The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com Thursday, January 24, 2008 - 11A Freshman expected to shatter 'M' records By IAN KAY The coaching staff's confidence Daily Sports Writer is hardly surprising considering Pendleton has been represent- The excitement for Emily ing the Michigan track and field Pendleton's senior prom started program since long before she long before the dance actually arrived on campus. started. After verbally committing to Compet- Michigan after her junior year, ing at the PENDLETON she got to work immediately Oak Har- building her future team. Using bor Invita- connections forged while com- tional mere peting on the U.S. Junior Olym- hours before pic team, Pendleton aggressively her hair recruited other top throwers and appoint- runners to join her in Ann Arbor. ment, YEAR: Freshman "Emily is basically the quar- Pendleton HOMETOWN: terback of her recruiting class," launchedher Lndsay Oh Takacs said. "She was able to use final discus her ability to seek out other peo- throw of the EVENTS: ple at her level of talent, even in day 183 feet Discus shot put the other event groups." and three hammer throw Takacs cited freshman dis- inches. tance runner Danielle Tauro as The toss well as freshman throwers Alli- shattered son Liske and Danica Haight as the all-time Ohio state record teammates whose decisions to by more than six feet and would attend Michigan were at least have been enough to take second partially influenced by the pros- place at last year's NCAA cham- pect of competing with Pendle- pionships. ton rather than against her. With those kind of numbers, "I'm really excited to have it's no surprise Michigan coaches them on the team and we have have sky-high expectations for some great expectations for each the Lindsay, Ohio native in three other," Pendleton said. throwing events - discuss, shot Now that she's actually throw- put and hammer throw. ing for the Maize and Blue, "She should break the school Pendleton is ready to make an record in the discus this year, and immediate impact in competi- she'll probably qualify in (discus, tion. shot put and hammer throw) "I look at the people that I'm for NCAA regionals," Michigan competing against, and I know assistant coach Anne Takacs that I can throw with them," said. "She should go to NCAA Pendleton said. "I know I've done Nationals and be in the top five in the distances before. I know it's discus and she also should make in me, and it's just a matter of it to Olympic trials." whether I do it that day or not." Patton sets sights on Beijing in 2008 By RYAN A. PODGES Daily Sports Writer When junior Matt Patton walks into Canham Natatorium every day for practice, he passes through doors proudly painted with block 'M's, the Olympic rings and a motto overhead that reads, "It's not every four years; it's every day." Michigan's tradition of excel- lence has produced generations of world-class swimmers from Tom Malchow to Michael Phelps. Sur- rounded by this rich history, for- mer Olympians and a U.S. Olympic Team coach, Patton is working everyday to reach this summer's Beijing Olympics. Patton already has an impres- sive resume. He was the 2007 Big Ten Champion and an NCAA All- American in the 500-yard free- style, the 1,650-yard freestyle and the 800-yard freestyle relay. Last August, Patton won a gold medal as a member of Team USA in the 400- meter freestyle at the Pan-Ameri- can Games in Rio de Janeiro. "Matt has been such a great suc- cess story at Michigan," Michigan coach Bob Bowman said. "He has really developed into an interna- tional competitor." This summer, Patton will stay in Ann Arbor to train with Bow- man and other Olympic hopefuls for the Olympic trials to be held June 30 through July 7 in Omaha, Neb. He must finish in the top two in his event to earn a spot on the U.S. Olympic Team. Patton's best chances are in the 200-meter and 400-meter freestyle. While training for the Olympics Junior Matt Patton is working to qualify for the 2008 Olympics in the 200-meter and 400-meter freestyle. is a difficult task, Patton will have the help and encouragement of a broadnetworkofformerOlympians, including Michigan alum and 2004 gold medalist Peter Vanderkaay and University student Michael Phelps, who won six gold medals at the 2004 Olympic games. "Its pretty fun to try and race (Phelps) at practice," Patton said. "But he's definitely just like anoth- er guy on the