0 10 - The Michigan Daily - Tuesday, November 12, 2002 Championship berth on the line for No. 18 Michigan MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY WEST LAFAYETTE By Daniel Bremmer Daily Sports Writer Coming off a strong showing two weeks ago at the Big Ten Championships at Purdue, the Michigan men's cross country team will travel back to West Lafayette this weekend with the hopes of securing a berth in the NCAA Cham- Wisconsin - which won the Big Ten Champi- onships - and Eastern Michigan are the favorites to win the Regional race and receive the automatic berths. Michigan coach Ron Warhurst figures four or five teams from the Great Lakes region will receive at-large bids. "I think (we will get an NCAA bid) if we're in the top five for sure," Warhurst said. "but sixth pionships. ~ This weekend's NCAA Great Lakes Regional will give the 18th- ranked Wolverines the chance to earn an automatic berth by finishing in the top two. But don't expect this to come easy for Michigan. At the Big Ten Championships, the Wolverines finished third, narrowly missing second place by one point. The Great Lakes Regional will fea- ture the same strong field as the con- ference meet - including such Big " . WEST LAFAYETTE Who: No. 18 Michigan at NCAA Great Lakes Regional When: 13:30 p.m. Latest: After a strong show- ing in the Big Ten Champi- onships, the Wolverines look for an automatic NCAA bid with a win at the regionals. will give us a real good shot." In looking ahead to this weekend, Warhurst believes his runners need to come out with more intensity than they did their last time out, especially in the middle of the pack. "We're not worrying about the Big Tens anymore," Warhurst said. "We're on to the District Championships, and we've got to get a little tougher at positions three, four, five, six and seven." The NCAA Championships will BRENDAN O'DONNELL/Daily Michigan was a disappointment in the NCAA Championships, placing ninth last year with star Andy Hrovat. Without him, it looks to avenge finish. Wrestlers looking for redemption Ten powerhouses as No. 4 Wisconsin and No. 17 Ohio State, combined with highly regarded Mid- American Conference schools like No. 7 Eastern Michigan and No. 9 Central Michigan. No. 21 Butler also joins the field at the Regionals and should add to the strong field of competition. The NCAA issues two automatic berths to each of the top nine districts nationally. In addi- tion, 13 at-large bids will also be handed out. take place on Nov. 25 in Terre Haute, but Warhurst is hesitant to look toward the end of the season at this point in time. "The goal is to qualify. Once we do that, we'll re-establish (our goals)," Warhurst said. "You have to take it one step at a time. It's like the guys in football looking past Wisconsin for the big one against Ohio State. You can't do that. You've got to play the game today." By Eric Chan Daily Sports Writer Momentum carrylng harriers WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY WEST LAFAYETTE By Mustafizur Choudhury Daily Sports Writer After the Michigan women's cross country team captured the Big Ten title at Purdue two weeks ago, the team has leapfrogged through the rankings, moving from No. 24 to No. 12 in the nation. Mem- earn the prestigious honor. "Rebecca's been the most consistent runner in our lineup," McGuire said. "Her ability to compete is not something that you'd necessarily expect from a freshman." Walter and junior Lindsey Gallo were both named to the All-Big Ten first team. It was Gallo's bers of the team have also been rewarded for their contribution to the Wolverines' success. Recently, Michigan coach Mike McGuire was named Big Ten Coach of the Year, after leading the team to its fourth Big Ten Championship in the past 10 years. This is the fourth time McGuire has been honored with the award. The others came in succession, when the Wolverines won three con- secutive titles from 1992-'94. "It's definitely an honor," McGuire said. "It's a (result) of what we did at1 WEST LAFAYETTE What: No. 12 Michigan at NCAA Great Lakes Regional When: 11 a.m. Latest: After leading Michigan to its fourth Big Ten title in 10 years, coach Mike McGuire was named Big Ten Coach of the Year. second consecutive time earning the honor. Gallo followed Walter across the finish line in seventh place with a time of 17:49. Michigan heads back to the same course in West Lafayette this Saturday to compete in the NCAA Great Lakes Regional. Michigan will battle in a region that boasts six of the top 30 teams in the nation, including No. 5 Notre Dame, No 19 Michigan State and No. 20 Indiana. "Depth has been our strength all Five returning All-Americans. Preseason national title con- tenders. Disappointing down the stretch. All three are perfectly good descriptions of last year's Michigan wrestling team. "I think we were banged up at the end of the year. Foley (Dowd) and (Matt) Brink's knees were in bad shape at the end of the year," Michigan coach Joe McFarland said. "It was pretty obvious that Brink wasn't 100 percent after he came back. Andy (Hrovat) was. also having some