10A - Wednesday, February 13, 2008

The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com

Moore makes most of new role

After four years on
team, walk-on
earns spot in
event lineup
By NICOLE AUERBACH
Daily Sports Writer
Senior Megan Moore wasn't
recruited by the Michigan wom-
en's gymnastics coach Bev Plocki.
Four years ago, the high school
standout sent Plocki a video, and
Plocki told her she would probably
be able to walk on.
For three seasons, the Roches-
ter Hills native balanced her engi-
neering courses with gymnastics
practice every day. She dressed
in uniform, waved and smiled for
introductions and cheered on her
teammates at each meet.
But she never got a chance to
perform in a real competition and
score points for her team.
Until this season.
Moore made her collegiate
debut in this season's opening
meet, posting a 9.575 in her only
event, beam.
Her high marks in the event
earned her high marks from her
coaches. Moore has now assumed
a regular role on the team, com-
peting on beam in all but one meet
this season.
"I feel like I've been preparing
for it these past few years," Moore
said. "I really don't regret that I
didn't get to compete until this
year, because it meant that much
more to me that I finally made it
into lineup this year."
At the State of Michigan Clas-
sic on Feb. 2, she gave a highlight-
worthy performance and won the
beam title with a score of 9.850.
Her victory was key to Michigan's
dominating win over four other in-
state colleges. She also competed

HOCKEY
From Page 9A
But after skating to a lackluster
3-3 tie on Feb. 2, Michigan led 3-1
in the second period the following
night and carried a one-goal lead
into the third.
The Wolverines couldn't score
again, but the Wildcats completed
a comeback - and, for them, a suc-
cessfulweekend - by knotting the
score and ending with another 3-3
tie.
After the game, a visibly upset
Chad Kolarik addressed his team's
collapse.
BASKETBALL
From Page 9A
herd will have used up his eligibil-
ity by then. Beilein said he'd like
keep one for next year, so the pos-
sibility of taking another transfer
will remain. University of Detroit
Jesuit High forward Jordan Mor-
gan has already committed for
2009.
Beilein has confidence in his
recruiting ability because each of

"We were too loose in the lock-
er room," Rolarik said. "Our team
likes to be loosebut not that loose.
We took it for granted, and they
took it to us."
And two weeks later, the Wol-
verines are still vehement - they
need to increase the level of inten-
sity in the third period.
"We had a mental breakdown
because we were thinking, 'All
right. We already beat them up
there (in Marquette), we got a
lead, we don't have much to worry
about,' " Llewellyn said, looking
back at the Northern series. "But
it came back to bite us. It comes
down to the mental part."
the previous teams he coached
remained successful for a period
after he left. West Virginia, his
former school, is 16-7 and project-
ed by ESPN.com's Joe Lunardi to
make the NCAA Tournament.
At 6-17, Michigan is nowhere
near that level, but Beilien has a
simple plan to turn his new team
around.
"You try to get the best player
available, then you also make sure
that they can do a lot of the things
you want them to do," he said.
"Then it will work."


Senior Megan Moore has becomea regular on the balance beam for Michigan. She has also competed on uneven bars.

on the uneven bars at the meet.
"In a year where we have a lot of
talent and a lot of depth, here she
is, a senior, who has earned her
spot in the beam lineup," Plocki
said. "I think that speaks volumes
about the commitment she has and
the kind of work ethic she has."
Every day at practice, Plocki
goes through a checklist with each
gymnast and keeps track of who
is hitting their routines. Moore is
among the most consistent per-
formers. Plocki said she has been
hitting almost all of her beam rou-
tines for weeks.
Last year, Moore changed the
flight series in her beam routine,

and the new combination of a
round-offlayout step-out has given
her a higher start value and the
potential to earn a higher score.
Plocki is proud of Moore's sud-
den emergence.
"It's amazing how much this
young woman has progressed
every single year," Plocki said.
"I think that every one of her
teammates respects her so much
because of how much she loves the
sport and how hard she works to
improve."
Moore is the ideal example of a
student-athlete. As a mechanical
engineering major, she has had to
balance challenging schoolwork

and the long gymnastics season.
She's won more academic
awards than event titles, but that
just shows her dedication to class-
es and passion for gymnastics.
Her accolades include Aca-
demic All-Big Ten honors in 2006
and 2007. The University has also
honored her with its U-M Athletic
Academic Achievement Award
every year of her career.
"I admire her so much," Plocki
said. "Not only is she just a won-
derful kid and a hard worker
and passionately loves this sport
and loves this team, she's also an
exceptional student. This young
woman is very special."

WALK-ONS WELCOME:
IF NOT PRYOR, HOW 'BOUT YOU?
An open tryout will be held tomorrow giving students the chance to make the football roster as walk-ons.
WHAT: Open tryouts for the Michigan football team
WHO: Any undergraduate student with high school orjunior college experience.
Students wishing to try out must have a copy of a physical exam form signed by a doctor.
WHEN: Thursday, Feb.14, 4 p.m. Registration at 3:30 p.m.
WHERE: Schembechler Hall
For more information, call the Athletic Department at (734) 647-2583.
RODRIGO GAYA/Daily
RICH RODRIGUEZ
BIRTHRIGHT ISRAEL
www.birthrightisrael.com

BORSETH
From Page 9A
a guard for Borseth when he
coached at University of Wis-
consin-Green Bay, recently com-
plained that her new coach, Matt
Bollant, doesn't yell at her enough.
"If I turnthe ball over or make a
dumb mistake, I want someone to
get on me soI don't do it as often,"
Porath told the Milwaukee Jour-
nal Sentinel.
The Wolverines also know their
coach means no harm.
"When he's intense, it's not to
intimidate us, it's to get something
out of us," senior Janelle Cooper
said. "It really lights a fire under
us and gets us to go out there and
play harder."
Borseth's biggest regret of
the season is that he hasn't been
able to play more of his reserves,
instead making them to listen to
MAKOWSKE
From Page 9A
form. His propensity for being
the last guy out of the gym and
his easygoing, upbeat personality
made him an instant hit with his
teammates.
Rooming with freshman Chris
Cameron, one of the few who
can match Makowske's inten-
sity, accelerated the dramatic
improvement.
As freshmen in West Quad,
they have constant opportunities
to critique and encourage each
other.

his constant chatter.
"I talk to the kids sitting there
because theyunderstandthethings
going on," Borseth said. "The kids
sitting down sometimes learn more
than the kids on the court do."
Borseth's players say he has the
same manner on and off the court,
with some minor exceptions.
"In face-to-face conversation,
he's not flailing his arms all over the
place," senior Krista Clement said.
The choice to become a coach
was easy for Borseth. What other
job would allow him the free-
dom to jump up and down, yell
at strangers and pull out the few
hairs remaining on his head?
"I wasn't very good at math
and calculus," Borseth said. "I
didn't get that stuff. But sports is
an environment that I can under-
stand - it's fun."
Borseth doesn't know how to
coach any other way. He's intense.
He's passionate. And he's getting
the job done.
"Other guys on the team, they
don't get that random time to
talk," Cameron said. "I think that
really helps us stay accountable,
because we know the person that
we're living with is watching us
work out."
While Makowske speaks in
awe of Cameron's talent and
achievements - particularly his
appearances at USA Champion-
ships and on the Junior National
Team - his roommate holds
him in equal esteem, noting that
Makowske "sets the standard for
hard work."
"Really, on all his events, he's
become a different gymnast,"
Cameron said.

I


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