Tuesday April 18, 2006 sports. michigandaily. com sports@michigandaily.com PORTS 4 14 . . . . . ............ . ... ..... Red re-ups with three-year deal This isn't your run-ot the-mill By Mark Giannotto Daily Sports Writer It may have been a disappointing season on the ice for the Michigan hockey team, but it's so far, so good when it comes to the off-season. Saturday night, at the annual end- of-season hockey banquet, Michi- gan Athletic Director Bill Martin announced that coach Red Berenson had agreed to a three-year contract extension. The deal puts Berenson at the helm of Michigan hockey through June 30, 2009. Salary figures for the new deal have not been determined, but Beren- son made approximately $170,511 this past season in base salary and another $144,000 for television, radio, Internet and apparel sponsor- ships, among other things, according to documents obtained through the Freedom of Information Act. Beren- son also had a stipulation entitling him to additional compensation for reaching the NCAA Tournament and the Frozen Four. The new contract will go into effect July 1. "I think it gives us our staff and our team the feeling that there are no question marks," Berenson said. "In recent years, I would get the question about whether I would be back, and I just wanted to make it clear that I feel good about ... our stability and our direction." This past season was Berenson's 22nd, but it didn't live up to the lofty standards he set in previous years. The team finished with a 21-15-5 record and lost in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament to North Dakota, 5-1. It was the worst season for the Wolverines since the 1988-89 campaign, when they also finished with 15 losses. Prior to the current deal, Berenson and Martin agreed to contracts on a year-to-year informal basis. Now, like most college coaches, Berenson operates under a multi-year contract. Whether or not this is his last contract extension is up to Berenson. "(The athletic department) has made me feel like I can coach here as long as I am comfortable," Berenson said. "They know that I won't hesitate to retire when I think it's in the best interests of the program. We have a good understanding that if I want to stay longer, I can stay longer, and if I don't, I won't." NEW CAPTAINS NAMED: With the graduation of senior captain Andrew Ebbett and senior alternate captain Brandon Kaleniecki, the Wolverines needed a new set of players to lead the team. One of last season's alternate cap- tains, junior defenseman Matt Hun- wick, will step into the captain role for the 2006-07 season. As a junior, Hunwick was the de facto leader of the defense because there were no senior defensemen on the team. "Matt Hunwick was already play- ing like a senior last season," Beren- son said. "He got the experience of being a go-to player on the ice, and he showed leadership off the ice. I can't say it was an easy choice, but, for me, it was the right choice." Junior forward and leading scorer T.J. Hensick remains an alternate cap- tain. Joining him will be junior defen- seman Jason Dest, whose hardworking style of play drew comparisons to the departing Kaleniecki. "I think Dest has the blue-collar work ethic," Berenson said. "The team looks up to him in the locker room, as well as on the ice." The new captains will have to adjust to the team's changing dynam- ic. The team will no longer rely on a y . ::' ' . i . z :: Matt Hunwick was named captain for the 2 group of 1I freshmen, who have never been through the grind of a college hockey season. Instead, a group of 11 sophomores will be key cogs in turn- ing around Michigan's fortunes. "We won't have to babysit them as much," Hensick said. "That year underi their belt is huge. ... You are aware of what's around you, and you know what to do and what is expected of you." WELCOME BACK: With Hunwick and Hensick returning to leadership roles for next season, it seems to con- STEVEN TAI/Daily 2006-07 season. firm that that every non-senior from last year's squad will be back for the 2006-07 season. Hunwick was a seventh-round pick of the Boston Bruins in 2004, and Hensick was selected in the third round of the 2005 NHL draft by the Colorado Avalanche. Several weeks ago, freshman defenseman Jack Johnson appeared to be on the verge of signing with the Carolina Hurricanes, but eventually decided to stay at Michigan. What does Ferris Bueller say? "Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it." Well, that's kind of how