Jbe £ibig~wu ttiI Sports desk: 647-3336 sportsdesk@umich.edu SECTION Harriers inch past Indiana, claim indoor title DANNY MOLOSHOK/Daily Michigan's April Phillips Wsf!ra IL) i)r bEI~ty CLL T4( A66TEDCHM~IN 1/-1Cot,1,";S By Steve Jackson Daily Sports Editor Heading into the final event of the women's Big Ten Indoor Track and Field Championships, Michigan's 1,600-meter relay team needed only to finish in the top six to secure the title for the Wolverines. "I knew that they would compete. I was more concerned with keeping the baton in our hands ' around the track," Michigan coach James Henry said. The Wolverines followed those instructions, finishing fourth with a time of 3:45. That was enough to lift Michigan over rival Indiana by the slimmest margin (116-114.5) in the 21-year history of the meet. Katie Jazwinski led the way for the Wolver- ines, scoring 26 points in three events. She won the mile run and placed second in both the 3,000-meter and 5,000-meter, earning her the distinction of Athlete of the Meet. Despite nagging Achilles' heel problems, Jazwinski would not be denied, starring throughout her grueling trio of events, which totaled close to six miles. "Katie is a team person. She sacrificed her individual performances for the team," Henry said. "She easily could have competed in just one or two events to qualify for nationals, but she did what needed to be done for the team to win." Jazwinski may have been selfless at the Big Ten Championships, but she had her chance to shine individually this weekend at the non-scor- ing Alex Wilson Invitational. By concentrating on her mile run, Jazwinski was able to shave three seconds off of her per- sonal best. Her time of 4:44.4 was the best at the Invitational and the 11th best time in the NCAA this year. Although Jazwinski was the star at Big Tens, it was by no means a one-woman show. "We had a balanced squad," Henry said. "We didn't have a lot a individual winners, but they came together and earned the places we need- ed." After the first day, the Wolverines' spirits were down. Henry said that only 60 percent of the athletes that Michigan expected to place in the finals were successful on the first day in State College. The women's meet also stopped briefly on day two to recognize the tragic death of Penn State pole-vaulter Kevin Dare the day before at the men's championship, and Henry used that as a motivating tool for his team. "I try to use everything as a positive," Henry s a i d. "We had a number of young ladies that didn't do well the first day. They were really distraught and crying. I told them 'at least you get to go home.' I think that a put things in perspective for them." Henry, who has been leading the Wolverines for 18 years, was awarded the Big Ten Coach of the Year honor for the third time in his career. "This one makes me feel better than the rest because more of my athletes contributed," he said." Today, Michigan will find out which Wolver- ines will be participating in the NCAA Indoor Championships next weekend in Fayetteville, Ark. T From' FRIDAY: MICIGAN 4, WESTERN MICHIGAN 2 SATURDAY: MICHIGAN 6, WESTERN MICHIGAN 2 a peak 'M' outlasts State, wins, CCHA title By Chris Burke Daily Sports Writer KALAMAZOO - Tied 2-2 with Western Michigan after two periods of Saturday night's game, the Michigan hockey team could have played a very conservative third period. Needing just a tie to clinch an outright CCHA regular sea- son title, the Wolverines would have accomplished their goal had the deadlock continued. Instead, the Wolverines left no doubt that they were the best team in the conference, dominating the Broncos in the third period, just as they had in a 4-2 victory over Western Michigan on Friday in Ann Arbor. Michigan forward John Shouneyia scored with 15:38 remaining in the game, and the Wolverines proceeded to pour on three more goals for a 6-2 victory and, more importantly, the program's seventh CCHA regular season title. "First place is what you ask for at the beginming of the tyear," Michigan forward Mike Cammalleri said. "I don't think too many people expected us to finish first at the start of the year, but our team has really showed up. So many guys have stepped up it's been unbelievable." No. 8 Michigan had entered the final weekend of the regu- lar season tied with Michigan State with 38 points, but the Spartans were upset 3-2 by Ferris State on Friday night - opening the door for the Wolverines on Saturday. "It's anopportunity for us," said Cammalleri after Michi- gan State's loss became a final on Friday. "But it doesn't mean anything if we don't win (Saturday). We have to be focused." For a while in Saturday's game, it looked as if Western a Vaulter Dare dies in action, athletes reflect MEN'S INDOOR PNEPU TRACK AND FIELD MINNEAPOLIS CHAMPIONSHIPS By.Josh Holman Daily Sports Writer MINNEAPQLIS - On rare occasions, an event occurs that reminds us all that sports are just that - only sports. Members of Michigan's men's track team were reminded of that last week (Feb. 23-24) at the Indoor Big Ten Championships in Minneapolis when Penn State athlete Kevin Dare died after falling in the pole vault. On the first day of the meet at approximately 2:40 p.m., Dare land- ed on his head after one of his attempts. Medical trainers and EMT's immediately rushed to his assistance. He was taken to the Hennepin County Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead as a result of Dare fatal head trauma. Many of the athletes on hand did not realize Dare was dead as he was being taken from the Minnesota Field House. It was not until later in the day that the