The Michigan Daily - Wednesday, December 12, 2001- 15 Football Jan. 1 vs. Tennessee, 1p.m. at Citrus Bowl Men's Basketball Dec. 22 vs. Eastern Michigan, 2 p.m. Dec. 28 vs. San Francisco, 8 p.m. at Oakland, Calif. Jan. 2 at Penn State, 8 p.m. Jan. 5 vs. Purdue, 12:17 p.m. Hockey Dec. 15 vs. Harvard, 7:35 p.m. Dec. 28 vs. North Dakota, 4 p.m. at Joe Louis Arena Dec. 29 vs. Michigan Tech/Michigan State, 4 p.m. o 7:35 p.m. at Joe Louis Arena Jan. 4 vs. Notre Dame, 7:05 p.m. Jan 5 vs. Notre Dame, 7:05 p.m. Women's Basketbatlf Dec. 12 at Toledo, 7 pm. Dec. 16 at Louisiana State, 3 p.m. Dec. 21 vs. Oakland, 7 p.m. Dec. 28 vs. Illinois, 7 p.m. Dec. 30 at Purdue, 2 p.m. Jan. 2 vs. Michigan State, 7 p.m. Jan. 6 at Wisconsin, 2:30 p.m. Wrestling Jan. 4 vs. Lehigh, 7 p.m. r Jan. 5 at Cleveland State. 7:30 p.m. Dec. 16 at Louisiana State, 3 p.m. Dec. 21 vs. Oakland, 7 p.m. Women s Gymnastics Dec. 16 Intrasquad Meet, 2 p.m. (exhibition) Jan. 4 at Maui Invitational, Midnight Men's Gymnastics Dec. 15 intrasquad Meet, 7 p.m. (exhibition), Men's Swimming Jan. 4 at Arizona, 3 p.m. Jan. 5 at Arizona State, 3 p.m. Men's Track Jan. 5 hosts Jack Harvey Invitational Women's Track Jan. 5 hosts Jack Harvey Invitational HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM DAILY SPORTS .J All work and no play for swimmers in Flagstaff By Courtney Lewis Daily Sports Writer The Michigan men's swimming team is head- ing west over winter break, but there will be no exotic location, no warm beaches and definitely no surfing. While the women's team is in Hawaii, the men will be spending their holiday in northern Ari- zona, where they will train for 11 days in Flagstaff. "Flagstaff is not a place to go for entertain- ment," Michigan coach Jon Urbanchek said. It is, on the other hand, a place to go for high altitude training. The campus of Northern Ari- zona University, where Michigan will train, sits at 7,000'feet, about 1,000 feet higher than Col- orado Springs - where the team has endured altitude training in the past. The altitude makes training physically and mentally difficult. Senior Eric Wilson said even though their workouts will look easy on paper, once the Wolverines hit the water they'll find they can't swim their usual times. "It's not real good for the mind, but its good for the body," Urbanchek said. The training increases the number of red blood cells, which in turn increases oxygen intake. So while the Wolverines may struggle for air in Flagstaff, they expect to notice an immediate dif- ference once they descend. "I've heard it feels like you have an oxygen tank strapped on your back," Wilson said. The Wolverines are looking forward to an escape from balancing workouts and final exams and they will be taking advantage of the opportu- nity to focus completely on swimming. "It is a training camp," Urbanchek said. "All we do is eat, sleep and swim, and then if you have energy left, you have fun in between." The high altitude also means Flagstaff will be snow-covered, but when Michigan does find time for fun, it won't include skiing. Urbanchek said he has placed all "dangerous" sports off limits, adding "We'll be doing a lot of indoor activities." With only one road trip so far this season, Michigan hasn't had as much time for cama- raderie. Shopping, playing videogames and watching movies will give the team a chance to bond and build chemistry. Wilson admitted those activities "might not be as much fun as the women have surfing in Hawaii," but he added that his team will get in plenty of quality training time, "which is why we're there." Michigan will also be in Arizona to compete. Its main priority is training, but at the end of the trip the team will face Arizona and Arizona State. The eighth-ranked Wildcats and fifth-ranked Sun Devils each finished in the top five at the Texas Invitational Nov. 30 through Dec. 2. No. 12 Michigan placed 13th in Austin. Michigan expects two close meets, but the Wolverines are confident their training will pre- pare them for tough opponents. "We can compete with both teams," Urbanchek said. "In fact, we can swim with anybody in the country." ALYSSA WOOD/Daily With Mike Cammalleri skating for Team Canada, the