8A - Thursday, February 8, 2007 The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com young but ready By DAN FELDMAN Daily Sports Writer Freshman Mel Santander decided late to come to Michigan, but ow reaping the benefits of his decisit Frosh thrives post-move By COLT ROSENSWEIG Daily Sports Writer Freshman Mel Santander almost decided to stay home this year. Fortunately for the Michigan men's gymnastics team, he changed his mind. The Michigan coaching staff initially recruited the top-flight all- arounder, but when he didn't show interest, the Michigan coaches let the matter drop. By this past sum- mer, it seemed Santander would remain in Massachusetts, preparing with his personal coach for a shot at the Olympics. But, unbeknownst to the Michi- gan coaches, Santander had applied and been admitted to the Univer- sity. And when he and other young gymnasts - in Battle Creek for the Junior Nationals - visited Ann Arbor on their day off, the recruit- 1 M ing process received a jump-start. "We brought him and his mom in June of last year," Michigan assistant coach Scott Vetere said (recruits normally visit in the fall). "He was very, very quiet. We really couldn't get any words out of him, just gentle small talk. ... We thought he had a good time on the trip, but when someone doesn't talk, you really don't know." Vetere and the rest of the team got their answer about a week later, when Santander finally committed to Michigan. "My family and my teammates at home wanted me to try something different, experience something new, just take the chance to do it," Santander said. "If I didn't like it here, I would go back home anyway, so it was worth a shot." Never a chatterbox, Santander has nonetheless emerged from his shell in the supportive, encourag- ing surroundings of his new gym., Though he's still subject to some gentle teasing - he was tagged with the number 85 to represent the number of days between when he committed to Michigan and the start of school - Santander's team- mates are overjoyed to have him. "Mel has an unmistakable swing on the pommel horse," senior Aaron Rakes said. "He's one of a kind on that event. He's so graceful in all his gymnastics; he's just a pleasure to watch." Santander .comes to Michigan with an impressive rdsum4. Among other accolades, he was a member of the 2006 junior national team, placed second in the all-around at the 2006 USA. Championships and last year was the state and regional champion in the all-around (not to mention all six individual events). Especially strong on pommel horse and parallel bars, Santander has been instrumental in turning two of Michigan's weaknesses from last year into strengths. Two meets into the 2007season, the Wolverines were ranked No.1 it both events. Santander isno stranger to pres- sure - a definite positive as one of the team's star freshmen. Despite the usual nerves that accompany the transition to collegiate gymnas- tics, Santander has performed well so far, with the promise of contin- ued improvement. "(Santander and fellow freshman Torrance Laury) are both real quiet kids, but they both have a reputa- tion for hitting and being consis- tent," junior Paul Woodward said. "I think there might be some meets they learn stuff at, maybe have to struggle a little bit. ... But I think at the end of the season when it all -eauntsthey'll be a big factorrehw-- things turn out and how we do at NCAAs and Big Tens." When the Michigan softball team won the 2005 Women's Col- lege World Series, it wasn't the end of an era. Losing just two starters, the 2006 teamwas more of a continua- tion of the championship-winning squad than a new beginning. But after losing four starting position players (catcher Becky Marx, second baseman Tiffany Haas, third baseman Grace Leu- tele and rightfielder Stephanie Ber- caw) and ace pitcher Jennie Ritter, the 11th-ranked Wolverines team, who trail just No. 4 Northwestern among Big Ten teams, must carve out its own identity. But it won't be easy. The current squad can't leave its team room without walking past the pictures of Haas, Marx and Ritter that hang to the left of the door and list the trio's All-Ameri- can accolades. Perhaps the toughest task this year will be replacing Ritter in the circle. Ritter is Michigan's all-time leader in strikeouts, shutouts, no- hitters, starts and innings and sec- ond in wins and complete games. That job goes to senior Lorilyn Wilson. Wilson has been pretty successful when given the oppor- tunity, but has been stuck behind Ritter for her three years at Michi- gan. But whenthe Wolverines earned their first No. Itranking in program history in March of the champion- ship year, Wilson's numbers were better than Ritter's. Wilson was 11-0 with a 0.20 earned run aver- age and a .096 batting average against. Seven of her eight starts SUMMERS From page 5A how to play the game as a senior over the nast cc were complete games. And she struck out 110 and had not given up a home run in her 71 innings. "Lorilyn Wilson is the No.1 rea- son that we were No. 1 