The Michigan Daily - Wednesday, February 11, 2004 -1" Ebbett's brain aids Blue scoring attack By Michael Nisson Daily Sports Writer When you think of the stereotypical chess guru, you probably think of a scrawny little guy with big-rimmed glasses who can derive the Pythagorean Theorem in his sleep. When you think of a hockey player, you probably think of a big, nasty brute that enjoys shoving people in his spare time. When you put the two images together, you're describing one of the Michigan hockey team's most prolific scorers - sophomore center Andrew Ebbett. Ebbett, who Michigan coach Red Berenson describes as being "as smart a player as we have," is the closest thing the Wolverines have to a master chess player. But Ebbett makes his moves on the ice, not the chessboard. The clearest way to see how Ebbett resembles a chess players like Bobby Fischer or Gary Casparov is simply to look at him. Ebbett is the smallest player on the team at 5-foot-9 and 170 pounds. At first glance, you might wonder how he's able to survive checks from players that are sometimes as much as eight inches taller and 60 pounds heavier than him. That's where his hockey I.Q. comes into play. "I think he makes up for (his size disadvantage) because he's smart," linemate David Moss said. "He finds a way to keep himself open and keep his feet open." Michigan assistant coach Billy Powers said that what makes Ebbett stand out is the "presence" that he brings to the ice. "You don't even worry about (Ebbett's) line," Powers said. "He's in charge - he'll make sure that line plays well. It gives you a luxury as a coach. He just doesn't need a whole lot." Ebbett has definitely made his mark on the score sheet. So far this sea- son, Ebbett is second on the team in total points (27) and assists (21). He also leads the team in multiple-point games with 11. After a minute of thought, Powers elevated his characterization .of Ebbett to a much higher level. "To be honest, the guy that he reminds me most of, and obviously he's not as prolific, would be (Brendan) Morrison," Powers said. "Brendan wasn't a big guy either. He just had that way about him that felt like he was in charge." The comparison is a lofty one for the sophomore. Morrision, winner of the Hobey Baker Award and an alternate captain on the 1996 National Championship squad, holds many spots in the Michigan record book, Former Olympian helps 'M'gymnasts By Ian Herbert Daily Sports Writer Wolverines excited for: warm Arizona weather By John Stiglich Ii For the Daily The Michigan men's golf team is looking to defrost its clubs this week- end when the Wolverines head to Tempe, Ariz., for their meet against Purdue and Arizona State. Coach Andrew Sapp is confident in his team's ability to play well despite the climate change. "We've been practicing at Miles of Golf, hitting in the heated driving range, and we've been able to get some wedge work done despite the weather," Sapp said. Six members of the team will play in the desert this weekend: senior Dave Nichols, sophomores Brandon Duff and Christian Vozza, and fresh- men Matt McLaughlin, Will Kendall and Kevin Dore. The team hopes to conquer a tract of land Nichols is very familiar with, Arizona State's Karsten Course. "The course we're playing at is the course I worked at all summer," Nichols said. "I've played there like 50 times." Nichols is a native of Rochester, but his parents retired to Mesa, Ariz., two summers ago. Nichols' knowledge of the course layout could prove vital in Michigan's performance. "I know where you can hit it and where you can't," Nichols said. "That's definitely something I will share (with the rest of the team) once we get there." Sapp believes Nichols, a four-year varsity player, will be a strong leader for the team this year. "He played in all four tournaments last fall," Sapp said. "So we're hop- ing he can step up in the spring and help shape our younger players as well." Nichols said the success of the teamr will be determined by the develop- ment of the younger players. "Giving the younger players some, of my experience and wisdom is one of two things I'd like to do before I'm done playing," Nichols said. He also expressed his desire to da anything he possibly can to help the team win. Arizona State is the favorite this. weekend, as it has been playing year: round golf in warm weather. But, according to Sapp, Purdue can be beaten. "Obviously when you're playing a. team like Arizona State this early in, the season, it's difficult to say we'd be able to compete with them," Sapp said' "But we think we can compete well against Purdue - that's our main- goal." This weekend's match marks the. beginning of the golf team's spring