Wolverines will need to find new people to score during the Great Lakes Invitational. Cammallens absence bnngs wake-up call p l " cd-+ l1-,tr" rro By J. Brady McCollough Daily Sports Writer Michigan junior John Shouneyia woke up at 9 a.m. Monday with a pleas- ant surprise - a phone call from his right-hand man on the powerplay, fel- low-junior Mike Cammalleri. But the Wolverines' leading scorer was not call- ing from his home in Ann Arbor; he was with Team Canada at the tryouts for the World Junior Championships, which will keep Cammalleri away from his team for its next five games. The call came because Shouneyia "had to do something for" Cammalleri. That's an understatement. Shouneyia will be counted upon to fill the shoes of one of the top players in college hockey and to keep the Wolver- ines' top forward line clicking on all cylinders. Cammalleri combined with freshman Eric Nystrom and junior cap- tain Jed Ortmeyer to score 10 of the 11 Michigan points last Saturday at Miami. "It's always different without (Cam- mlleri) out there," Nystrom said. "He's the craftiest player, but Johnny's a great player, too. He's a little quicker and good with the puck, so he'll fill in really well." While Cammalleri has been the prin- cipal leader of Michigan's run to second place in the CCHA, Shouneyia has been far from a slouch. The center extended:: his point-scoring streak to a career- high-tying six games last weekend and will be expected to gel quickly with his new linemates. "We've still got two guys on the line, and they've had a lot of success," Shouneyia said. "Those guys have been going, so hopefully they'll get me going even more." Things will get even more interesting. for Michigan during the Great Lakes Invitational on Dec. 28-29. Not only will Cammalleri be absent, but defense- man Mike Komisarek and third-line center Dwight Helminen will also be representing the United States in the World Junior Championships as well. With its most clutch scorer, its tough- est defenseman and its top penalty- killer out of commission, Michigan will be counting on some new blood to pick up the slack. "When you get in there you have to L)1I.A\ LL U 11186 prove yourself," Nystrom said. "A lot of players have to step it up this weekend medal fromA (against Harvard) and come GLI time." In last season's GLI, the Wolverines were in the same bind with Komisarek, David Oxfeld Cammalleri and Andy Hilbert partici- For the Daily pating in the championships. Michigan was upset in the first round of the invi- As the end of October drew near, tational by Michigan Tech, 7-3. most students were concerned with cos- The GLI has become a reunion of tume preparations for Halloween. That sorts from last season's Frozen Four, as wasn't the case for sophomore Melissa the Wqlverines will be joined by North Bickett. She was abroad, participating in Dakota and Michigan State, along with the Pan American Games in Argentina. upset-minded Michigan Tech. "Because the seasons are reversed, No. 4 Michigan State and No. 9 when a person goes south of the equator, Michigan are both riding 8-1-1 records it's actually spring, during fall north of in their last 10 games, and both will the equator," Bickett said. "This was the have to contend with young squads-case in Argentina. I came back with a from the WCHA, which has shaped up tan, and so I was happy." as the toughest conference in the nation. Bickett, the only member of the North Dakota, the Wolverines' first Michigan women's track team compet- opponent, is not used to struggling like ing for the United States at the Pan Am it has this season. The Fighting Sioux Games, returned to Ann Arbor with are 4-7-1 in the WCHA and were more than just a nice bronze color. She swept last weekend by Wisconsin, captured gold in the discus, the*same whom the Wolverines defeated 5-2 in event in which she finished 18th in the the College Hockey Showcase. But NCAA Championships a year earlier. with six freshman forwards and a As Bickett has continued to improve, freshman goaltender playing signifi- her results have been astounding, and cant minutes, coach Dean Blais is not now her goals are firmly set. surprised. "Winning that