team because he has weaknesses like everybody. Some days he'll be off and someone else will be on and he'll get his ass kicked." Despite having celebrity team- mates like Phelps, Patton says his coach is his biggest source of moti- vation. "It's a pretty love-hate relation- ship," Patton said of Bowman. "He definitely expects a lot of things out of me and I try to do as much as possible, but a lot of times what- ever I can do is really not ever good enough. He kind of puts me in my place and lets me know I can always do better." Patton won't be the only member of his family competing for a chance to swim at the Olympics this sum- mer. Patton's twin brother Sean, who swims for Texas, will also be racing for a spot. The Matts, N.C., natives chose their respective schools based on the programs they felt best fit their events. Sean swims backstroke and never considered attending Michi- gan, while Matt swims distance freestyle and had always known he wanted to be a Wolverine. Coincidentally, No. 4 Michigan's only loss this season came against top-ranked Texas in November. The Longhorns toppled the Wol- verines by 37 points, but the result didn't bother Matt. "I still talk to him everyday and it will always be friendly between me and him," Patton said. "I like it a lot because he knows when I need encouragement, and I know when he needs it. And it definitely helps us be the best we can." As Olympic trials approach, Patton may need his brother's encouragement more and more. All Olympic athletes need a strong group of supporters behind them - as if Patton didn't have enough already. KELLEY From page 9A now see each other every day - they're roommates. "I get along with him better than I thought I would," Bal- dus-Strauss said. "The longer I'm around him, the more I like him." Outside of competition, Kel- ley is a typical freshman, always ready for a laugh. But the minute a meet or even an informal event 4 begins, he's all business. "I want to say he's probably one of the most talented guys I've seen in the past eight years," assistant coach Scott Vetere said. "Probably one of his best qualities is (that) he's some- one who is aggressive when he competes." In his first meet, the Windy City Invitational in Chicago, Kelley excelled in his best event, high bar, posting a score of14.40 and tying Illinois fresh- man Paul Ruggeri for third. Because Kelley is from nearby Libertyville, Ill., much of his extended family was there to cheer him on. "(He) has one of the best high bar routines in the coun- try right now," junior Ryan McCarthy said. "His form is immaculate." A fair number of young gym- THE 0 R I NAL 512 E. William (734) 663-3379 WEEKDAY HAPPY HOUR at bar only ioNDAFRIDAY CIIWBED 0_ HEAD AVEDA. .> REDKEN ~ 5TH AV E U ,, ; 1301 South University at South Forest. Photography. Film. Video. A temporary gallery space open during the expansion and restoration of the University of Michigan Museum of Art. www.umma.umich.edu. 734.763.UMMA The exhibition was curated by John P. Jacob, Director, The Inge Morath Foundation, and organized by The Inge Morth Foundation, New York. The Ann Arbor presentation is made possible in part by the office of the President of the Univerity of Michigan, The University of Michigan Health System, Comerica Bank the Lois Zenkel Photographic Exhibitions Fund, the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, and otherugenerouspartners. Inge Morath, 6:3oam, Chang An Avenue, Beijng (detaio),Copyright 1978-83 The Inge Morath Foundation/Magnum Photos career in advertising that goals in for aeke to ta a step towards t your job at parte takeDoyyou want bt r I a ~StudentUniverse.com THESE PEOPLE SHARE SOMETHING IN COMMON. s xcount eCutive. usiness or aallWinter terms Th i~chiga n Dai1 iy eSmstaorFfa 1 a1W m Join The for the sprThe Michigan Daily Business Department i a student-run group that sells all the ads ii - m.1.. --et+ +-a +tAn e+, the Daily. We are looking for dedicated an 1s ;n d motivated people to continue the legacy that has been going on for over il7 years. Simply send your resume to - dailydisplay@gmail.com L or call (T34) 764-0554 for more information!l T DON'T MISS OUT ON TRADITION! Renee Fleming + George Olah + Senator Hillary Clinton + Professor William Bolcom + Dave Brubeck * John Grisharm + Rita Dove + Provost Teresa Sullivan CAN YOU GUESS WHAT IT IS? Look for the answer on February 7! Application deadline: January 31st I p