The Michigan Daily - Thursday, March 4, 2004 - 9A Tumblers driven by reunited pair By Jeremy Antar Daily Sports Writer For anyone who is serious about competing in collegiate gymnastics, experience on a high school gymnastics team is of minimal importance. Throughout the country, elite gymnasts compete on club teams, often beginning at a very young age. This is due to the fact that many high schools do not even have a gymnastics program. The few that do are not of the same caliber as the club teams. Most of the college recruiting that occurs takes place through the club teams. 'Sophomore Becca Clauson began going to TAGS Gym- nastics Club in Minnesota when she was two years old. Throughout middle school and high school, Clauson dedi- cated much of her time to gymnastics, traveling straight from school to the club for about four-and-a-half hours of practice for five days a week. Freshman Carol McNamara joined Clauson at TAGS Gymnastics Club when she moved to Minnesota in eighth grade and the girls quickly became friends. The duo remained close and competed together until Clauson graduated in 2002 and moved on to Michigan. But the friendship was soon rekindled when McNamara decided to become a Wolverine just one year later. Although Clauson and McNamara enjoyed being on the same club team, both said that the experience was quite dif- ferent than competing at Michigan. "When you're in club (gymnastics), you're on your own and you don't focus as much on team," Clauson said. "But once you get here, you want your teammates to do well and you get more excited for them. "There's a little more pressure because you're not just performing for yourself, so a mistake would be a mistake for the team and not just for you," McNamara said. McNamara added that this works both ways because success as well as failure is shared by teammates. Nolan captures milestone win By Jamie Josephson Daily Sports Writer "Play to win." Senior Chrissie Nolan of the Michi- gan woman's tennis team has certainly lived up to her personal motto. The fourth-year veteran picked up a milestone 70th career singles victory as a Wolverine over Spring Break, defeat- ing Sandra Rocha of Long Beach State in straight sets. Nolan then went on to capture her 71st career win against Hawaii's Kimberly Curtis (6-4, 6-0). This most recent win allowed Nolan to move up in Michigan's career victories list. Nolan now sits in ninth, tied with Tina Basle (1985-88). "(The win) is not the most significant thing to me because I'm on a team," Nolan said. "I just want to play my best because we are doing so well. That's more important to me." Aside from her on-court success, Nolan received the Academic All-Big Ten award in both her sophomore and junior years at Michigan. As a student in the Business School, Nolan has had to balance a demanding course load with her tennis career. Adding to the list of her achieve- ments, Nolan has also received praise for her character on and off the court. She was a recipient of the United States Ten- nis Association Sportsmanship Award the summer after her freshman year. "I've always wanted to be a fair player," Nolan said. "I want to win the right way." Coach Bitsy Ritt even said that Nolan has been teased for being "almost too fair", as she has had the tendency to play balls that have been hit out. Ritt believes Nolan has improved in this area as well. Ritt acknowledged that Nolan has become much more vocal at team meetings. She said that Nolan is often the voice of reason among the players. Holding a 14-7 singles record this season, Nolan explained that staying healthy and playing consistent have been the key to her accumulating so many wins. "(Nolan) has the ability to exploit her opponents' weaknesses," Ritt said. "One of her strengths is just her strong desire to win." Nolan explained that she has become stronger, physically, and increased her speed on the court. Ritt agreed, saying that she has noticed a significant improvement in Nolan's conditioning. Nowadays, Nolan is known for her strong baseline game, but she explained that her skills at the net have gradually improved throughout her career at Michigan. "I used to be so intimidated up at the net," Nolan said. "Now, I'm more of an all-court player." Nolan provides her team with strong senior leadership. "Players feel comfortable going to (Nolan) individually to talk with her," Ritt said. "She's also somebody you could look to during the heat of battle to come through under pressure." If earning her milestone victory was- n't enough, this season, Nolan has had already led a currently undefeated, No, 19 Michigan team in upset wins over both Notre Dame and Tennessee. "(Nolan) may not overpower players, but she is a great baseliner, who could put a million balls in the court," Ritt said. "She deserves all the recognition she's getting." RYAN WEINER/Daily Sophomore Becca Clauson has the chance to compete for the Wolverines with lifelong friend Carol McNamara, When asked why she decided to