2B - The Michigan Daily - SportsMonday - March 24, 2003
CLUBSPORTSWEEKLY
Women's lacrosse team gains club varsity status and respect
able FidTE WEDaEK
ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
By Maggie Adams
Daily Sports Writer
The ladies of the women's club
lacrosse team have been competing
for Michigan for more than 10 years,
but this year is special.
This year they've begun the season
with a 5-1 record, losing by just one
goal to last year's champions Cal-Poly.
They've reached fourth place in the
nation, their highest national ranking
ever, and they've been offered club
varsity status from the University.
"It's a really big deal for us," junior
Jane Friend said. "Club varsity status
is something we've been working for.
It means a lot more respect for our
organization."
The team practices during off
hours at Oosterbaan Fieldhouse, so a
10-11:30 p.m. practice is not out of
the ordinary. That kind of schedule
weeds out players who aren't totally
dedicated.
"Our work has really paid off this
year," Finkenstaedt said. "We beat
three top-10 teams last week."
"A lot of credit has to go to our
coaches," Friend said. "It's amazing
what Coach Meltzer has done in the
year she's been with us."
Meltzer - an ex-captain of Mary-
land's women's lacrosse team and past
member of the U.S. women's lacrosse
team - previously coached Birming-
ham Unified's women's lacrosse team,
leading them to three state champi-
onships in four years.
She looks to be doing the same
thing for the Wolverines this year,
with the help of assistant coach John
Sung. Sung also has a strong coaching
record, with a specialty in goalies, and
has "brought a lot to the team," Friend
said.
Still, even with amazing coaches
and club varsity status, the ladies are
forced to spend a lot of time off the
field fundraising.
While they play year round, most of
their fall season is spent hosting clin-
ics and selling candybars so they can
travel through spring without money
flow problems. Next fall, the team will
be hosting a golf tournament that it
hopes will cover most of its travel
expenses.
But, because of the ladies' rising
status in the Women's Collegiate
Lacrosse League, they've obtained
sponsorship from Warrior, a company
that manufactures lacrosse gear. This
sponsorship alleviates many apparel
and equipment costs, because Warrior
provides free bags, sticks and other
necessary items.
"Warrior is great," Finkenstaedt
said. "They give us a lot. It's nice to
have that kind of support."
"Now that we're a club varsity
sport, there is more incentive for peo-
ple to sponsor us," said Friend, refer-
ring to the inclusion of club varsity
sponsors in the University's Victory
Club. "We're looking forward to more
sponsorship with our higher status."
Women's lacrosse has transformed
from a team which, a few years ago,
didn't even implement cuts at tryouts
to a team where, "if you haven't
played seriously, you don't have a
chance," said Friend.
From a club sport to a club varsity
sport, from another team in the crowd
to a national force, it seems as though
they've got more to look forward to
than just sponsorships.
Who: Ryan Bertin
Hometown: Broadview Heights, Ohio
Weight Class: 157 pounds
Sport: Wrestling
Year: Junior/Sophomore
Woods wins fourth at Bay Hill
despite rain and food illness
Why: Bertin became the first Wolverine to win an NCAA championship
since current assistant coach Kirk Trost in 1986. The redshirt sophomore
defeated Illinois' Alex Tirapelle 7-3 in the 157-pound final match. Michi-
gan finished seventh at the tournament with three All-Americans.
'M'SCHEDULE
Tomorrow
Softball at Bowling Green, 2 p.m.
Baseball vs. Central Michigan, 3 p.m.
W Tennis at Notre Dame, 4 p.m.
Thursday, March 27
M Swimming/Diving at NCAA Championships, 11 a.m. CST
Friday, March 28
Softball vs. Illinois, 3 p.m.
Baseball at Iowa, 6 p.m.
M Tennis at Minnesota, 6:30 p.m.
M Gymnastics at Team and All-Around Finals, 7 p.m.
Saturday, March 29
W Rowing at Princeton (Princeton, N.J.) TBA
W Rowing vs. Brown (Princeton, N.J.) TBA
Water Polo vs. Slippery Rock, 10 a.m.
W Tennis vs. Minnesota, 11 a.m.
Softball vs. Illinois, 1 p.m.
Baseball at Iowa, 4 p.m. CST
Water Polo vs Gannon, 4:15 p.m.
W Gymnastics at Big Ten Championships, 6 p.m. CST
M Gymnastics at Individual Event Finals
Water Polo vs. Mercyhurst, 9:15 p.m.
Ice Hockey vs. Midwest Regional, 3:30 p.m.
M Golf at Johnny Owens Invitational (Lexington, Ky.)
DAMY SCOREBOARD
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) - Tiger Woods split the
middle of the fairway with a 3-wood, then ducked
outside the ropes and dropped to his knees, his
stomach heaving from a nasty bout of food poi-
soning.
He never had it so difficult, nor has he ever
made winning look so easy.
Sickened by some bad pasta that caused him to
vomit through the night and a rainy day yesterday,
Woods still managed to win the Bay Hill Invita-
tional for the fourth straight year by going the
final 44 holes without a bogey and winning by 11
strokes.
