10 - The Michigan Daily - January 22, 2003 When man falters, Blue plays zone By Gennaro Filice Daily Sports Writer TONY DING/Daily Michigan junior Erica Walls spans her arms mid-stroke as she competed in the 100- meter butterfly against Toledo on January 10. Speed not the only thing needed to swim for M' By Steven Shears Daily Sports Writer Similar to the University's ideal, the Michigan women's swimming and div- ing team strives to attract well-rounded students. In addition to fast times, there are other abilities the typical high school All-American needs to have to compete for the Maize and Blue. The 2003 recruits - Kaitlyn Brady, Susan Gilliam, Lindsey Smith and Anne Stein - compose Michigan's fastest group of incoming freshmen in recent years. But more importantly, coach Jim Richardson says they are not just swimmers - they are true "stu- dent-athletes." "I recruit people who are highly achievement-oriented, very driven, and they have goals for themselves both in the pool and out of the pool," Richard- son said. "Then we look at character and that they're not one-dimensional. They must be leaders and have a high level of responsibility. We have a very strong philosophy here." Even if athletes are not the best swim- mers that Michigan can recruit, Richard- son still considers their other qualities with equal importance. "Certainly, -they have to be fast enough to swim in the Big Ten, but we'll look at kids that aren't extremely fast or haven't swam for a great pro- gram, and give them a chance to walk on," Richardson said. "As long as they think academics are important. If they don't, she and I are going to have a disagreement." Many on the team understand that they have little chance of making a career out of the sport, so succeeding in academics is an important goal for them - it is included in their team mission statement every year. In fact, Richardson even allows some members of the team to miss praotices in order to keep up with their classes, EVANSTON Who: No. 19 Michigan (1-0 Big Ten, 2-2 overall vs. Northwestern (1-3 Big Ten, 6-3 overall) When: 2 p.m. Latest: After loosing three straight dual meets, the Wildcats have rebounded to win their last three. which is almost unheard of with other varsity programs. "We have a swimmer that doesn't practice on Tuesdays," Richardson said. "She goes to class 9-5, so Tuesdays are awful for her. I'm not going to ask her to work out in addition to that workload. It's better for her academically." Brady, Gilliam, Smith and Stein are no exception to Michigan's standards. Brady is a three time All-American who holds four Delaware state records in the 50- and 100-yard freestyle, the 100-yard backstroke and the 100-yard butterfly. Gilliam, who competes for the Bolles School in Jacksonville, Fla., is one of the first Michigan swimmers to come from a southern high school. She has the sec- ond-fastest high school time in the 500- yard freestyle, and has led her school to 12 consecutive state championships. She is also a three time All-American. Smith is a versatile swimmer, and Richardson said that she is willing to do whatever the team needs her to do. She holds the Michigan state high school record in the 100-yard freestyle. Stein was on the U.S. National Junior team, and is currently ranked 23rd in the world in the 1,500-yard freestyle with a time of 16:37.51. She is also an All- American. Of course, the records and statistics are important, but Richardson values the responsibility, intelligence and character of the new recruits just as much. The team's average GPA is a 3.1, which Richardso ,say-is higher than the University's average. In the majority of her seven years at Michigan, coach Sue Guevara has kept her defensive strategy plain and simple: The Wolverines start off the game in man-to-man, then when tired, turn to man-to- man, and during the stretch run, uti- lize a healthy dose of man-to-man. At times, the zone has made a guest appearance when defending an out of bounds play, but it quickly disap- pears when play settles and the Wolverines have had a chance to switch back to their patent man-to- man. In Sunday's 71-68 victory over Indiana, Michigan snagged 12 steals and produced 20 Hoosier turnovers - relatively normal num- bers for the Wolverines' pressure man. Only one problem: For much of the game, Michigan wasn't run- ning its bread and butter. "They had been struggling from the floor, so in order to make that difficult for them, we stuck with the 1-3-1 zone until they figured it out, and then we switched to a 2-3 zone," Guevara said. 1-3-1? 