improve his draft
position, as his status is not as promis-
ing.
"You can definitely improve your sta-
tus. Come up, show up, physically fit,
zero problems, zero health issues, do
well in personal workouts," said Whitley
of how to have an impressive combine.
Obviously, he didn't seem bothered by
the recent felony charge and an arrest in
April of 1999 on suspicion of delivery of
marijuana - Whitley only received a
ticket for driving with a suspended
license, but was suspended in the offsea-
son by coach Lloyd Carr.
Whitley also seemed unconcerned
about questions about his image during
personal interviews at the combine.
"That is where the team gets an over-
all impression of what type of guy you
are - your character" said Whitley,
explaining the importance of the inter-
views players had with NFL teams.
If Whitley can make teams forget
about his problems with the law, he can
certainly overcome an unimpressive 40-
yard dash time.
Whitley's agents were unavailable for
information on his times at the combine.
But before his workout Whitley said he
was a "sub 4.5 guy."
"I'm not fast at all," Whitley joked.
John Clayton of ESPN, although
unfamiliar with the situation, seemed
more concerned about Whitley's legal
problems.
"It's a possibility that, if he is found
guilty with any kind of a gun charge, he
will start off with a suspension," Clayton
said.
He also asserted that NFL teams usu-
ally only overlook problems with the law
in the case of great players. An exception
Food For Thought
Who was the
better fighter?
When one American pilot
was forced to abort a bomb-
ing mission over North
Vietnam due to the weather,
he spotted a column of
tanks heading for South
Vietnam, so he diverted and
attacked the tanks. He was
later fined $500 for leaving
his approved corridor. More
to come in future ads.
Gary Lillie & Assoc.,
Realtors
www.garylillie.com
for Whitley seems unexpected, as he was
already not one of the top prospects in
the draft. Rivals.com rates Whitley as
the 27th-best cornerback available.
With all these obstacles, Whitley still
believes he can become a good corner in
the NFL.
"I'm an aggressive corner," Whitley
said. "I learn the game fairly quick. I just
have will power."
Although Whitley might not become
an NFL star, he will overcome his
biggest challenge if he just makes it into
the league - being on the football field
rather than behind bars.
PLAYER
Pos GP
1. Scott Tousa
2. Bill LaRosa
3. Brock Koman
4. Jordan Cantalam
5. Nick Alexander
6. Jeff Trzos
7. Blake Rutkows
8. Bobby Korecky
9. Vince Pistilli
10. Mike Sokol
iessa
ki
IF
IF
IF/DH
IF/OF
P
1B/P
OF
P-
P
IF/OF
149
54
51
47
45
44
39
38
36
30
I
m
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