12 - The Michigan Daily - Tuesday, November 9, 2004 9 leers relax with rival Coming1up By Jake Rosenwasser Daily Sports Writer After sweeping a highly regarded Miami Red- Hawks team last weekend and playing some of its best hockey of the season, one might think the Michigan hockey team would be upset about hav- ing a weekend off. But as it turns out, the Wolver- ines are not worried about losing the momentum they gained. "I think the guys are pretty happy about the break," junior center Andrew Ebbett said. "We've got a lot of guys banged up right now and we've got a short week next week, so it's not even a two- week break." The Wolverines are idle this weekend, but they will be back in action earlier than usual next week because their game at Michigan State was scheduled for Thursday instead of Friday. "Michigan State is always marked on our calendar," senior captain Eric Nystrom said. "And even though we have the weekend off, this is a big week of prepa- ration because next week is a short week. (The week before an off week) is a good week to do a little extra on the bike or a little extra in the weight room." The coaches have decided to run practices that are a little shorter than usual to help some of the players freshen up. "The practices aren't as intense," sophomore for- ward David Rohlfs said. "It's good because you want to get a little rest, but on the other hand you don't want to get rusty at all." Other Wolverines - like Ebbett, who tweaked his N WOMEN'S SWIMMING Mueller epitomizes Renaissance spirit 6 By Max Kardon Daily Sports Writer During the Renaissance, versatility was the ultimate virtue. Today at Michigan, the spirit of DaVinci still flows through the student-athletes. The myriad of abilities that qualify the Renaissance label are embodied by Justine Mueller. Mueller, a freshman member of the women's swimming and diving team, does not employ a brush like DaVinci. Instead, she conjures beauty through combinations of muscle groups. An expert in the individual medley, her art is manifested by the strokes of back, breast, butterfly, and freestyle. Mueller, who idolizes the swimming of two-time Olympian Amanda Beard, saw the work of the true masters when she qualified to compete in the U.S. Olympic Trials last year. "Beard said she would retire when she broke the (Ameican individual medley) record," Mueller said. "But she's already done it a few times and it doesn't look like she's hanging it up just yet." Mueller has time to develop her style- for international exhibition - and the pre- cedence of Wolverine Olympians bolsters her aspirations. Her motivation to reach that level is illustrated by her adoption of a personal weight program last January to prepare for the Olympic trials. "I'm not a huge fan of the backstroke or the butterfly. But I know I've got to keep JASON COOPER/Daily Defenseman Brandon Rogers was plus-two in Michigan's sweep of Miami (Ohio) this weekend. The Wolverines now have a week off before taking on Michigan State In a home-and-home. ankle two weeks ago against Lake Superior State - are looking to rid themselves of any lingering injuries that they have accumulated over the first ten games. "There are a lot of guys with bumps and bruises," Ebbett said. "My ankle is still bothering me a bit and (junior Brandon Kaleniecki) didn't practice today. The weekend off should give us some time to heal." Kaleniecki injured his leg in his final shift on Saturday and should be back on the ice in the next few days. Even with the shortened practices, Michigan expects to start where it left off last weekend when the puck drops against the Spartans on Nov. 18. "Obviously momentum is a key in this game," Rohlfs said. "The weekend off shouldn't affect us too bad because we're still out here skating every day." NOTES: Junior forward Jeff Tambellini was named CCHA Offensive Player of the Week for his six-point performance over the weekend. Tam- bellini notched five goals and one assist over the weekend including his second career hat trick Fri- day night against Miami in a 5-2 win. He is the first Wolverine to earn the honor this season ... Michigan was ranked No. 2 in the last USCHO poll released yesterday. I -" Ike Michigan Daily i Holiday Travel Page 2004 Whether heading home to vis. . family and friend or t aki g a tropical getaway the himgaN Daily can help you pla yor t rp. Use the Holiday Tray a book yourflight andhoteI at the .in Americ # ss#ISdent r. -Opera.o, CANCUN, ACAPULCO, JAMAICA, BAHAMAS, FLORIDA working at them if I'm going to be the swimmer I can be," Mueller said. Mueller was crowned national public school champion in the 200-meter indi- vidual medley last year while competing for Monroe High School. She has the ability to compete in sev- eral other events at the collegiate level, thanks to the guidance and confidence of her coach, Michigan stalwart Jim Rich- ardson. Richardson - whose vast collec- tion of modern-era championship banners is worthy of the Guggenheim - has brought national glory into Canham Nata- torium for over two decades. Richardson instructs his swimmers on technique, and brings them to their peak condition through dry-land activities that stress core body strength. "I had no idea a trunk twist could be so complicated," said Mueller, pointing at a variety of exercise bands and medi- cine balls on the second floor of Canham Natatorium. "It can be exhausting going through the conditioning programs after getting out of the pool, but that's how you get stronger." Versatility is a virtue made beautiful by balance, and the core training stressed by Richardson keeps his swimmers' bodies on course. Academic courses complete Mueller's conditioning. Her pursuit of excellence extends into the drier confines of the classroom. An honor-roll student in high school, she studies French, women's stud- ies and calculus at the University - an eclectic mix of academics that compli- ment her athletic prowess. When success or failure is measured by the millisecond (as it is in the pool), it becomes easier for Mueller to deal with hours of study. "One good thing about being a swim- mer is that you have to have a good sense of balance and timing," Mueller said. "Managing school work and practice comes naturally. That doesn't mean it's simple." Mueller's greatest achievement this year was a victory in the 200-meter indi- vidual medley against Florida on Oct. 16, but she has yet to paint her masterpiece. The team is coming off a fifth place finish at the Boilermaker Challenge last weekend in West Lafayette and continues to work towards improvement. This Friday at 5 p.m., the Wolver- ines' talent will host against arch-rival Ohio State. COOPER Continued from page 10 Cooper is pleased with the progress the team has made as the Wolverines were able to play the game they hoped to. She believes that Michigan played very aggressive and was defending the ball well on the defensive end. Cooper and therest of them team played in an exceptionally relaxed manner. But Cooper knows that this game was an exhibition, and that when the contests start to count she may be more nervous. "There was not a lot of pressure, when it's the first game of the season I might be real nervous," Cooper said. "But since it was just 'practice' I was not real nervous." That will be a challenge that Coo- per and the rest of the freshmen will have to overcome, but Burnett and the rest of the staff think they are up to the challenge. "We have very high expectations, and we have a unique group of fresh- men," Burnett said. "They are some of the best leaders, some of the best learn- ers and some of the hardest workers I have seen and because of that I don't think they will play like freshmen." NETTERS Continued from page 10 quit one or the other. But DaCosta is far from average. She not only gets by, she thrives under the mountains of work. She's played No. 1 singles * for the Wolverines. consistently for the past two years and No. 1 doubles all three. She has also been named to the All Big-Ten academic team both years she's been eligible and has received the U-M Athletic Aca- demic Achievement award all three years. Such a hard work ethic didn't just pop up out of nowhere. DaCosta can attribute that to family as well. "Both of my brothers are really smart and the kind of guys who can not study, take a test, and get an A," DaCosta said. "I always had to work really hard just to compete with the grades they got." DaCosta's competitive nature is paying dividends. She's looking forward to a suc- cessful senior campaign before tak- ing a fifth academic year to complete he GY]]i]Pc_ Sell Trips, Earn Cash, Go Free! Now Hiring On-campus Reps Call for group discounts best rates. Also, don t tOg et to TRAVEL i !s w w'tsra elco get that last rnute a a pedicure haircut an before baking in tie AgCi