The Michigan Daily - Thursday, September 16, 2004 -13A
Underclassmen hoping to
bring 'M' up from ground
By Mike Roarty
For the Daily
Most of the sports talk around campus is focused
on talented underclassmen making their mark on
Michigan athletics. Underclassmen like freshman
quarterback Chad Henne or sophomore basketball
sensation Brent Petway have shown that underclass-
men can not only contribute, but also have a major
impact in their sport.
This is also evident at some of the less publicized
sports at Michigan. The Michigan men's golf team
is loaded with youth - evidenced by the fact that
there is only one senior on the entire team. When
Andrew Sapp became coach two years ago, many
highly touted golfers joined on.
In Sapp's first recruiting class, he got three top
out-of-state prospects. Two of his recruits, Kevin
Dore and Will Kendall, were not even from this
country.
"The chance to play early on a uprising team, and
how well I got along with coach Sapp, is really what
sold me on Michigan," Dore said.
A likeable coach offering a chance to play is hard
to turn down in any sport.
Dore did not disappoint. He played in 12 matches,
and had the second lowest average on the team.
Dore, Kendall and fellow sophomore Matt
McLaughlin are expected to put up more consistent
numbers this year and will continue to do their part
in bringing up a team that finished tied for seventh
in the Big Ten last year.
"We are trying to come together as a team and
should post more consistent numbers," McLaughlin
said.
If last weekend's match at Radrick Farms Golf
Course in Ann Arbor is any indication, these play-
ers can fire some low numbers. McLaughlin and
Dore finished second and third on the team in the
first tournament of the year, even though the team
came in 13th place of 14 overall.
The most intriguing part of last week's tour-
nament was actually the play of another under-
classmen. Freshman Brian Ottenweller, a Grand
Rapids native, had the best average (72.33) as
well as the lowest round (71) on the entire team.
The first Michigan native that Sapp has brought
in, Ottenweller arrived with high hopes that have
so far held up.
"I definitely feel pressure with all the high expec-
tations," Ottenweller said.
The golf team will compete in four more tourna-
ments this fall in preparation for the spring season.
Ottenweller and fellow freshman Tim Schaetzel
are hoping to get over their initial anxiety and help
improve the team's standings in the Big Ten.
Although this team has talented underclassmen,
fifth-year senior Rob Tighe also contributes talent
and experience. He realizes that the team's young-
sters can play and does not pounce on their inexpe-
rience to improve his own status.
"The team is pretty laid back, and I am just try-
ing to make these kids feel more comfortable, not
only on the golf course, but as a student as well,"
Tighe said.
Sapp will continue the rebuilding of the golf pro-
gram this weekend in Wisconsin, when his team
will compete in the Northern Intercollegiate Tour-
nament.
H,' NOTE
Cagers to retire
Rice's No. 41
The Michigan basketball program announced
yesterday that it will retire the No. 41 jersey in
honor of former guard Glen Rice. In addition to
being the all-time leading scorer in Michigan
history, Rice led the Wolverines to their last
national championship in 1989.
Rice will become the fourth player in Michi-
gan history to have his number retired, along
with Cazzie Russell, Rudy Tomjanovich and
Phil Hubbard.
"We are extremely honored to have an oppor-
tunity to recognize Glen Rice," Michigan coach
Tommy Amaker said. "In the history of Michi-
gan basketball, Glen's accomplishments are
extraordinary. I cannot think of a more fitting
tribute than hanging his jersey in the rafters."
Rice played for Michigan from 1986 to '89. Dur-
ing Michigan's national championship season in
1989, he averaged more than 30 points-per-game.
Rice's 184 total points during the NCAA Tourna-
ment is an all-time record that still stands today.
Rice's NBA career was spent mainly with
the Miami Heat and Charlotte Hornets before
brief stints with the Lakers, Knicks, Rockets
and Clippers.
Michigan Athletic Director Bill Martin
called Rice one of the most recognized names
in Michigan basketball history.
"His success, dedication and spirit, on and
off the court, embody what is means to be a
Michigan Wolverine," Martin said.
Rice's jersey will be officially raised to the
rafters on Feb. 20, 2005, during halftime of
Michigan's home game against Indiana.
- Daniel Bremmer
Senior Rob Tighe has guided Michigan's freshman on and off the course.
Former medalist inspires athletes
By James V. Dowd
Daily Sports Writer
It was quite the reversal of roles when
the eyes of some 50 Michigan athletes
were glued to the front of West Quad's
Ostafin Room Wednesday night. Instead
of performing in front of the crowd, these
athletes were captivated by the compel-
ling stories of five-time Olympic swim-
ming medalist Josh Davis.
Davis came to Ann Arbor to speak
with Michigan's Athletes in Action group,
a nondenominational Christian organi-
zation for varsity athletes. After hearing
Davis's inspiring speech - where he
described his difficult journey from eighth
grade swimming practice to Olympic
podium - many of the athletes were
moved.
"I think that, in our culture, sport is so
glorified," senior field hockey goalkeeper
Molly Maloney said. "It is so prestigious,
and, when you can excel on the field,
you feel like you're on top of the world.
(Davis's speech) helps to give me an eter-
nal perspective. I realize that in a million
years that my playing time won't matter,
and all the records I set will be tarnished
and someone will break them."
As a freshman in college, Davis was
a member of a national-championship
swimming team at Texas. But daily strug-
gles with balancing swimming, academ-
ics and a stereotypical social life involving
drinking and dating made him physically
sick. While bed-ridden, he realized what
was truly important to him.
With the support of his parents, and a
rededicated Christian life, Davis was able
to realize his ultimate goals and represent
the U.S. at the 1996 Olympic Games in
Atlanta, and again in 2000 in Sydney.
"It was very cool to be standing on
the top podium," Davis said. "I sung the
national anthem as loud as I could and
realized that we are blessed to live in one
of the greatest countries in the world."
In seeing that Davis was just a normal
man, many of the athletes, like Maloney,
were able to relate to him with their own
personal athletic and moral turnarounds.
"I really felt like (Davis) connected
with me as an athlete because his experi-
ences were a lot like mine," former Michi-
gan rower and current Athletes in Action
triathlete Adam Czap said.
Davis left Ann Arbor with this mes-
sage for Michigan students and athletes,
whether they aspire to win Olympic med-
als like himself or live life as a doctor or
engineer:
"What really makes someone a true
champion is when they do their best every
day with what they've got, and not wor-
rying about the results," Davis said. "We
always focus on the winner, but that is not
what makes someone a champion. You
have to do your best all the time."
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T RYOUTS:
Here's your chance to be a part of the Michigan Athletic experience...
we're looking forward to seeing you at our Fall Tryouts!
Date: Sunday, September 19th
Time: Noon - 5 pm
Location: Cliff Keen Arena
Material/skills will be reviewed and judged that day.
For more information, visit our website at http://www.umich.edu/~umcheer/.
Noble sportsmanship is important on the field and in the stands
"One of the issues that we're trying to get our hands around in college
football is the sportsmanship issue. It is a vital issue; we've taken
great pride at Michigan that our fans conduct themselves in a way
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