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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