gold in Argentina was "This year we're not playing for one of the highlights of my career," national rankings," Blais said. "We're Bickett said. "It was a thrill representing playing for improvement. Everyone the United States, getting to wear that understands that. I think people know Olympic warmup, but now I am ready to you can't be 1-2-3 every year." compete at a grander level. I aspire for Michigan Tech has also floundered the Olympics." because of the strength of the WCHA, For now, Bickett's concentration and posting a 1-7-2 conference record. The the focus of her teammates is on suc- Huskies are also young and inexperi- ceeding in the upcoming indoor track enced as 12 freshmen fill their roster. season. Michigan finished fourth in the But coach Mike Sertich thinks his Big Ten la4 year, but is already striving team will get a lot out of making the to improve on those results. The Wolver- trip to Detroit and playing in Joe Louis ines completed their Maize and Blue Arena. intrasquad meet on Nov. 30, and Bickett "We're from Houghton," Sertich said. sees her constant hard work and training "So we get to go and see big buildings, paying off. four-lane traffic and restaurants. They "The meet was fun, and it was nice to get to go on that subway deal. We've get back to competing again," Bickett got one stoplight in town. You have two said. "Most importantly, a few people stoplights and two blocks. It's awesome. PR'd (set personal records) and so it was We're gonna have a lot of kids with sun- good to see that we are already better burned Adam's apples looking up at the than we were individually at any point buildings." last year. The meet sets a precedent with times, which allows us as athletes to gauge or better as the season progresses. home gold Argentina Talented freshman bring high expectations to 'M' It makes us all work harder. I got my PR in shotput." This year, Michigan coach James Henry will r appoint three team cap-y tains who will maintain the communication between the athletes and himself. Due to the composition of a track team, with different spe- cialized athletes practicing sep- arately from one another, he has also asked the team to appoint event leaders - dividing the squad into events such as sprinters, hurdlers, mid-distance runners, dis- tance runners and throw-° ers. This year's team will be buoyed by its freshman class, head- lined by Theresa Feldcamp, a two time 800-meter Ohio state high school champion and Stephanie Hirtle, a Canadian runner who ran ALYSSA WOOD/Daily for Team Canada in the 2001 Mike Wisniewski World Junior Cross Country By Kareem Copeland Daily Sports Writer "If we don't win (the . Big Ten Championship) I'll be surprised," senior tri-captain Ike Okenwa said. That is the attitude that the Michigan track team is taking indoors this season. The combination of dedi- cation to conditioning and an outstanding freshman class has primed the team > for a run at the conference championship. Summer workouts ran five days a week and were voluntary for play- ers in the area, but the number of athletes at the workouts consistently reached double digits. "This year we got real- ly serious about it," Okenwa said. "We're focused." The seventh-place Nathan Taylor is the Canadian Junior Champion in the 100-meter. Getting Taylor to commit was a major accomplishment for the coaching staff. "For us that's a real coup" LaPlante said. "Most major sprinters don't come to the Midwest and Northeast." Also new to the team is former wide receiver Brent Cummings. Cummings played on the football team last year and promises to add a spark in the sprints. While those races were not particularly strong for Michigan last year, the new season has brought in new expectations. The combination of Okenwa, Taylor, Cummings and Derek Applewhite could be explosive. "They will be a formida- ble foursome at sprints," LaPlante said. But it is the distance runners that are the strength of this team. Along with Webb, senior tri-captain Mike Wisniewski hopes to build on an All-America performance in cross- country. Wisniewski has won the Big Ten title in the 10,000-meter outdoors for the past two years. Senior Jeremy Schneider has