2-3? What about M-A-N? "You don't want to be too pre- dictable all the time," Guevara said. The Wolverines have diversified their once man-heavy defensive approach, hoping to rattle opposing teams with a foray of defensive sets. "I know as a point guard you always have to read the defense, and if we keep switching it up on them, it takes them more time to get in sync," freshman point guard Rachael Carney said. "We can throw them off guard a little bit, which is what we are really looking to do." The Wolverines have especially taken a fondness to the steal-friend- ly 1-3-1. "It's a different look for us," Gue- vara said. "With our 1-3-1, I think it lends us to trapping a little bit more. We've got decent size to run it, and the kids really like it." Guevara is keen on how much ground the 1-3-1, a very wide- spread defensive set, covers "If you've got big kids with long arms, it looks like it's going to take up the whole half court," Guevara said. Although Carney, who has started at point guard for the last two games, is just in her first year with Michigan, she is a seasoned veter- an, Guevara says, in the Wolver- ines' favorite new set. "Rachael Carney ran a 1-3-1 when she was in high school, so she's very familiar with it up top," Guevara said. Senior captain LeeAnn Bies sup- ports Michigan's varied defensive gameplan because it gives the Wolverine's more flexibility. "It makes us very adjustable and adaptable in a game situation," Bies said. "If a team is pounding it down low, then we can go zone and sag it in, or if they're hitting from the out- side we can switch it up, and we're not stuck in a defense." Look for the Wolverines to incor- porate their new defensive attack in games against Northwestern tomor- row and Penn State this Sunday. "We're going to try and mix it up a little bit- change up what zone we're running, and play some man," Guevara said. DANNY MOLOSHOK/Daily Michigan's Niki Reamas (24) knocks the ball loose from Indiana's Cyndi Valentin (3) on Sunday, January 19. Michigan won 71-68. Boyle's near record drives her for lucky 13 By Jeremy Antar For the Daily At the Michigan Quad last Saturday, freshman Elizabeth Boyle came as close as you could possibly come to clearing 13 feet in the pole vault. Although she didn't quite make it, Boyle has over- come much higher obstacles to get where she is. Boyle was a gymnast for 11 years while growing up in Northbrook, Ill. Then one day in the summer between her freshman and sophomore years in high school, her uncle suggested she give pole-vaulting a shot. "I fell in love with it after my first try," Boyle said. That fall, Boyle retired from gym- nastics and joined her high school's SINDC TR ACK Bi Who: Michigan Simmons Invita When: 9:30 a.m Latest: Freshma vaulter Elizabet made an impac meet last week she nearly hit 1 Instead of giving up on the dream, Boyle vaulted on the men's track team during her sophomore and junior years. But she knew something was unfair about that, and she intended to do something about it. Along with another family, the Boyles then peti- tioned on the basis of Title IX that pole vault be insert- ed into women's track in high schools throughout Illinois. In the middle of her OR junior year, Boyle got a call that she U ILDING would never forget. A call informing her hosts Red that pole vault was going to become an tional event in high school women's track in n. and noon Illinois. Boyle was ecstatic. an pole "It was so great for all the girls in h Boyle Illinois, not just me," Boyle said. "By t in her first having girls pole vault, everyone was end when given a chance." 