The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com Monday, March 3, 2008 - 5B SPORTS BRIEFS FOR THE FULLm STORY ON THESESPORTS, SEE WWW.' MICHIGANDAILY.COM. MEWS GYMnAST. s Michigan tests No.1 Stanford In a one-week span, the Michi- gan men's gymnastics team trans- formed from an also-ran into a major contender. The sixth-ranked Wolverines gave top-ranked Stanford all it could handle yesterday but lost in a nail-biter, 361.30-36i.1S. Michi- gan's team total was its highest of the season, and the Sunday mati- nee performance was the closest the Wolverines have come to a per- fect meet. Michigan bested the Cardinal on three of the six events, includ- ing pommel horse - a Stanford strength and historic Michigan weakness. COLTROSENSWEIG M E' S G4F Solid finish erases dismal history This weekend, at the Puerto Rico Classic, the Michigan men's golf team made sure history didn't repeat itself The Wolverines' past at the Classic isn't pretty - they finished second to last in 2007 and last in 2006. But this year, Michigan fin- ished a solid sixth out of 15 teams in their first tournament of the spring season. The Wolverines played consis- tent golf throughout the weekend. After finishing in seventh place after the first round, Michigan played well enough on the second day to move up to fourth before eventually settling for sixth. MATT JOHNSON M EN'S T ENN IS Wolverines grab big win on road It didn't take long for the No. 19 Michigan men's tennis team to avenge last Tuesday's loss to No. 5 Texas. The Wolverines rebounded four days later against another ranked opponent. Michigan beat No. 17 Wake For- est, 4-3, at Leighton Tennis Sta- dium Saturday to gain its first road victory over a top-25 opponent in four years. The Wolverines' doubles game was solid as they took their eighth doubles point in nine matches this season. MICHAEL BERTENTHAL .. T Hawaii a breeze for Michigan A plane flight covering 4,445 miles, a five-hour time change and 80-degree heat couldn't get in the way of the Michigan women's ten- nis team. The 21st-ranked Wolverines (4- 4) took care of business, dominat- ing a struggling Hawaii squad on Thursday, 7-0. The match was highlighted by the surprising roster changes made by Michigan coach Ronni Bernstein, who juggled her lineups in both singles and doubles. Senior captain Allie Shafner returned to action after a six-week layoff, teaming with fellow captain Lindsey Howard in doubles play. MARTYLAROUERE WATER POLO Blue goes perfect against East teams Being dubbed one of the elite water polo squads in the East was quite an honor for the Wolverines. But finishing first among the top teams was the real prize. This weekend's Elite Six tour- nament pitted the Wolverines against five other prominent water polo programs in the East. Though West Coast schools tradition- ally dominate the sport, Michi- gan proved it deserves its No. 12 national ranking. Michigan (12-9) made a state- ment by finishing undefeated at the tournament in College Park, Md. The weekend's four victories give the Wolverines a six-game win streak. RYAN KARTJE WOMEN'S BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIP After meltdown, Borseth keeps cool Coach apologized for his blowup after Sunday's loss By JASON KOHLER Daily Sports Writer Last Thursday, Michigan coach Kevin Borseth ran into the press room and slammed his fist against the podium. "That's how I feel," Borseth said. He launched into a tirade about how his team blew a.20-point lead in the second half and lost 69-67 to Wisconsin at home. By the end of the tantrum, three fist slams later, Borseth's bald head was covered in sweat. Only six members of the media were at the press conference. But in the back of the room, the Big Ten Network's camera was roll- ing. Hours later, the tirade hit the airwaves and the Internet. Friday evening, Borseth was featured on SportsCenter and ESPN's Tony Kornheiser questioned whether he should keep his job. Following Sunday's 63-48 loss to Minnesota, a significantly larger audience filed into the press room to see what Borseth's reaction would be. But Borseth showed his com- posure. He didn't raise his voice. He didn't slam his fist. Instead, he coolly strolled in and issued an apology. "Isaid I was frustrated," Borseth said. "But that moment didn't come close to the frustration I felt later to my own reaction to the game." Borseth explained his actions misrepresented the University of Michigan in the way it deserves to be represented. He apologized to the Univer- sity, his team, the media, the entire Michigan community and anyone who witnessed his reaction. Michigan's women's basketball team received more exposure this weekend thanithas inrecentyears, but for all the wrong reasons. It wasn't on ESPN for having its first winning season in six years. And instead of noting Borseth's success in turning around the pro- gram, he was mocked on national television. "I've pretty much turned off my phone because I knew people would call me," senior Janelle Coo- per said. "I really didn't want to hear anything from other people." Borseth's civility at the podium yesterday shows he has learned that at a school where his every move is monitored, he has to be more careful with what he says and how he says it. The Wolverines hope they can overlook the attentionheadinginto this week's Big Ten Tournament. "My staff and I are looking for- ward to a successful postseason tournament," Borseth said. "And I hope this matter can be put behind us as we move forward with our team goals." Anyone close to Borseth knows he wears his heart on his sleeve, and Thursday night's rant was just an expression of his feelings. Those not close to Borseth might have been alarmed. But his players know how much he cares about them. "He's passionate about his team," Cooper said. "He just wants us to do well. What else can you ask for in a coach?" PETER SCHOTTENFELS/Daily Junior Emily Brunemann, shown here