attend Michigan, Clauson referenced a Michigan vs. Minnesota meet she attended at the age of 12. The Wolverines won the meet, and from that day forward, Clauson had an inclination toward Michigan. But both Clauson and McNamara said that they knew for certain that Michigan was the school for them after visiting the University and spending time with the team. "When I came here, I just felt so comfortable with the team and I loved the coaches," McNamara said. Clauson noted that, in addition to sharing success and cheering for teammates at meets, coming to practice every day is easier in college than it was on the club team. "Even though you have a team, you're competitive against each of the members on the team (in club competition)," Clauson said. "But here it's just all team first, which makes it so much more fun to come to practice." Senior Chrissie Nolan has grown as a leader and player at Michigan. UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN BIOLOGICAL STATION donus for a rewarding summer in northern Michigan Spring Session (May 16-June 12) 0 MEN'S TENNIS Unheralded H r 11 " " By Ryan Sosin Daily Sports Writer Introduction to Natural Science General Ecology Ethnobotany All courses 5 credits BIO/EEB Summer Session (June 19-August 14) Natural History & Evolution Biology of Birds General Ecology Biology & Ecology of Fishes Biology of Animal Parasites Behavioral Ecology Biology of Insects Stream and River Ecology Field Mammalogy Wetland Ecology Freshwater Algae Field Botany of Northern Limnology Michigan Financial aid is available Information & Applications: UMBS 2014 Kraus Nat. Sci. Bldg. Call 763-4461 or e-mail umbs@umich.edu www.umich.edu/-umbs Only one player on the Michigan men's tennis team remains undefeated in the singles portion of the dual match season. It's not a name that most would expect. It's not senior Anthony Jackson or junior Michael Rubin. Even junior Vinny Gossain and freshman Steve Peretz have blemishes on their records. The last player with a clean record is freshman Ryan Heller. Heller has quietly amassed an 8-0 record during the dual season after a less-than-desirable performance during the fall season, when he registered an 8-6 tally. "I've finally found the groove," Heller said. "(In) the fall (I) was a little off." While Heller hasn't been drawing the headlines from his No. 4 singles spot, he has been flashing some of the team's most exciting tennis. Any crowd that amasses above his corner of the Varsity Tennis Center is guaranteed a good show. "When he's hitting his shots, he's going to be tough to deal with," Michigan coach Mark Mees said. Leller striving Coming to Michigan after four-straight MVP seasons in the No. 1 singles spot at Glenbrook North High School in Northbrook, Ill., Heller could have arrived on campus with a big ego. But for Heller, being a key part of the Wolverines' team has been more important than anything he accomplished before coming to Ann Arbor. "Ryan is a great kid and a team player," assistant coach Dan Goldberg said. "He fit in really well (on the team) right from the get-go." Thanks to a big serve and powerful forehand, Heller finds himself on the No. 2 doubles team, alongside Rubin. The pair is 5-3 on the dual match season, and play- ing with Rubin has been a good learning experience for the first-year player. "(I've learned a lot about) the leadership role," Heller said. "(Mike's) always on top of his game and works really hard." Heller tries to learn from his more experienced partner, and Rubin says that he has been feeding off Heller's confidence. for perfection "He's not cocky or anything," Rubin said. "He just goes out there and knows he can get it done" Three of Heller's singles victories have come off of tie-break sets. He doesn't let up in those third sets when the game's on the line, outscoring his opponents 6-3 on each occasion. It's no coincidence that Heller can turn it on in the third set and wow the crowd. Mees attributes it to his "linebacker mentality." Sophomore Carey Rubin describes it as more of a "bulldog attitude." Either way, his tenacious style of play has benefited him late in matches. "I like to be under pressure and come up with a big shot," Heller said. While his record shows perfect consistency, his game is still being refined. With more experience against the country's best college players, Heller could develop into a top national player. "He's got to keep working on the consistency part of it so his level of play is more balanced, so he does- n't have the valleys, because his peaks can be pretty scary," Mees said. I I o' ;I w« .v 5 t t _. I] I k V ,aw '.,. ,, Reserve your spot for the REAL LIFE 101 Series, sponsored by the Alumni Association, and you'll get practical advice and concrete tips on life after Michigan, including getting the job you want, using the Michigan alumni network to your advantage, making the most of your job offer and managing your finances. 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