It will only look routine in the record books.
"If I wasn't in contention, I wouldn't have gone.
There's no way," Woods said. "It was a joke. Every
single tee shot hurt because my abs were obvious-
ly sore from last night, and I continued on while I
was playing.
"The night was long, and the day was probably
even longer," he said. "That being said, I'm very
happy with the way I played."
Woods closed with a 4-under 68 to become the
first player in 73 years to win the same tourna-
ment four straight times.
It also was the fourth time in his career he has
won by double digits, another dominant perform-
ance despite the piteous scenes of him running to
the bushes and behind courtesy vans as he tried to
find a private place to be sick in front of 10,000
fans.
Woods came down with food poisoning Satur-
day night after a pasta dinner prepared by his girl-
friend, Elin Nordegren.
Only a day earlier, she collapsed outside the
clubhouse from food poisoning and dehydration.
Nordegren spent the night in the hospital.
Woods didn't think he had that option.
"The problem is, it's so easy to check into a
hospital, but getting out is the hard part," Woods
said. "I wanted to get my fluid levels up in case
today was hot and humid, but ... I didn't know if
they were going to let me ,go. So, I decided not to
do that."
Woods was helped by a cool, steady rain that
drenched Bay Hill, not to mention a five-stroke
lead going into the final round and a game that
looks better than ever.
Woods finished at 19-under 269 and became the
first player since Gene Sarazen in the Miami Open
(1926-30) to win the same event four straight
times.
"When he's got a seven- or eight-shot lead, he's
not going to throw up all over himself," Brad
Faxon said, only seconds later realizing his dubi-
ous choice of words.
"He was ready to play," Faxon said. "As sick as
he felt, I don't think if he felt great he- would have
played much better than that."
Steady rain that fell throughout the day almost
kept Woods from finishing this one.
Large pools of water covered the fairways, but
there was no point in stopping - everyone knew
how this was going to turn out.
Woods improved to 28-2 when he has at least a
share of the 54-hole lead, and he has won the last
16 times when leading through 36 holes.
"It was mind-boggling watching the way he
NBA STANDINGS
EASTERN CONFERENCE
ATLANTIC DIVISION
NHL STANDINGS
EASTERN CONFERENCE
ATLANTIC DIVISION
AP PHOTO
Not even food poisoning could stop Tiger Woods from
winning the Bay Hill Invitational by 11 strokes.
played," Cink said.
Woods won for the 37th time in his career, 11th
most in history.
He earned $810,000 and again leads the PGA
Tour money list with over $2.8 million in just four
tournaments, after missing the first five weeks
while recovering from knee surgery.
At times, it looks like he can't be stopped.
New Jersey
Philadelphia
Boston
Orlando
Washington
New York
Miami
CENTRAL DIVISION
W
42
40
38
36
32
31
22
W
43
41
40
34
29
25
21
12
L
27
28
32
33
36
39
47
L
25
29
31
36
42
45
46
56
Pct.
.609
.588
.543
.522
.471
.443
.319
Pct.
.632
.586
.563
.486
.408
.357
.313
.176
GB
1.5
4.5
6
9.5
11.5
20
GB
3
4.5
10
15.5
19
21.5
31
New Jersey
Philadelphia
NY Islanders
NY Rangers
Pittsburgh
Detroit
Indiana
New Orleans
Milwaukee
Atlanta
Chicago
Toronto
Cleveland
w
43
39
33
31
25
NORTHEAST DIVISION
W
Ottawa 48
Toronto 40
Boston 34
Montreal 28
Buffalo 22
SOUTHEAST DIVISION
W
Tampa Bay 34
Washington 35
Florida 23
Atlanta 26
Carolina 22
L,
20
20
30
33
41
L
20
26
29
32
35
L
23
27
31.
37
37
T
6
11
10
9
5
T
7
6
8
8.
9
T
13
8
-.12
6"
10.
OL
5
4
2
3
5
01
3
4
8
8
OL
5
5
9,,
5
:S
PTS
97
93
78
74
60
PTS
104
89
80
72,
61
PTS
86
83
67,
63
60
GF GA
196155
179157
205 207
196 214
178 237
GF GA
245172
216 191
226219
191217
166197
GF GA
205193
205197
1.66 718
199263
162 216
*
Former Blue star may be switching spots
WESTERN CONFERENCE
01
SARASOTA, Fla. (AP) - Jimmy
Anderson is in the Cincinnati Reds'
rotation, Kent Mercker is in the
bullpen and Barry Larkin could
wind up in the outfield.
Larkin, a 38-year-old shortstop,
was scheduled to start in left field
yesterday against the Cleveland
Indians, a move that drew double-
takes and a lot of jokes in the club-
house.
"I've never played outfield,"
Larkin said, sitting by his locker in
the clubhouse. "Skip asked me the
other day if I brought my outfield
glove. I said, 'Yeah.' He said, 'Well,
all right, bring it tomorrow because
you're playing left.'
"I hear it's raining outside, so
.maybe the baseball gods been trying
to tell us something."