3 feet. For now, Boyle is enjoying her time at Michigan. She has great relationships with both Michigan coach James Henry and her pole. vault coach David Woolley. "They're both great coaches" Boyle said. Boyle is very happy with the team as well. She loves the fact that she gets to practice with the girls, unlike many times in high school when she would be practic- ing on her own. "It is so nice to have people to train with," Boyle said. Boyle had already set a new school and building record for the vault when she cleared 12' 6" on Jan. 11. Her attempt at 13 feet last Saturday was so close, only those in attendance could truly appreciate it. For some athletes, this might lead to a great deal of frustration and possibly a setback in their work ethic, but not Boyle, as she remains optimistic. "It will happen when it's supposed to happen," Boyle said of hitting 13 feet. As for the future, Boyle, like everyone in track and field, someday hopes to compete in the Olympics. But she does not like to look too far ahead. She remains focused on what she needs to accomplish every day. "I'm taking it one step at a time' Boyle said. Henry believes that Boyle will be able to be successful not only in the Big Ten, but on-a national level as well. track and field team. There was just one problem: The women's track team at New Trier High School (and other high schools throughout Illinois) did not have a pole vault event. creative arts workshops Michigan League - Winter 2003 Beginning Knitting Section A: Wed: Feb 5 & Feb. 12, 6-8pm, Room 4 Section B: Wed: Mar 5 & March 12, 6-8pm, Room 4 Fee: $ 15.00 (per two sessions) This workshop will teach you the basics of knitting. It will cover lessons on how to make scarves or hats. Make something "handmade" for your loved ones and friends by joining this workshop. Or learn the skills to join the U of M Knitwit that make hats for those in need. Supply cost is $15.00 and avail- able from the instructor. Catherine Rector, instructor. Charcoal Drawing Thurs: Feb 6 & 13, 6-8pm, Room D Fee: $ 15.00 Discover how to develop sensitive drawings that express moods and mystery. Special attention will be given to opposing elements e.g., light and dark, negative and positive space, to create strong compositions that have unity and move- ment. Participants will create drawings through experimentation on different types of papers, using several types of charcoals and techniques. No experience necessary. Supply cost is $ 5.00 and available from the instructor or bring your own charcoal and a 9" x 12" or larger sketchbook. Janet Kohler, instructor. Portraiture Drawing Wed: March 19 & 26, 6-8pm, Room 4 Fee: $ 15.00 Capturing the essence of a person in a portrait is a wonderful and fulfilling achievement. But how do you go about it? In these sessions, you will learn how to construct the head and successfully establish proportions. Learn how to draw with color and you'll tap into the power that your favorite medium can provide. Bring a large sketchpad, or plain paper, and pencil, or charcoal, or pastel. Nancy Weiss, instructor. Basic Drawing Thur: March 20 & 27, 6-8pm, Room 4 Fee: $ 15.00 How do you make an object or a shape recede or come forward in space? Discover techniques to unlock your creativity and imagination while developing your eye-hand coordination in a fun and relaxing environment. Gain a greater awareness and understanding of the basic elements and formal techniques of drawing. No experience necessary. Bring a sketchpad (9 x 12 or larger), soft pencils (type: HB, 2B or 6B) and kneaded eraser. Janet Kohler, instructor Drawing Flowers in Pastels Wednesday: April 2 & 9, 6-8pm, Room 4 Fee: $15.00 Do you have some drawing experience and want to learn how to draw with pastels. Then, this workshop is for you. Learn the techniques of using pastel medium while you enjoy drawing flowers in the middle of winter. Participants will do preliminary sketches before drawing in pastel. Realistic drawing skills will be taught but expressiveness and creativity will be encouraged as well. Supply cost is $ 6.00 and available from the instructor. Kathleen Amaru, instructor Creative Designs in Color Thursday: April 3 & 10, 6-8pm, Room 4 Fee: $15.00 Enjoy creating nature designs while you learn about different approaches to design using colored pencils. The instructor will supply a variety of nature forms for inspiration but participants are encouraged to bring their own as well. Partici- pants will do designs at first in pencil from the actual nature subject, their own drawing of nature, or nature photographs. Finished designs will be in colored pencil. Beginning drawing skill recommended but basic drawing techniques will be reviewed. Supply cost is $7.00 and available from the instructor. Kathleen Amaru, instructor TO REGISTER: Stop by the Michigan League Programming Office (First floor of the Michigan League) and fill out a registration form. All classes are $15 each. Please make checks payable to the Iniversitif AAchinnn i /