8A - The Michigan Daily - Thursday, January 20, 2005

Moos battles for
new weight class

Childhood injury*
led Laury to gym

By Seth Gordon
Daily Sports Writer
Getting bigger and stronger is a com-
mon goal among athletes. But for junior
wrestler Mark Moos, a recent increase in
size has been a mixed blessing.
In a rare midseason move, Moos
jumped up from the 125-pound weight
class to the 133-pound level earlier this
month. Since losing his first match at 133,
Moos has posted four consecutive victo-
ries. He will return home to the Cleveland
area - he grew up in nearby Lorain,
Ohio - when No. 4 Michigan (1-0 Big
Ten, 6-1 overall) goes to the Cliff Keen/
NWCA National Dual this weekend. The
tournament features 16 Division I teams,
including seven top-10 schools. As the No.
3 seed, the Wolverines will take on No. 16
Arizona State in their first match.
Moos made weight at 125 pounds for
the first two meets of the season but was
frustrated when it became tougher each
week. In previous years, it became easier
as the season progressed and his condi-
tioning improved.
"I definitely outgrew that weight class,"
Moos said. "I talked with my high school
coaches and my parents when I was home
over Christmas. Once I came back, coach
and I sat down and talked. He thought it
wouldn't be a bad idea for me."
The move provided immediate relief
for Moos.
"He was just sending me signs all the
time that he was too big for the weight
class," Michigan coach Joe McFarland
said. "We thought it was the best to move
him up into 133 where he's going to be

able to concentrate more on becoming a
better wrestler, getting in better shape and
(improving) his wrestling skills."
But Moos was never guaranteed the
133-pound slot. First he had to wrestle
off for the position with freshman Craig
Gillison, who had manned that spot in the
lineup before Moos moved up. McFarland
uses wrestle-offs to ensure that his wres-
tlers earn their starting roles and to keep
them hungry and motivated. Moos won
the wrestle off but will have to continue to
earn his position in future challenges.
Once the spot was his, the transition
to 133 pounds wasn't completely smooth.
Moos lost his first match 10-8 to then-No.
20 Jason Borelli of Central Michigan.
"The kids (at 133) are a little bigger,"
Moos said. "I still have to get adjusted.
It's different. I was a big 125 and now
I'm a small 133. I've been trying to con-
centrate on adding some muscle in the
weight room."
But after stringing together four con-
secutive victories, Moos is ranked now
No. 11 by Amateur Wrestling News and
No. 12 by Intermat.
Despite Moos's recent success, he
and McFarland know there is room for
improvement.
"I could tell that against Borrelli he
hit the wall," McFarland said. "Even
against Penn State, he got really tired in
that match. I don't think his condition-
ing is where it needs to be yet. Now that
he's moved up a weight class, he can con-
centrate more on getting himself in great
shape. If he's in great shape, he's going to
be really hard to beat."
Moos is still in the middle of a tough tran-

By James V. Dowd
Daily Sports Writer

JASON COOPER/Daily
Junior Mark Moos made a midseason jump from the 125-pound weight class to 133.

sition, one that should improve the strength
of the entire Michigan lineup, despite the
temporary problems it has caused.
One of those problems is the newly
created vacancy at 125 pounds.
"Everybody knows we've been for-
feiting at (the 125-pound weight class),"
McFarland said. "(Michigan sophomore)
Jim Shutich is going to be ready to wres-
tle. We will not be able to use him this
week, but we will be able to use him for
the Wisconsin-Minnesota weekend (next
week). It would be nice to have him back
in our lineup. Obviously, when you move
someone up midseason, it creates some
problems."
McFarland will not be able to use Shut-

ich until next weekend due to NCAA
rules. Shutich competed at 133 pounds
over, the holiday break and must take a
mandatory four weeks to drop back down
to 125 pounds safely.
For Moos to continue improving,
McFarland believes Moos has one last
obstacle to clear.
"I think he needs to work on being in
great shape," McFarland said. "If Mark
can wrestle hard and go for seven minutes,
if he can grind it out, he's going to be hard
to beat. But he needs to continue to work
on his conditioning. I don't think his con-
ditioning is where it needs to be - where
I would like to see it right now. He needs
to continue to push himself."