competing against Northwestern in January, broke her own Big Ten record in the mile swim at the Big Ten Championship on Feb. 23. Blue excels at Big TeIN Lack of depth sets 'M' back in Minnesota By IAN ROBINSON that level," Henry said. "They did Daily Sports Editor what was expected. There wasn't much more they could have done." The Michigan women's track Junior Geena Gall, senior Nicole and field team wasn't built for con- Edwards and junior Tiffany Ofili ference success this season. won the 800-meter run, mile run While it had some of the top and 60-meter hurdles, each for the individual talent in the country, second straightyear. Michigan head coach James Hen- Ofili paced the Wolverines in ry's squad lacked the depth to take the sprints with a title in the hur- top honors at the Big Ten Champi- dles and second in the 60- meter onships. dash. She also captured the long The Wolverines finished in sec- jump title. ond place at the Big Ten Indoor Gall, who seta meet record time Championships this weekend at of 2:05.99 in the 800-meter run, the Minnesota Fieldhouse in Min- also contributed to the champi- neapolis, eight points behind host onship-winning distance medley Minnesota. relay. Redshirt junior Alyson Kohl- "It's just that there were more meier, senior Serita Williams and bodies the other team had and we freshman Danielle Tauro joined ran out of depth," Henry said. Gall for the relay. Five Wolverines accounted for Michigan's other individual title 86 of the team's 128 points, and came from junior Bettie Wade in Michigan had multiple scorers in the high jump. just five events. In two weeks, these top athletes On an individual basis, Michi- will head to the NCAA Indoor gan logged some of the best per- Championships. And with that formances of the championship by group, Henry feels his team is bet- capturing five individual titles and ter suited to top Minnesota in that a relay. event. "We are very good atthe top, and "It should be a different story at our people at the top performed at the national level," Henry said. Wolverines take second place amid tough competition By RUTH LINCOLN Daily Sports Writer COLUMBUS - After the first 900 yards of the 1,650-yard free- style, the Big Ten Championship announcer informed fans they might witness one of the fastest times in the country. He could not have been more prophetic. The moment Emily Brunemann jumped off the starting blocks, it was easy to see she was flying. The junior soared out to an early lead and never looked back. She finished 25 seconds ahead of her nearest competitor, and her win in the freestyle gave fuel to No. 11 Michigan's second-place Big Ten finish at McCorkle Aquatic Pavil- ion Feb. 21-23. With the second-fastest Divi- sion I time this season (15:51:29), Brunemann broke her own Big Ten and U-M record by more than nine seconds. "She trains to swim fast like that," Michigan coach Jim Rich- ardson said. "It's great when you have somebody who works that hard, and then watch them come in to a high-pressure environment and they get the job done." The crowded McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion got behind Brunemann's final lengths. Spectators from all 11 schools rose to their feet to reel in her record-smashing perfor- and went in the evening session mance. to claim the conference title and To win the event, Brunemann break her record once again. defeated the two-time defending "Ijust stayed calm and relaxed," Big Ten champion, Minnesota's Jaeger said. "All that I was think- Yuen Kobayshi. ing was 'win for Michigan' and The two swam against each just do my part." other many times throughout Heading into the last event of their careers. After Kobayshi the championships, the 400-yard touched the wall, Brunemann freestyle relay, Minnesota had reached over the lane divider to already sealed the team title, but congratulate her perennial oppo- the Wolverines weren't ready to nent. give up. "She's a great competitor," Fresh off a close second-place Brunemann said. "I always love finish in the 200-yard breast- racing with her." stroke, senior Justine Mueller Brunemann's impressive per- headed into the relay fired up for formance was one of many for the a win. Wolverines. Meet champion No. 9 "I was really happy with my Minnesota edged Michigan by 52 200-breatstroke swim, but I points, but the Wolverines swam wanted to win it so bad," Muel- well in every event and achieved a ler said. "I got out of that race, total of 51 personal-best times. and the first thing I thought was It was one of the fastest con- '7I need to be on the 400 relay and ference championships in his- use this aggression somewhere.'" tory. There was a new conferepcce Mueller anchored the relay and record set in all but one of the 17 exploded ahead. She glided force- swimming events. fully through every stroke and The Wolverines used thatspeed touched the wall first to give the to set five new school records and relay team of sophomore Marga- four conference records. ret Kelly, junior Hannah Smith, "We were marvelous," Rich- Jaeger and Mueller a first-place ardson said. "We've never had a finish and a new Big Ten record. better Big Ten performance based NOTES: Michigan collected on where we were coming into the a slew of Big Ten Awards, with meet and how we prepared." Brunemann winning swimmer Fifth-year transfer senior of the year honors. Diving coach Melissa Jaeger came to Colum- Chris Bergere was named diving bus ready, and found success in coach of the year. Brunemann, her first and last Big Ten Cham- Jaeger, Kelly, Mueller and Smith pionships for the Wolverines. In were named to the All-Confer- Saturday morning's 200-yard ence first team, and junior Payton breaststroke preliminaries, Jae- Johnson was named to the sec- ger broke her own Big Ten record, ond-team. 00, 0,07 All Siblings 18 and Under are Welcome! - Scavenger Hunt - Michigras - Bowling - Laser Tag - Shopping - & LOTS, LOTS more!