The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com Thursday, March 18, 2010 - 9A Recruiting victory pays huge dividends for Michigan golf By MICHAEL WELCH Intercollegiate in late October, For the Daily which placed Michigan in first at the event. It came down to a battle That impressive showing - the between Michigan and Wisconsin team's lowest round this year - to land the prized golf recruit. has continued into the spring sea- And in the end, Michigan won. son. "We were able to wrangle him Schultz had the best record at away from the Badgers," Michigan the Big Ten Match Play and led coach Andrew Sapp said of Jack the Wolverines at the Fresno State Schultz. Lexus Classic. Schultz, a Wisconsin resident His only disappointment is and the 31st-ranked recruit in the that he didn't shoot an under-par country, mentioned Michigan's round. strong academics, great team But he said his plan is to shoot atmosphere and the distance from under par in Boca Raton next home as major reasons for choos- week and doesn't feel pressure to ing Michigan. improve his game. According to Sapp and Schultz, "My short game's been getting the rest has gone , a lot better lately," accordingto plan. Schultz said. "In At the begin- Fresno, I didn't ning of the sea- "W e kind of hit it as well but I son, Schultz got up and down established him- expected him and hit a bunch of self as one of putts so hopefully the starters and to come right in I'll be able to put it hasn't lost his 1j 1, together." place since. and help US." Sapp is assured Sapp has not of Schultz's all- been surprised by around game and Schultz's play. believes focus will "We kind of expected him to be the key to the freshman's con- come right in and help us right sistency down the stretch. away," Sapp said. "I think it's just maintaining In Michigan's first two tour- his focus when he's playing two naments in late September, Jack rounds a day," Sapp said. "But, he finished third both times and his has the ability when he gets in a strong first day at the Wolverine groove to click off some birdies Invitational contributed to the and pars one after the other." Michigan team's only tournament Sapp has stressed this' focus victory this season. for the team as well, hoping that Confidence has been integral to toward the end of the season the Schultz's strong play this year, and team will start strong and close it showed when he followed two out tournaments when they are poor tournaments with a nine- gunning for the win on the final under first day at the Bridgestone day. THINK YOU HAVE THE PERFECT BRACKET? Well, ours is better than yours. SEE PAGE 8A FOR THE DAILY'S OFFICIAL PICKS FOR THIS YEAR'S DANCE Lebler playing best hockey as M' career winds down By MICHAEL FLOREK Daily Sports Writer When Brian Lebler came to Ann Arbor, most of the time he was gasping for air. "He was a lumbering skater. He would just kind of lumber up and down the ice. He had limited endurance. When we would do our down-and-backs, he would just die. SoI was all over him about his conditioning, about his weight." For the senior, two words are more important than the rest of Michigan coach Red Berenson's take on his early time with the Michigan hockey team - "was" and "would." Despite his past shortcom- ings, with his Michigan career dwindling Lebler has elevated his game and, according to Berenson is, "playing the best hockey of his career right now," and it's hard to argue against it. The Penticton, British Columbia native has set career highs in goals (12) assists (9) and points (21) this season and proved to be more of a factor than the stats have shown. In Michigan's series-clinching win over Michigan State last Sat- urday, the game-winning goal came from Lebler's linemate, freshman Chris Brown. But it was Lebler who hit a Spartan defense- man in the corner to free up the puck. Lebler then rolled to the net to get a whack at the puck, right before Brown found it and put it in. "He's a physical force out there and that might have led to Brown's winning goal," Berenson said. "It's not a pretty goal but it looks pretty goal on paper." The late game effort was miss- ing in Lebler's previous seasons, as his conditioning and skating wasn't where it needed to be. He played in just 29 of the team's 41 games as a sophomore, registering just eight points. 1 But last season, he took a small step forward, scoring 16 points and establishing himself as a power forward for the Wolverines. "Last year I thought we a saw big difference in his condition- ing and his skating and he looked lighter on his feet and he was play- ing lighter," Berenson said. "Then, he got working on his shot ... then he got working on his work ethic .... When all those things start coming together you start getting some results." Lebler's physicality and his 6-foot-3, 212 pound frame have found him a niche at power for- ward on the third line, playing along with Brown and freshman A.J. Treais. The three have been playing together since the start of the postseason and have notched two goals in four games. As the only veteran presence on the line, Lebler has been forced into a leadership role. "I feel like I have to be a leader everywhere," Lebler said. "But those two guys are mature hock- ARIEL BOND/Daily Senior Brian Lebler is playing "his best hockey," according to coach Red lerenson. ey players and they know what and howyou'retryingtogetbetter, they're. doing out there. ... I don't and how you're trying to become a feel like I have to carry them, or better player every year." I don't feel like they don't know INJURY NOTES: Senior captain what they're doing out there. Chris Summers will be out for Sometimes I feel like they're kind both games this weekend with a of teaching me." knee injury. He hasn't skated since Michigan plays for its season he left Michigan's Mar. 6 game on Friday against No. 2 Miami in against Lake Superior State. the CCHA semifinals, Berenson Junior goalie Bryan Hogan won'tbe quite as uneasy about see- skated in his first full practice yes- ing Lebler "lumber" down the ice. terday since injuring his knee Feb. Something has finally clicked. 25. Berenson has stated thatjunior "I think he, like a lot of players Shawn Hunwick is his starting he finally gets it," Berenson said. goalie, but is still unsure whether "He gets it. He gets the fact of how Hogan will dress in the backup hard you have to work every day, role. ON HUMAN VLES SYMPOSIUM ON THE TANNER .ECTUR ;USAN NEIMAN nofh~me FrdoMAT ORRAIN -DA e":' ARCH 26,2 010 I 4:00 PM EXALANDER NEHAMAS UNIVERSITY OF AICHRGAN SusanJ. Douglas returns to Nicol is Books to talk about her new book En/l'ligtevd, Sexism. Discussion, Q&A and signing to follow. THuRsoAY, MARcH is 7:00 P.M. NicoLA's Boots WESTGATE SHOPPING CEtTER TIMES BOOKS An imprint of Henry Halt and company wwwisen*yhaltam wwwasasjdaotglas.cram THE SFOUC VE MES5{tG rOAIS p3NE FEMINISM'S wotK x i =j h fl' +w q z v6LA pofY of "A must-read: whip-smart, witty, and scathingl inshtful. Susan Douglas has penned a brilliant-and often funny- critique of the myths about equality, ambition, and femininity that are currently being served up as 'reality' in Our media-crazed culture." -SUSAN JANE GILMAN, BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF HYPOCRITE IN A POUFFY WHITE DRESS Saturday, March 27th - Screening of 8:00 p.m. A documentary about The Night Ministry health outreach bus in Chicago, musical introduction by Jerome's Dance Grooves and Steve Rush. Director Todd Lillethun and Director of Photography Brendan Kirwin will join us. Sunday, March 28th - 5:00 p.m. A festive re-creation of the triumphal entry of Christ into Jerusalem. We'll have a Jazz parade! Thursday, April 1st - 5:30 p.m. A simple Mediterranean meal in commemoration of The Last Supper. Friday, April 2nd - 5:30 p.m. Featuring a reading of the Passion Gospel by the women of Canterbury House. Friday, April 2nd - 8:00 p.m. The life of Jesus has inspired films ranging from "The Greatest Story Ever Told" to "The Life of Brian." Bring your jammies and a pillow! Saturday, April 3rd - 8:00 p.m. A culmination of the Holy Week celebration, with fire-juggling and the re-telling in scripture and music of the SUSAN J. DOUGLAS I hor o WI L IE THEG IRLS A RI . I