10 - The Michigan Daily - Friday, April 4, 2003 'M' prepares for crack at Iowa By Sharad Mattu Daily Sports Writer The last two years, the Michigan hockey team won the CCHA Championship and qualified for the NCAA Tournament. Since its home, Yost Ice Arena, happened to be hosting the Midwest Regional, it was given an enormous advantage. The Wolverines made sure to capitalize on their good fortune by reaching the Frozen Four both seasons. Michigan's softball team has enjoyed a similar advantage the last two years, but with one difference: In order to host the Big Ten Tournament, they have had to earn it by winning the Big Ten T*US WEKEND regular season title. a vs. The Wolverines have fin- rowa ished first in the Big Ten the 3 p . last two years, before finishing l f. second in the Big Ten Tourna- ment two years ago and win- A :. ::::.:< ning it last year. The players realize the benefits of hosting the Big Ten Tournament, and are focused doing it again. "We don't want to lose any of our Big Ten games," freshman third baseman Grace Leutele said. "One of our goals is to tear it up in the Big Ten." The Wolverines (3-1 Big Ten, 21-8 overall), winners of five straight, will get a crack at one of the few teams hotter than themselves today and tomorrow in Iowa (4-0, 25-7). Before losing to Northern Iowa in the bottom of the seventh inning Tuesday, Iowa had won nine in a row and 23-of-24. The Hawkeyes are led by their middle infielders, shortstop Kristin Johnson and second base- man Christina Schmaltz, who have combined for 73 hits, 44 RBIs and 40 runs. Michigan will face a pair of tough hurlers this weekend in Lisa Birocci and Ali Arnold. The two are a combined 24-7, and both boast ERAs around one. Michigan has been at its best lately, and it obviously Simms steps closer to postseason goal By Mustafizur Choudhury Daily Sports Writer Junior Vera Simms is taking steady strides toward her postseason goal of claiming the Big Ten title in the 400- meter hurdles. Simms was recently named Big Ten Athlete of the Week (March 24) for her remarkable per- formance on the track in the Florida State Relays. At the non-scoring meet, she set a new school record with a time of 58:43, breaking her previous person- al-best time of 58:50. "I was coming off of a good indoor season, so I expected to run well," Simms said. "Hopefully, I can stay healthy and keep improving." Her performance was good enough to earn her a first-place finish and a trip UNDER gWOOD Continued from Page 9 to the NCAA regional qualifying meet in Columbus. "I was pleasantly surprised," Michi- gan coach James Henry said. "It wasn't expected. She's never run that fast before. She's well ahead of where she was last year." Simms, the defending Big Ten cham- pion in the hurdles, admits that her form needs to improve. She plans to work out the kinks in time for the post- season, when she hopes to help the Wolverines defend their Big Ten title and complete the season sweep of cross country and indoor and outdoor track and field. "I hope I can do as well as last year or better," Simms said. "It's a goal of mine to go to the NCAA Championships." After a week off, Simms and the Wolverines will be back in action tomorrow at the Yellow Jacket Invita- tional in Atlanta. Michigan will face strong competition from a number of Southern teams, including host Georgia Tech, Alabama and Florida State. The non-scoring meet will help the Wolver- ines improve and make adjustments for Big Ten competition. These early season meets provide the younger athletes with experience and a chance to develop their skills. At the same time, veterans like senior captain April Phillips try to use these "low pressure" meets to prepare for the postseason and earn qualifying marks for the NCAA Championships. "The competition will be as good as it was, if not better, at the Florida State Relays," Henry said. "We want to have a good contest and improve." S'T 'LOE/Daiy The Michigan softball team will have its hands full as it gets ready to face the Hawkeyes this weekend. needs to be on top of its game this weekend. The Wolver- ines lost their Big Ten and home opener to Illinois Friday, but their bats have come alive in the five games since then. Leutele led Michigan to a doubleheader sweep over West- ern Michigan Tuesday with three homers, and freshman Jennie Ritter pitched a two-hit shutout in the second game. Michigan has already suffered through not one, but two doubleheaders in the cold this past week. With the weath- er lousy once again, Hutchins has made sure the players don't dwell on the elements. "It's important that we realize we can't control the weather," Hutchins said. "Can it play an effect? Our goal is not to let it. "You really have to give our kids credit. It's tough to play when the body can't stay warm. I was proud of their ability to stay'focused for such a long period of time. They fought hard and came out on top in some close games." What will Carr do if