season. In the next four months, the, Wolverines will travel to many loca-' tions including Puerto Rico over- spring break. But the team ultimately. will return to Ann Arbor for the Big. Ten Tournament in May. "This weekend's match is kind of a preseason warm-up for the rest of the, season," Sapp said. "We'll learn a lot- this weekend and are looking forward to Puerto Rico over the break, where. we'll be playing some of the top teams in the nation."a JASON COOPER/Daily Andrew Ebbett Is second on the Wolverines this season In both total points and assists because of his ability to find openings around the ice. including being the all-time leading scorer in Michigan history. Ebbett, like the Wolverines in general, has been on fire lately. He cur- rently has a five-game point streak, including a goal and three assists in the two games against Alaska-Fairbanks last weekend. "Coming back from the (winter) break, he has been dynamite," Pow- ers said. "His stats show it, his plus-minus shows it and our victories show it. Our win-loss record is indicative of him stepping up, too." Assistant thrives near home I f fl By Anne Ulble Daily Sports Writer Most of the time, the Michigan men's gymnastics team has only three coaches to observe and give advice to the gymnasts. But this year it has additional help. Daisuke Nishikawa, a two-time member of Japan's Olympic team, has been with the squad since September and plans on stay- ing until just before the Big Ten Championships in the middle of March. The coaches and gymnasts think that he brings something dif- ferent to the gym that makes them better as a team. "He is the silent coach who stands over in the corner and ana- lyzes," Michigan coach Kurt Golder said. "And without knowing that he is watching, he will call a guy over and give him a little ancient Japanese secret. And of course he is an Olympic level ath-. lete so, because of his presence, he brings the dimension of the guys wanting to perform for him and show him their best. I am sure that it helps us a bit." Nishikawa comes to Michigan with an impressive resume. When he was 18 years old, he competed for Japan in the Seoul Olympics. While there, he got a perfect 10.0 on the pommel horse, something that only a handful of gymnasts have done in the history of the Olympics. "He's awesome," junior Geoff Corrigan said. "Just being in the gym with a guy like that is something that most people will never get to do. So, just from that perspective, it's amazing to have him in the gym." Nishikawa has been working as a gymnastics coach and lectur- er at his alma mater, Nihon University in Tokyo, since 1999. He explained that gymnastics is the same wherever he is, but some aspects of coaching are different. "My team had 35 gymnasts, which is too big," Nishikawa said. "The gym was very small, the same size as this. There were only two coaches for all those gymnasts. It was very difficult. At Michigan, there are three coaches and 16 gymnasts. And the gymnasts and the coaches talk, which is very good. "Competition is the same, but just a little different. Some guys from Michigan do all six events, but some guys do three events or two events and that's okay - specialists are okay. But in Japan there are no specialists. All gymnasts do six events. It's different because doing all six events is very difficult. If you are good on five events, but on one event you are no good, then you aren't a good gymnast." He said that the hardest part is communicating with the gym- nasts, but the coaches and gymnasts think that he doesn't give himself enough credit. "Especially with the sport of gymnastics, so much of the coach- ing is done by how you shape you body or (use) hand gestures to Sometimes you don't have to go far away from home to find what you're looking for. Michigan women's swimming assistant coach Stefanie Kers- ka believes in this wholeheartedly. After attending high school in Ann Arbor and swimming for Michigan in the late 1980s, she returned to her roots six years ago to coach the same team that taught her how to live life to the fullest. Kerska first swam when her mom sent her off to swim camp at the age of 10. Armed with only a bikini, Kerska was the sole camper without a swim cap or goggles. The camp jump-started Kerska's love for swim- ming and pushed her to join various club teams. At 14, her father's job moved the family from New, York to Michigan, and Kerska was told to find a local swim club that she liked. "My father said he'd commute to Troy (to work) from any local area of my choosing," Ker- ska said. "It really wasn't difficult for me to pick a team - Ann Arbor Swim Club was the obvi- ous choice." Kerska swam at Pioneer High School from 