the abil- ity to be one of the top 600-meter run- ners in the conference. Terrance Rindler, Brian Turner and Mark Pilja provide for a very deep team in the distances. In the field events, senior Brent Scheffer hopes to have a big year in the pole vault, and senior Robert Arnold has shown an abundance of potential in the high jump. "We've been waiting for (Arnold) to blossom," LaPlante said. "It's time for him to put up." The team will kick off the 2002 sea- son with the Jack Harvey Invitational on Jan. 6. The Wolverines will host Eastern Michigan, Western Michigan, Detroit and Hillsdale at the Indoor Track Build- ing. The meet will be the only warm-up before the year's first dual meet against Indiana. "We have a good blend of freshman talent and veteran leadership," LaPlante said. "We're looking forward to an exciting season." Championships. With the encouraging results of the intrasquad meet, Michigan is ready for competition against other schools. It won't have to wait long, as the indoor season begins in Ann Arbor on Jan. 5, with the Jack Harvey Invitational. This means a short holiday break for some members of the team, but Bickett, for one, doesn't mind the hard work and continued concentration on her craft. Bickett is going to attend a throwing camp in Lake Tahoe, Calif. with other Michigan throwers. After the camp con- cludes on Dec. 17, some team members will stay in Ann Arbor during the holi- days to train, but others like Bickett will go home. They will return on Jan. 3 to focus on the first meet of the new year. In reality it is not a bad trade off. A shorter holiday break in exchange for a winter suntan and most of all - a gold medal. finish at last year's Big Ten Championship still leaves a bad taste in the Wolverines' mouths. But this is a different team, having graduated nine seniors and signing 15 talented freshmen. "We have a pretty nice lineup with good athletes at each position," said assistant coach Fred LaPlante. The freshman class is headlined by miler Alan Webb and sprinter Nathan Taylor. Webb was the first high-school run- ner in the United States to break the four-minute mile and was recently named Verizon Youth Athlete of the Year. Webb won the Big Ten Champi- onship in cross-country and finished 11th at the NCAA championships. He was awarded Big Ten Athlete of the Year honors in cross-country. "I'm glad we got that guy coming in," Okenwa said. "He raises the bar for everybody." Shutting down Vols' receivers key for Blue MATCHUPS Continued from Page 13 in the nation. Stallworth and Washington average 20 and 15.5 yards per reception, respectively. Michigan will, need to limit the big plays from the Volunteers if it expects to win this game. It could be a tall task for the Wolverines' secondary though, as it could be outmatched by the bigger, faster Tennessee receivers. * eAdvantage: Tennessee SPECIAL TEAMs: Michigan blocked a team-record seven punts this season, each of which gave the Wolverines some much-needed momentum. Unless it can find an offense, Michigan will likely need a blocked punt against the Volunteers to gain some con- fidence. The Volunteers also have a powerful punt return unit, but rather than blocking kicks, they let Donte Stallworth work his big play magic. Stallworth has returned one punt for a touchdown this season. Advantage: Michigan pointment of not only blowing an opportunity to play for the national title, but also seeing arch-rival Florida take their place in the BCS. Both are tough pills to swallow, and maybe the-Vols are too disap- pointed. Advantage: Michigan INTANGIBLES: This game will come down to which team will overcome the disappointment of not playing in the BCS. Michigan, which never really had a legiti- mate shot as the title game, has had time to deal with not winning the Big Ten. But the Volunteers have to deal with the disap- If Michigan can find an offense, it has a good shot of winning the game, but if not, it will have trouble against a Tennessee team that is much better than either Wisconsin or Ohio State. Tennessee will suffer a letdown, but it won't be enough to solve all of Michi- gan's problems. Tennessee 28, Michigan 24 ..:~.OV. Yr1 jright 11 k