12 - The Michigan Daily - Tuesday, September 13, 2005 Field hockey standout's vision spans two countries By Eileen Hengel and David Spielman Daily Sports Writers "Catch a ship across the sea/Sail that ship all alone/Never know if I make it home. Louie, Louie, oh baby/Me gotta go/Aye- yi-yi, Richard Berry's classic lyrics describe sophomore forward Lucia Belassi's last two years. Known as "Louie" to her teammates and coaches, Belassi traveled close to 8,000 miles from Uruguay to Ann Arbor to attend classes and play for the field hockey team. "I did not have very high expectations before I came here because I didn't know what I was getting myself into," Belassi said. "In Uruguay it is difficult to both study and play sports, so I was just happy that I would be able to compete and study at the same time," Belassi said. Lucia grew up in Uruguay, with Spanish as her native language and little experience with anything American. As a freshman, Lucia struggled with a new language and lifestyle. "I think last year was very challenging for her just, as it would be for any of us that went to a foreign country," first-year coach Nancy Cox said. But even though Belassi found it difficult to translate much of the language that swirled around her, she had little trouble reading the game she witnessed on the field. "How she reads the game and how she plays the game is at a different perceptual level than her teammates," Cox said. "She recognizes before she gets the ball where the next pass needs to go, and, when she gets the ball, she recognizes what she needs to do with it based on where she is on the field." Instead of adapting her skills to American field hockey, Belassi utilized her field hock- ey experience in Uruguay to her advantage. According to Belassi, field hockey in Uru- guay relies heavily on the senses as opposed to American field hockey, which puts the empha- sis on organized play and mechanics. "In Uruguay, the game is much more natural, while the American game is much more tacti- cal," Belassi said. "Also, the game is just much faster here." It took time for Belassi to adjust to the speed of the game at the college level, but there was no need for her to adjust her vision. "She sees 360 degrees of the field," Cox said. "Her vision is exceptional; she has the best field vision of all kids we've ever had in our program." The expectations for Belassi on the field include not only her impressive vision but also her ability to elevate the play of those around her. "She has her moments in matches where she makes a tremendous difference for us because of her ability over the ball," Cox said. "She is very good with individual possession skills and watching the rhythm and flow of a match." Belassi's coach also praised her demeanor off the field. "She is just one of the dearest souls you will ever have on your team," Cox said. After year-long learning curve, Harrier duo excels By Max Kardon Daily Sports Writer You reap what you sow. The Bible is full of choice words that can be applied to everyday life, and certainly this powerful maxim translates smoothly within the Good Book of athletic training. Redshirt freshmen Nicole Edwards and Claire Otwell of the women's cross country team understand the mean- ing of that phrase. Cross-country is a sport in which physical and mental preparation is directly correlated with an athlete's suc- cess. The limits of a runner's physical and mental capac- ity are tested in every competition. These boundaries can only be stretched to their natural limits through months and years of grueling training. Although cross country is a team sport, the true com- petition is a battle within each runner. She competes against physical and mental fatigue, as well as the clock that records her best time in any given event. Because the nature of the sport can be difficult to understand, many observers may ask why high school runners don't com- pete on the same level as college runners. "The coaching is better, which leads to better train- ing," Edwards explained. "Strategically, I've matured my approach to a race. When I was in high school, I used to run too fast from the start, burning myself out before the race was over. Now I pace myself better and am strong enough to compete successfully at the college level." On Sept. 10, Edwards and Otwell reaped the fruits of their labor at the Great Meadows Invitational, in their first official races as Michigan cross country runners. After a full year of collegiate training, they were fully prepared by coach Mike McGuire when they arrived at The Plains, Va. The duo placed second and eighth in a race thoroughly dominated by a spectacular Michigan squad. Edwards was barely outdone by teammate Alyson Kohlmeier, who crossed the line 10 seconds earlier with the best mark in the competition. Meanwhile; only one non-Michigan runner placed ahead of Otwell, who rounded out the top eight. The Wolverines nearly aced the Invitational, two points short of a perfect score. The only other Wolverine to make her competi- tive collegiate debut in the race was sophomore Lisa Uible. Uible was the 14th runner to cross the tape in the five-team event, an only slightly less impressive achievement than that of her fellow newcomers. According to McGuire, all is going according to plan. "We redshirt these girls so they can perform as they did," McGuire explained. "The redshirt year affords them the luxury to train with extremely talented people and build strength. This puts our runners in the best position to perform when their time comes." Both Edwards and Otwell take an intense approach to their training. Evidence of the enormous success of their efforts can be found in the stat line - both chopped off a full minute from their all-time best performance in a five-kilometer event - a spectacu- lar feat. Edwards, who hails from Winnepeg, Manitoba, has shown that her success in Canadian leagues translates to the American field. In addition to her Canadian background, Edwards pos- sesses a heritage of American collegiate racing. Her aunt Pamela (Klassen) Lawrence holds the Rice University indoor track records in the mile, 3K and 5K, as well as the outdoor record in the 5K race. Otwell hails from south of the border and takes pride in proving that Americans and Canadians can indeed live in peace. A Traverse City native, Otwell shares living quarters with Edwards, as well as a taste for Hamburger Helper. "Yesterday we switched to Tuna Helper, which was also delightful," Otwell said. Despite their divergent origins, the girls have become fast friends, discovering a shared passion for running and instant meals. When asked whether competition ever becomes an issue in the household, Otwell concedes that Edwards holds the edge. "She's faster than me, and I've sort of accepted it," Otwell said, showing no hint of resentment. Freshman Nicole Edwards has used her experience during her redshirt year to run well In the early phase of the cross country season. KOLODGY Continued from page 10 and a woman from Michigan State orga- nized and sanctioned the first women's national collegiate swim meet. Prior/to this, she formed the Ann Arbor Swim Club in 1956. She was more than "tough enough" during her 40-year fight against her illness, which she did not succumb to until she reached 81 years of age. She was "tough enough" that, in her so-called retirenit, she continued to coach at Ak-O'Mak. Even after she could no longer stand pool- side, as she did at the birth of her career, she made her best effort to pass her passiol along to droves of young girls who made their ways up north each summer. After my initial encounter with the pioneer's spunk, I became a rather dis- tant admirer of her unpolished grace.and unapologetic style. Rosemary inspired me to act, not only the next morning, when I grabbed a boy by his skinny ankle and gave it a firm tug, but also when I stepped onto this campus three years ago, and every time I sit down to help etch a game or player into the Michigan history books. Rosemary lived her motto, and because of her, so did legions of other women (and men too, for that matter). So whether you're down about the Notre Dame game, terrified about the prospect of exam week or your job opportunities (or lack thereof) upon graduation, all you have to do is answer Rosemary's question: "How tough are you?" - Kolodgy can be reached at rnegkolo@umich.edu Mac Geeks, Welcome k4= "i:"'t'23; ?~i i