problems with his back." Led by seniors Otto Olson and Hrovat, Michigan looked impres- sive through the entire season by beating wrestling powerhouses like Iowa and Oklahoma and with Olson and Hrovat finishing the regular season with No. I rankings in their respective weight class- es. With Michigan ranked second behind seemingly unbeatable Minnesota, expectations were high for the postseason. But results were mediocre at best. The Wolverines took third at the Big Ten Tournament and a dismal ninth at the NCAA Championships. "I think a lot of us were burned out toward the end of last year" said Michigan 157/165-pounder Mike Kulczycki. "I think we might have peaked too early too." With a disappointing season behind them, the Wolverines, ranked seventh in Wrestling International Newsmagazine's preseason poll, once again starts with a talented roster. Olson and Hrovat are gone, but the Wolverines return All-Americans Ryan Bertin and Kyle Smith, while also adding one of the nation's finest recruiting classes. "We have a real good team with a lot of experience. A lot of guys have been to the national championships," Kulczycki said. "I think we'll surprise some people this year." Surprise is exactly what the Wolverines will have to do to make a run at the Big Ten and national titles. Michigan - ranked in the top three nationally most of last year - is not even ranked amongst the top 3 in the conference in the latest preseason polls. Perennial pow- erhouses No. 1 Minnesota and No. 3 Iowa, along with No. 6 Ohio State are all ranked above Michigan in the WI.N. poll. At 125 pounds, 2001 All-American A.J Grant should reclaim his spot as Michigan's starter. With Fresno State's Stephen Abas gone, 125 is wide open this year, and anyone, including Grant, has a shot at the national title. Foley Dowd is likely to be Michigan's 133-pounder this sea- son, and he hopes to rebound after a disappointing season last year in one of the Big Ten's toughest weight classes. Dowd has to battle 2002 NCAA finalist Ryan Lewis from Minnesota and All-Americans Kevin Black and Cliff Moore from Wisconsin and Iowa, respectively. The weight classes from 141 to 165 are where Michigan has a big mix-up this season. Redshirt freshman Ryan Churella and Clark Forward were originally supposed to be the top contenders for the 141 spot, but with Kulczycki - previously predicted to be Michigan's 149-pounder - unable to make weight, Churella will slide into the 149 spot, leaving Forward at 141. Forward struggled with injuries last season, but should be a force in the Big Ten in a wide-open 141-pound weight class. Churella is a great young talent who should fill the 149-pound spot well. A bigger Kulczycki will have to wrestle off Bertin for the spot at 157 pounds and the loser of that series will challenge senior Pat Owen for the starting role at 165 pounds. With Olson and Hrovat gone, some fresh faces will fill the 174- and 184-pound spots in Michigan's roster. Redshirt freshmen R.J Boudro and Willie Breyer are the top candidates to fill the two spots, but each will have his hands full as both weight classes are extremely deep this year in the Big Ten. Purdue's Ryan Lange (fifth place at 2002 Big Ten Championships), and Iowa's Tyler Nixt (Big Ten run- ner-up) return at 174-pounds, while All-American's Damion Hahn from Minnesota and Jessman Smith from Iowa are back at 184. Smith is Michigan's best hope for a national champion. With wrestling icon Cael Sanderson gone from Iowa State, Smith, Lehigh's Jon Trenge and Nebraska's Justin Ruiz (fifth place at 2002 NCAA championships) should be the top three national title con- tenders at 197 pounds. Redshirt freshman Greg Wagner should replace Matt Brink at heavyweight. The class is stacked in the Big Ten this season with the top three nationally ranked wrestlers - Ohio State's Tommy Rowlands, Iowa's Steve Mocco and Minnesota's Garrett Lowney - all hailing from Big Ten schools. As the 2002-03 wrestling season kicks off around the country in the coming weeks, Michigan hopes the combination of its seasoned veterans and its impressive young talent will be enough to keep the Wolverines among the elite. "I think our whole team is excited and looking forward to the season getting under way," McFarland said. the Big Ten Championships. We had some pretty good athletes step up, and I owe a lot to the kids on my team." Rebecca Walter was named Big Ten Freshman of' the Year, as she was the first Wolverine and the first freshman to cross the line, finishing in fifth place in a time of 17:47. Walter is the sixth Wolverine to season," McGuire said. "This meet, we can only run seven athletes and it's (important) that they step up. They've looked good in practice, and I think that they'll represent the team quite well. "We're in a very strong region, but we're looking forward to the challenge. It'll be a good test for everyone." .4 L q,./E D V "F? n: . .ipI v v.. . . :. :! D M I ,:"** "v. v:,f v/l We invite University of Michigan Juniors to a presentation about Summer Internship Opportunities Thursday, November 14, 2002 4:30pm Davidson Hall - Room D1276 ,M