Michigan junior Justin Laury's intro-
duction to gymnastics left its mark on
him. Literally.
In his off-hours from other sports, the
then five-year-old Laury spent his free
time doing flips around the house - often
oblivious of his surroundings - and suf-
fered sprained ankles, cuts and bruises.
One such incident sent him to the hospital
for stitches. The trip left him with a scar
above his left eye that is still visible today.
After the wound healed, Laury's mother
decided to send him to gymnastics school,
hoping it would keep him from destroying
himself and the house.
"My mom was like, 'We'll put him in
(gymnastics) for a few months, see if he
likes it and see if he learns some things .
And that way he won't get hurt at home,' "
Laury said. "She planned to take me out,
but I enjoyed it, so I stuck with it."
More than 15 years later, all the prac-
tice is paying off. Laury opened the Big
Ten season last Saturday by earning the
all-around title at the meet between No. 7
Michigan and No.8 Iowa. After being pre-
vented from competing in the all-around
throughout much of his college career due
to injuries, the return to focusing on six
events was a welcome change.
"It was a good feeling because I was
starting to get used to just doing two
events," Laury said. "It's a totally differ-
ent mindset. When you go through only
two events, you have to be really focused
because you have so much more time to
get distracted. With all-around, you have
to stay focused through all six routines."
On the way to his all-around victory,
Laury was also Michigan's highest fin-
isher on the high bar - his favorite appa-
ratus - with a third-place showing and a
score of 9.35. While he was content with
his performance on the high bar, winning
the parallel bars with his score of 9.25
came as a pleasant surprise.
"The one I think I need to improve is
the parallel bars, as far as start values,"
Laury said. "I actually ended up win-
ning it this week, and that's probably
the first time that I've ever won (parallel
bars) in my life. That was good and a
step forward."
With one home meet under their
belts, Laury and his teammates now
face the daunting task of hosting No. 1
Oklahoma this weekend. Luckily for the
Wolverines, the meet is at Cliff Keen
Arena, where they crtr e;he support
of the hometown fans.
"I notice (the home-gym advantage)
not so much when I am at home, but when
I go away," Laury said. "Here at Cliff
Keen, though, the crowd is amazing. You

definitely feed off of that because they
cheer for other guys. But when you see a
Michigan guy stick his landing, everyone
stands on their feet and is clapping and
everything. It definitely helps out a lot."
Michigan's major concern is the health
of several key performers. Senior captain
Geoff Corrigan will likely be prevented
from competing in the all-around competi-
tion, which he won at the season-opening
Windy City Invitational. Freshman Daniel
Rais - who won both the floor routine and
vault in the meet against Iowa - may also
be restricted due to an ankle injury.
During the Iowa meet, Laury hyperex-
tended his knee, but he will likely com-
pete in some capacity against Oklahoma.
"I'm definitely going to try to be out
there," Laury said. "I'm not sure if I'm
going to be limited as to how many events
I'm going to do, or the all-around."
After a solid week of preparation and
caring for the injured gymnasts, Laury
believes the Wolverines can defeat the
top-ranked Sooners.
"We definitely can pull it together and
go out there," Laury said. "We'll work as
hard as we can this week to make sure
we're ready. I know the other guys are
going to do it, and we can go out there in
Cliff Keen Arena with the crowdbehind
us and I'm sure we can send those guys
home with an 'L.'"

0
0
0

0 HOCKEY
Latest NHL talks

Associated Press
The bid to jump start NHL labor negotiations appears
to have been a success.
Union president Trevor Linden and NHL board of
directors chairman Harley Hotchkiss spoke yesterday
at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport, and the
sides are planning another meeting in an effort to save
the season.
The session lasted about five hours, including several
breaks so each three-man negotiating group could hud-
dle. It was just the third time the league and its players
have had face-to-face talks in the four months since the
lockout was imposed Sept. 15.
"We engaged in good dialogue today and will contin-
ue our discussions in the near future," Linden said. "We
will not make any further comment at this time."
More than half of the regular season - 662 of 1,230
games through yesterday - has been wiped out so far,
plus the All-Star game.
If yesterday's meeting does represent a key step for-

ward in the negotiations, it m
was not present: NHL commis
union chief Bob Goodenow.
Linden reached out to the o
kiss to talk. The center for the '
that by holding talks without1
the acrimony could be remo
process.
"We credit Trevor Linden's
session, which was informal,o
which resulted in a constructive
Hotchkiss said.
NHL chief legal officer Bi
and outside counsel Bob Ba
the NHL; Linden, NHLPA se
and outside counsel John Mc(
the players.
Linden didn't have a new pr
ing for attention. Indeed, it wa
word filtered out where the me
"The parties had a good,c

making progress
ight be worth noting who intend to talk again," Daly said. "Out of respect for the
ssioner Gary Bettman and process, we have no further comment at this time."
These were the first talks since Dec. 14. That was
3wners and invited Hotch- when the sides broke three months of silence by sitting
Vancouver Canucks hoped down for the second time in six days. But any optimism
the two leaders, some of was lost quickly.
ved from the negotiating The players presented a proposal that offered an
immediate 24 percent rollback on all existing contracts,
initiative in requesting this but owners rejected the plan, saying it didn't provide cost
open and professional and certainty.
e exchange of viewpoints," The NHL presented a counterproposal, which was
turned down as soon as the players' association saw that
ll Daly joined Hotchkiss the offer included a salary cap.
atterman in representing Since then, other than rhetoric, there had been silence.
nior director Ted Saskin, If the next round of talks doesn't move the sides to a
Cambridge were there for settlement, the season probably would be lost. That would
mean the Stanley Cup wouldn't be awarded for the first
oposal, and he wasn't look- time since 1919, when a flu epidemic canceled the final
sn't until late Tuesday that series between Seattle and Montreal.
eting would be. No major North American sports league has missed
candid dialogue, and we an entire season because of a labor dispute.

A

TONY DING/Daily
Junior Justin Laury won the all-around title
at last Saturday's meet against Iowa.

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