A pregame downpour left the out-
field slick and prompted Boone to
change his mind, moving Larkin
back to shortstop. It didn't end
Boone's latest grand experiment -
he's leaning toward starting Larkin
C
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in center field Monday.
In his 16 seasons, Larkin has
played three games at second base
and the other 1,940 at shortstop.
He's never played outfield -- not
even in a spring training game.
"I'll try to get him out there so it's
not completely foreign if some
catastrophe hits us," Boone said.
Boone is considering carrying 12
pitchers to start the season, leaving
him short a position player. The
more positions they can play, the
more options Boone will have for
late-game switches.
Plus, left fielder Adam Dunn has
shin splints that aren't serious, but
could use a little rest.
"I'd like to try to get everybody at
least the first day of the season to feel
good," Boone said.
Larkin didn't mind his expanded job
description, even though it meant
learning on the job and taking a lot of
grief from Ken Griffey Jr.
"I think I'm the emergency sixth or
seventh outfielder," Larkin said, grin-
ning. "But I think there's a reason I've
always played infield."
Griffey couldn't resist the chance to
tease his friend.
Larkin just sat and smiled as Griffey
ran through the lingo of his new posi-
tion.
"There's 'I got it,' 'You take it,'
'Wall,' 'You've got room' and 'Heads
up!'" the Reds center fielder said.
Dallas
San Antonio
Minnesota
Utah
Houston
Memphis
Denver
W
52
48
45
40
36
25
15
W
49
44
39
36
33.
32
22
WESTERN CONFERENCE
NORTHWEST DIVISION
L
17
20
26
29
32
44
55
L
21
25
29
33
36
36
47
PACIFIC DIVISION
Pct.
.754
.706
.634
.580
.529
.362
.214
Pct.
.700
.638
.574
.522
.478
.471
.319
12
15.5
27
37.5
GB
4.5
9
12.5
15.5
16
26.5
Vancouver
Colorado
Minnesota
Edmonton
Calgary
42
37
38
33
25
NORTHWEST DIVISION
W
CENTRAL DIVISION
W L
Detroit 44 18
GB St. Louis 39 20
- Nashville 27 30
3.5 Chicago 27 32
Columbus 26 38
L
20
18
25
25
34
T
9
9.
12
10
7
T
12
12
10
8
12
T
15
9
9
6
6
OL
3
6
5
5
3
OL
1
7
1
9
4
OL
3
5
4
5,
8
Sacramento
Portland
LA Lakers
Phoenix
Golden State
Seattle
LA Clippers
PACIFIC DIVISION
Dallas
Anaheim
Phoenix
Los Angeles
San Jose
W
40
37
30
30
27
L
17
26
31
34
34
PTS
100
93
71
69
62
PTS
97
93
87
83
66
PTS
:98
88
73
71
68
GF GA
243,183
234194
176 187
181198
194236
GF GA
241194
222176
182162
207 209
170 214
GF GA
226159
189 185
188202
188 202
198 220
6M9 NOTES
raternities and Sororities: "Team training".
etroit Free Press Marathon RELAY.
reams can be 2 to 5 runners)
or more information call: 734-668-4760 or go to www.usafit.com
Ign-up: 8:00 am Running Fit, 123 E. Liberty, AA, March 29, 2003.
Softball takes four
straight games
The Michigan softball team record-
ed four consecutive shutouts this
weekend as it defeated every team it
faced at the Boilermaker Invitational
in West Lafayette. This extends the
Wolverine's win streak to seven.
On Saturday, Michigan crushed
Indiana-Purdue Fort Wayne 10-0 in a
game that was shortened to 5 innings
due to a mercy rule. Marissa Young
SIF '
new balae
RUNV1,I GMT
--
11
'm
pitched a no-hitter in four innings,
and the rest of the Wolverines
knocked out 14 hits from behind the
plate.
The Wolverines then moved on to
defeat Butler 3-0 in the second game
on Saturday.
Pitching was once again Michigan's
strongpoint, as Young and reliever
Marissa Ritter combined to deliver a
no-hitter in a 7-0 victory over Gard-
ner-Webb. It was the first combined
no-hitter for Michigan since May 2,
2001.
The No. 15 Wolverines are now
15-6 and have won 12 of their last 13.
-Steven Shears
Crew team squares
with Notre Dame
The Michigan women's crew team
headed to South Bend this weekend to
take on Notre Dame in its first competi-
tion of the spring season. Cold weather
and icy conditions at Belleville Lake
forced the Wolverines to travel to South
Bend to race instead of having Notre
Dame visit them, as had been planned
for the exhibition match. Because of
lake conditions, the races were limited
to 1,000 meters rather than the usual
2,000, and times were not recorded for
all of the races.
The Wolverines' first varsity eight
boat edged out the Irish by half a sec-
Being a Youth
Counselor at an Eckerd wilderness camp
is an extraordinary' career-building,
life-changing experience. If you have
patience, dedication, guts, and have
experience working with children (or a
The University of Michigan
Department of Dermatology
is currently offering research
study for facial acne.
If you are over the age of 12 and are in good
general health, you may be eligible to participate
in a research program for facial acne.
Office visits and study agent are provided free of charge to eligible