in March of 2005," Michigan coach Carol Hutchins said. "I think she's total- ly capable of carrying this team." But that was March. It was Rit- ter who led the Wolverines to their first National Championship in June. Wilson has never started a postseason game and didn't even appear in either the Big Ten or NCAA Tournament last year. But if she's given the opportuni- ty this year (Hutchins said sopho- more Stacy Delaney and freshman Nikki Nemitz will have a chance as well), her teammates have con- fidence in her. "I think Lorilyn is capable of being as great a pitcher as Jennie Ritter was," junior first baseman Samantha Findlay said. "She has the ability to prove a lot of people wrong. She's worked hard in the off-season and she's going to sur- prise a lot of people. "I don't think Lorilyn puts any (pressure) on herself And we don't either." Despite having a senior in the circle, Michigan will have a young lineup. A quartet of freshmen will be right in the thick of things for play- ing time. "I think we're ayoung team, but I can tell you that I told them that the first day of practice," Hutchins said. "We're not going to choose to be young. We're going to choose to be Michigan. We're going to play Michigan softball. And there's no excuse up on that scoreboard that says 'oh, we're young.' It says win or lose." REPORT CARD From page 5A -----------_---_--------- - 1----- - Michigan State starts a d wle ith11 sntguar-Ot Hutchins expects freshmen Molly Bausher and Maggie Vief- haus to start at second and third base, respectively. They will have to replace a pair of four-year start- ers in Haas and Leutele. But Hutchins said Bausher and Viefhaus have even more experi- ence coming in than the players they will replace had when they entered school. Viefhaus helped the USA Soft- ball Junior Women's National Team win the 2006 Junior Wom- en's Pan American Champion- ships, leading the Americans in batting average, runs and RBI. Bausher was named to the EA Sports High School All-America second team Freshman Angela Findlay,sister of Samantha, sophomore Allison Kidman and junior Angie Danis are competing for playing time in rightfield. For Angela Findlay, a high school infielder, this is her first time playing in the outfield. "I think she's one of our most game-savvy kids," Hutchins said. "She's just a player. She finds a way to get things done and she's adapted quite well to the outfield position." And as Hutchins likes to do early in the season, catching responsi- bilities will be split. Either senior captain Tiffany Worthy or fresh- man Roya St. Clair will catch, and the other will be the favorite to be the designated player. The Wolverines will open their season this weekend at the Wilson Demarini Invitational with five games against Texas-Arlington, Mississippi and Houston. Michigan follows that up with at least 22 more games in southern states to complete the non-confer- ence season. B- TOURNAMENT CHANCES: 35 percent PURDUE:Amaker has talked nd all season about how tough it ew is to win on the road in the Big am Ten, and the Boilermakers nd exemplify Amaker's empha- ee sis. They've recorded double- er- digit wins over Michigan, n- Michigan State and Illinois Io. at Mackey Arena, but have ar- dropped contests at Michi- kA gan, at Indiana and even at 'ut Minnesota. At 5-5 in confer- of ence play, Purdue probably ast needs a win in one of its next us three games (at Ohio State, s- Indiana, at Iowa) in order 'ut to gain entry to the Tourna- rst ment. GRADE: B- TOURNAMENT CE CHANCES: 35 nercent. U 0 0 EVERY SATURDAY NIGHT! RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK S A T ItftFFRifH- MNMI(1T Lac dza mllul kJC1Lil: dat LVu~t: ends with point guard Dre of years, he has tried to learn the game Neitzel, who leads the tea more fromadefensive standpoint." in minutes and scoring a: Cook will still have the opportunity to leads the conference in fr jumpstart the offense. During scoring lulls throw percentage (90 pm this season, the defensive and neutral zone cent). An impressive nonco transition have been sticking points for the ference victory over then-N Wolverines.As Cookhasmatured as aplay- 18 Texas will score the Sps er, Hunwicknotes thatCook's abilityto aid tans points with the NCA the transition game has vastlyimproved. Selection Committeeb "I think (Cook) has gotten a lot better with a conference record and getting back to the puck and mak- 4-6, and two games again ing that first play," Hunwick said. "In the Wisconsin and one vers past, he has relied on just throwing it off Indiana remaining, it' po - the glass, btIt5s i ee bleto make the sible Izzo's team misses o first good pass and get the puck out ofthe on the Dance for the fit zone." timeasince19 96-97 nGRo 4 Earn the part-time master's degree that combines a Georgetown University learning experience with the opportunity to gain experience through an intlustry sponsored capstone project. Gain the confidence and credibility you need to advance your career. VISI'i CPI).GEORGETOWN.E1)U/MPS OR CALL (202) 687-9100. I 4 i