I feel about college and working at the Daily. Four years at the University and three years of working here at the paper went by quicker than I ever thought possible. So here I am now k with my last piece of "jour- 1 K nalistic" writing, wonder- ing what happened to my undergrad years. M Chances are you've seen VENI way too many of these goodbye columns before. The You probably think you know how they go, at least for people leaving this specific paper. And, if I was doing one of those, I would proba- bly talk about how much the Daily has meant to me over the past three years. How I've met so many good friends and people that I never imagined meeting when I first dragged myself into the Student Publications Building in the fall of 2003. I would talk about all the interest- ing, completely unusual moments I've gotten to cover and take part in by simply being a "reporter for The Michigan Daily." I could talk about road trips, almost getting fired after the Madison game, nightsides, unbe- lievable games and all kinds of stuff, but I don't want to do one of those "glorify Daily Sports" columns. Or, I could do one of those columns where I thank lots of people that helped me get where I am today, for better or for worse. I would have to start with my par- ents, since they've been, by far, the most influential people in my life and have footed the bill for out-of-state tuition that everyone and their dog knows isn't worth the money. Yet, they paid that student account balance every semester and didn't complain too much. Oh, and I would definitely have to thank them and my sisters (Kristen, Andrea and Erin) for putting up with my complaining and general annoyance the past four years on top of their own problems. With all that, I would have to say how I couldn't think of a better parenting job and a better family. But that type of column has been done before too. I could talk about all my friends back home who are still my closest buds even though I became a traitor by coming to Michigan. Items that would need to be discussed include infamous places and events like: The Cabin, The Office, The Bus, 1880/2112, The Bandana Massacre, Itchykoo Park and a plethora of other things we've done. But at the end, I would just have to say that they are the best guys (Rick, Brustuen, Moj, Tim, Mo, Larp, Hups, Bubba and all the other STA friends) a dude could hang out with, always willing to do something fun even if it's against bet- ter judgment at times. But, if I did that, I would feel guilty about not including other close friends. I would have to thank Jenny for putting up with more crap than .A IE Bc anyone should possibly have to deal with and still sticking by me. And even finding time to take a couple trips (Madison, Chicago, etc.) and bringing me to her house for a couple holidays or just for a break from the University. I would also have to thank Jack and Ian for being two of the best MSEs the Daily has ever seen. Jack for providing some of the funniest moments of college and Ian for being the best. journalist (note: no quotes around that) and good friend TT that I've had the pleasure of working with here. I'd GONI have to thank many others I a1s worked beside: Ali, Brady, Gennaro, Burke, Bremmer, Bob, EA, Sharad, Schick, Gabe, Wein- er, Megology, JVD, S. Dot and basi- cally everyone on Sports that I didn't mention by name. But that's too trite; that's been done enough times. I could just do a straight-up "remember when" column that involves stuff my friends at school would get. In doing one of those, I'd have to mentioned as many of my roommates and friends in the last four years: RO, Gonz (even with the not so good), Flaze, Billy (Tough Tommy), Sarah, Josh, Will, Phil, Tim, Summer 408 E. Jefferson, Andy, etc., and even you Neal, despite the fact that I hated living with you freshman year. But you were a nice guy and bought me a shot on my birthday. I'd have to talk about endless games and nights of beer pong, the banana bunch night, the David Lee Roth, the Law library, beer Olympics, bathroom time, bottle toss, the "javelin," pulling the trigger, "high school" parties and tons of other memories that no one would want to hear about. I could also take a different route and talk about certain events that have happened to me since I've worked at the Daily. I would talk about a certain high-profile coach supposedly calling me a word that rhymes with trucker in practice for reasons that still mystify me. But in the end, I would like to impart