teams were alerted of the news. "There was shock and disbelief," said Michigan senior sprinter Ike Okenwa. "No one expects to go to any track meet and see someone die." Big Ten officials decided last Saturday night to.con- tinue with the meet the following day with a memorial being held for Dare at noon. The following morning, though, Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany announced that the meet was canceled and would not be resched- uled. "I think when we slept on it, the discussions went the other direction," Michigan coach Ron Warhurst said. Many Michigan athletes had trouble knowing how to react. After spending an entire season preparing for one performance, that performance was suddenly stripped from them because of the death of someone they didn't know. "On one hand you didn't know him and your life will go on the same as if it didn't happen," junior Jeremy Schneider said. "But on the other hand a mil- lion thoughts are running through your head." See DARE, Page 6B Second-half collapse ends cagers' hopes WOMEN'S INDIANAPOLIS CHAMPIONSHIPS By Jim Weber Daily Sports Writer TOM FELDKAMP/Daily Michigan forwards Charlie Henderson and Michael Woodford celebrate after Henderson's goal Saturday night. Michigan might ruin that opportunity, as the Broncos took a 2-1 lead after one period. But Michigan responded 4:24 into the second period, tying the game as Eric Nystrom re-direct- ed a Jay Vancik shot from the point past Reynaert, setting the stage for the explosive third period. "We had to play together, we had to play smart," Michigan coach Red Berenson said. "We know how to play in close games, we know what it takes. We became more of a team in the third period -we had our best period." Said Michigan defenseman Andy Burnes: "We knew that our whole season came down to the third period - every- thing we had worked for all year came down to what we went out there and did. We responded and came out on top." After Shouneyia gave Michigan the lead back at 3-2, the Wolverines proceeded to dominate the third period, outshoot- ing the Broncos 12-3 in the final 20 minutes. Junior Mike Cammalleri - playing in his first game since See BRONCOS, Page 4B ..to rock bottom Blue suffers sixth consecutive loss. By David Horn Daily Sports Editor Saturday was senior night at Crisler Arena, where Michigan's six departing upperclassmen were hon- ored before the game. But it was Ohio State's sen- iors, forward Boban Savovic and guard Brian OHIO STATE 84 Brown, who led the Buck- eyes (11-5 Big Ten, 20-7 MICHIGAN 75 overall) to an 84-75 win over the Wolverines (5-11, 10-17). With the victory, Ohio State claimed its share of the Big Ten regular i season title. The Buckeyes end the season tied atop the conference with Indiana; Illinois and Wiscon- sin. Saturday was the second straight game in which Michigan's opponent was able to claim a share of the conference title with a win over the struggling Wolverines. Last Wednesday in Madison, the Bad- gers beat Michigan by 20 to claim their piece of the prize. Michigan's 5-11 conference record puts it in a three-way tie for eighth with Purdue and Iowa. But due to its head-to-head record with those teams, Michigan will be the 10th seed in next weekend's Big Ten Tournament in Indianapolis. The Wolver- ines play seventh-seeded Northwestern Thursday afternoon at 4:30 p.m. On Saturday, Savovic and Brown each dropped in 19 points, but it was the timeliness rather than the multiple occasions the two Buckeyes were able to keep the persistent Wolverines at bay, as the home team managed a number of rallies throughout the game to keep things close. There were a "couple of key points in the game where we could have come back and won it, but it seemed like every time we were right there a big play happened with them," Michigan guard Bernard Robinson said. The energy level was high for the Wolverines, and for the Crisler Arena crowd. Both were invigor- ated by the emotion of senior night, but also by the play of Robinson and freshman Dommanic Inger- son. On a night when the seniors were honored for the work they have done in the past, Michigan's young blood showed some promise for the future. Ingerson played arguably the best game of his career, scoring 21 points on 8-of-14 shooting from the field, including 4-of-8 shooting from behind the 3-point line. Robinson contributed 20 points, and senior Chris Young, playing in the final home game of his career, scored 17. It was an extremely emotional night for Young in particular, as he suited up in maize and blue for the 115th consecutive time. He is recognized by coaches around the conference and nation as one of the smartest and hardest-working big men in the Big Ten, and has been the most reliable presence on the court for a Michigan team that has been rebuilding for what has seemed like his entire four year career. INDIANAPOLIS - An up-and-down season for the Michigan women's basketball team had a new high and a new low at the Big Ten Tournament. The high was a 20-point victory over Illinois in the first round and an eight-point lead over Purdue with four-and-a- MICHIGAN 67 half minutes left in the Wolver- ines' second-round game. Then PURDUE 74 came the low, as Michigan unraveled once and for all in a 74-67 overtime loss to No. 7 Purdue, the Big Ten regular season champion. The loss most likely leaves Michigan (6-10 Big Ten, 17- 12 overall) bound for the WNIT because of a ninth-place finish in the conference. Purdue, which had 14 second-chance points in the first DANNYCsYLOd'OK/ha ILns ily Michigan senior Chris Young couldn't help but show his emotions I II