the field is still in shambles clos- er to game time? "We'll get (Detroit Lions' home) Ford Field and open it up," Carr joked. "I'll call (Lions coach Steve) Mariucci. "If it gets bad, we just have to wait and see." Michigan Associate Athletic Director Mike Stevenson, who headed the search for a new artificial surface, is expecting the game to be played at its scheduled time - Saturday, April 12 at 11:30 a.m. - at the Big House. "I'm optimistic that, unless we get some unusually cold, wet weather between now and a few weeks, we'll have it," Stevenson said. 01 Blue to run at Yellow Jacket Invite By Benjamin Lawless For the Daily This weekend the Michigan men's track team will be travel to Atlanta for Georgia Tech's Yellow Jacket Invita- tional. The team will com- pete in a scored meet for the first time this outdoor T .I season. Expectations for this year's team are high com- ing off the success of the <, distance medley relay that r took third at the NCAA. Indoor Championships and a strong showing at the Florida State Relays two weekends ago. While the Florida State Relays were not scored and many runners par- ticipated in multiple events, it was an important tuneup for the team "This season is all about coming together at the Big Ten meet," said sophomore Seth Waits. "We are finally on the right track." Waits, who will be exclusively run- ning the 400-meter hurdles this outdoor NEEKEN"D a t teYellowiicirriz ovgia Tech more Nate season, is "hoping to place in the Big Ten meet, and would like to make it to the regional meet.' "Hopefully I will be able to run fast enough to contribute,"Waits said. Besides being a talent- ed runner in his own right, Waits has found that running alongside sopho- Brannen - the NCAA "Every time you step on the track you think about these world class guys running their butts off," Waits said. "I want them to feel like I am giving as much of a contribution and commit- ment as possible." In addition, Waits believes that Michigan's coach Ron Warhurst will be crucial to their success. "Being around a great coach like (Warhurst) is great. You really respect what he tells you and focus on the advice he gives," Waits said. On a team with so much young tal- ent, the coach is even more important, especially when nerves and inexperi- ence come into play. "It's great to be around someone with that much experience," Waits said. "You feel confident when you go into races because of the plan he has laid out." WHOSE GOT NEXT? Last week, the athletic department put together a screening committee for the next women's bas- ketball coach. Here is a look at possible candidates that the committee, which consists of seven members ranging from current players to academic administrators, could be looking at: Current school: Wisconsin-Green Bay Career Record: 373-161 WYf U11 Why he will be the next coach: A native of Bessemer, Borseth pursued the job before Sue Guevara became interim coach in 1996. In each of his five seasons, Wisconsin-Green Bay has increased its win total. This year, the Phoenix won their first NCAA Tournament game in the program's 30-year history. Also, Associate Athlet- ic Director Megan McCallister hinted to the Green Bay Press-Gazette that Borseth would be a candidate. Both will be attending the women's Final Four in Atlanta, but McCallister declined comment on whether she will interview candidates there. Mandy Stowe, who played under Guevara before transferring to Wisconsin-Green Bay, talked to Borseth, 49, last week. She said he did not come out and say it, but she thinks he is "definitely interested" in the head coaching position at Michigan. She added that, "If he had the backing of a school like Michigan, it scares me what he could do." Why he won't be the next coach: Borseth is in negotiation with Wisconsin-Green Bay over a five-year contract. But the contract would allow him to leave and coach Michi- gan even if he signed it. Current school: None Career Record: 319-136 Why s be the next coach: The , winningest coach in Southwest Missouri State history resigned last year after 15 years as the Lady Bears' head coach. Burnett, 44, led Southwest Missouri State to two Final Fours, including one in 2001, and is a high-profile coach that Michigan usually could not draw because of a history of losing, poor facilities and low attendance. Why she won't be the next coach: For these reasons, it might be hard to lure Burnett. THE OTHERS MAUU LM The current Toledo coach has made the NCAA Tournament four times in his six seasons and has connections to Ohio, which is rich in talent. But Ehlen said yesterday he has not been contacted by Michigan. (l OIM: The Notre Dame associate coach was a Michigan assistant for two years and will also be at the Final Four this weekend, but also said that she has not been contacted. 0' indoor 800-meter run national champi- on - and Nick Willis - Big Ten Indoor Freshman of the Year - has helped himself and his teammates. 9 IM .i I