the little bit of advice I can give: Take advantage of every opportunity and look around a little bit in college, because it goes by quicker than you'd like. But what do I really know? I'm 22 years old, and my life plan isn't much clearer than it was almost four years ago. All I can do is thank everyone that's been a part of the undergrad jour- ney, even the people that e-mailed me with nasty comments and some teach- ers that didn't know their ass from a hole in the ground. Although I wanted to leave this school two years ago and was basically out the door, I came back, and I'm happy with that decision. Sure, there have been more ups and downs, but it's still been a life experience that I gratefully received, because I learned more than I thought I would when I left good ole' Minnesota. - Maize Rage: Ian never called you boners, I did. Sorry. Matt can be reached at mvgoni@umich.edu. q 4 Wolverines looking for offensive spark By David VandeVusse Daily Sports Writer After a 12-game winning streak that lasted the better part of three weeks, the Michigan softball team looked like it was on a mission. But after losing two of their last three contests, its clear the 12th-ranked Wol- verines are still searching for consistent offensive production. In Iowa City on Friday, Michigan (6-2 Big Ten, 26-11 overall) appeared to be on its way to a prolific weekend at the plate after posting three runs in the first inning. But the Hawkeyes went on to hold the Wolverine bats at bay, leaving the Maize and Blue scoreless for the rest of the weekend. "We just weren't bringing in the runs,' senior co-captain Stephanie Bercaw said. "We were seeing the ball well and getting good hacks at it, but we just weren't getting the hits." After the trip to Iowa, Michigan's team batting average plummeted to a season- low .264. Senior Becky Marx and sophomores Alessandra Giampaolo and Saman- tha Findlay remain the only Michigan players who still boast averages above .300, leaving it up to senior pitcher Jennie Ritter to keep Michigan in close games. Michigan hopes to awaken its offense and give the pitching staff more run support in a non-conference doubleheader against Central Michigan (4-4 Mid- American Conference, 13-19) today at Alumni Field. Last season, then-No. 1 Michigan faced off against the Chippewas in a double- header in Mount Pleasant and was stunned 5-4 in game one. The team rebounded with a victory in the rematch. Neither team has performed as strong as they did last season, but both sides retain crucial members from last year's squads. The Chippewas used pitchers Jessica Garvin and Jill DeRoche to defeat Michigan last season, and both hurl- ers return as upperclassmen this year. Junior Lorilyn Wilson saw action in both games last year for the Wolverines and will likely put in work today as well. But offensive improvement remains the focus. In Sunday's game at Wisconsin, which was cancelled because of rain, Michigan coach Carol Hutchins looked to sophomore designated player Michelle Weatherdon for a spark. Weatherdon isn't normally a part of the starting lineup, and Hutchins hoped the lineup shift would tip the scales in Michigan's direction. "We're just looking for some production," Hutchins said. "She puts the ball in play, and maybe she gives us a little fire." Weatherdon will likely get a chance to strut her stuff in at least one of today's two games. Fortunately for Michigan, today's games are ripe for an offensive surge see- I MIKE HULSEBUS/Daily Sophomore Alessandra Glampaolo is one of just three Michigan players with a batting average over .300. ing that Central Michigan has given up 10-plus runs in five different games this year. Also, Michigan boasts a 5-1 record against teams from the Mid-American Conference this year. But Michigan won't depend on statistics in its effort to win. "We're looking forward and trying not to concentrate on the past," Bercaw said. "We're just looking to improve and taking that for what it's worth." Said Hutchins, "We certainly need some punch in our lineup. We need some people to string things together." DON'T STOP READING! I TURN TO PAGE 16 TO READ ABOUT SOFTBALL CATCHER BECKY MARX, WHO TRANSFERRED FROM LOYOLA TO PLAY A KEY ROLE IN MICHIGAN'SNATIONAL TITLE. APRIL 30, 2006 2:00-4:30 PM 230 "Life in Independent Schools" Presentation ANUA4 EAHRSO CLR A FI HOSTED 8Y: IG(reehk $50 Greenh ils Drive Learn about the experiences and benefits of teaching in independent schools. Meet faculty, students, and administra- .1