1983-87, where she was the two-time state cham- pion in the 100-yard backstroke and the second- ranked backstroker in the country. Although she gave a verbal commitment to Michigan at one point, her decision changed on signing day. Her call to Michigan's Jim Richard- son caught the coach offhand. "She said to me, 'I've decided where I'm going,' " Richardson said. "Then she gave this long pause and to my dismay chose Virginia! In my head I was thinking, 'Wait, no, you meant to say Michigan!' While at Virginia, Kerska had difficulties with the swim coach and was sick for the better part of her first semester. She decided to transfer to Michigan after just three months as a Cavalier. By January of her freshman year, Kerska train- ing with the Wolverines. Kerska made her debut at the 1988 Big Ten championships, winning the 500-yard freestyle title as a last-minute fill-in for the race's defending champion, Gwen De Mott, who was sick with mono. "She was going into a race she'd never really done before,' Richardson said. "But she not only finished with a personal best time, but she claimed the title for the race. It was at that moment that she established herself as a force in the Big Ten." At the end of Kerska's swimming career in- 1990, she was a seven-time Big Ten Conference champion. "She was incredibly tough," Richardson said "Along with half the girls being intimidated by., her, I think half the guys on the men's team were scared of her too." After graduating, Kerska married former- Michigan men's swimmer Dave Kerska and coached various high school and club swim teams., in the Ann Arbor area In 1998, Richardson offered;, her an assistant coaching position with the Wolverines. "I knew she obviously had the background," Richardson said. "She had great organizational- skills, knew my style and had a good idea of the ins and outs of the program. I knew she would be,, perfect for the job" Senior captain Sara Johnson agrees that Kerska has been an asset to the program. While she views Kerska as a friend and fill-in mother many times, she has really felt the intensity of her compassion- ate coach. Johnson believes that Kerska's real mis- sion as assistant coach is to keep Richardson organized. "He would have a really hard time keeping things in line without her," Johnson said. Richardson said the swimmers are more com- fortable talking to her about certain topics because she is a woman. "I try to be as in touch with my feminine side as I can," Richardson said. "I live with my wife, my young daughter and a female dog, but it can only go so far." Kerska has been able to bond easily with the swimmers over the course of the six seasons she's been with Michigan. While influencing her swimmers' lives, Kerska has two children of her own to imprint her ideals upon. She and her husband have a daughter, Kate- rina, and a son, Karl Niklas. "It's difficult balancing family and coaching," Kerska said. "In both cases, you want to give just a little bit more, and you have to be able to find just the right amount. For me, family comes first, but there are no other girls I'd rather spend my time with than the team. I feel very privileged to coach here and be able to affect these girls' lives." Many people are concerned about finding new roots, but Kerska has found that she hasn't had to travel far to find the place where she belongs. TONY DING/Daily Visiting Michigan assistant Daisuke Nishikawa scored a perfect 10.0 for the on the pommel horse (shown above) at the Seoul Olympics. show different techniques," Golder says. "And that is something that is universal. That is why gymnasts can communicate, coach- to-athlete, so easily." Corrigan said that he has no problem understanding what his Japanese coach is trying to explain when there are problems with his routine. "It's not a problem because he can show positions and every- thing," Corrigan says. "It is if you are trying to get in depth on something, but most of the time he just shows technique. And he speaks pretty good English. He is just scared to talk. When he wants to, he can say anything." Nishikawa's first large competition was at the Olympics. Before that, he had only trained in high school and Japan has no national competition like there is in the United States. The plethora of large college competitions, like last weekend's Winter Cup in Las Vegas, is one thing that Nishikawa had to get used to. He said that he has some trouble dealing with the Michigan weather. "I have been having fun," Nishikawa said. "I like it. I like Michigan. The gymnastics is very good and the coaching is very good. The cold is unbelievable. But inside it's warm. 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