The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com
Thursday, January 31, 2013 - 7A
The Michigan Army ROTC received some tutoring from the Michigan women's track and field team to prepare for the competition for a prestigious badge.
To prepare for competition, ROTC
takes marc ing orders from athletes
Cadets competing
for German Armed
Forces Proficiency
Badge
By NATE SELL
Daily Sports Writer
While most of Michigan's stu-
dent body was still sleeping on a
rainy Wednesday morning, mem-
bers of the Michigan Army ROTC
program unloaded from their
vans and filed into the Indoor
Track Building. As they jogged
around the track to warm up, the
Michigan women's track team
trickled in and reported to the
locker room.
MembersoftheROTCprogram
are training to earn the German
Armed Forces Proficiency Badge
- an award given by the Ger-
man Army that is one of the few
foreign-army awards that can be
worn on the U.S. Army dress uni-
form. To earn this award, cadets
must meet standards in high
jump, long jump, shot put, sprints,
a 5,000-meter run, first aid, pistol
shootirig and a road march. Each
year, Michigan sends 10 members
of its ROTC program to the com-
petition, which is held at Indi-
ana's indoor track, where they get
to meet cadets from around the
Big Ten and Notre Dame.
The award has three levels,
depending on which standards
are met - gold, silver and bronze.
Last year, juniors Dan Sutton and
Caroline Holdren went to Indiana
and came away with the silver
badge.
"In the Army, we are only test-
ed onpush-ups, sit-ups and atwo-
mile run," Sutton said. "It was fun
to change it up and do some track-
and-field events."
Sutton and Holdren are now
serving as coaches for the cadets
headingto Indiana in February.
"It's more relaxing (as a coach),
but at the same time we want to
come out with a good outcome
and show that our training is
going to help them in the compe-
tition," Holdren said.
This year, for the first time, the
indoor track was opened up for
the ROTC program. This allowed
them to use the long-jump and
high-jump pit as well as the shot-
put cage. In addition to using the
facility, Michigan senior jumper
Sara Nitz volunteered to help
teach the cadets how to high
jump, which is one of the more
technically difficult events.,
"It was the first time I had to
put in my own little high-jump
mini-camp," Nitz said, "I hope
they got something out of it."
Nitz spent 20 minutes each
with a number of groups that
spent an hour rotating between
field events. She spent her limited
time with the cadets by setting
up their approaches and teaching
them the basic form used to get
over the bar.
"In the past we've never really
had anybody to help out," Hold-
ren said. "It's definitely a good
experience because a lot of the
times, we'll have people teaching
the events that don'tknowhow to
teach them."
One of the cadets trying to
earn the badge is sophomore Nick
Cromell, who studied at Indiana
over the summer. Using the high-
jump knowledge he acquired
from Nitz, Cromell is excited to
go back to Bloomington and com-
pete at its indoor track.
"Having someone who actually
knows what they're doingis obvi-
ously really helpful," Cromell said.
"If people are willing to come out
and help you, why wouldn't you
take advantage of that?"
Gophers top off
grueling stretch
By ALEXA DETTELBACH
Daily Sports Writer
The Michigan women's bas-
ketball team is exhausted.
After playing three games in
seven days, the Wolverines have
finlly completed the tough-
est stretch of their schedule.
The first game was against No.
8 Penn State, which edged out
Michigan (5-2 Big Ten, 16-4
overall), 59-49. Four days later,
the Wolverines went on the road
to Indiana where they trounced
the Hoosiers, 61-43. With three
days to rest, Michigan returned PATRICK BARRON/Daiiy
home to face Iowa in a disap- Michigan coach Kim Barnes Arico
pointing 63-57 loss on Sunday. called this stretch "incredibly tough."
"This was the first stretch senior center Rachel Sheffer.
for me where we had to play After a hot start, teams have
three games in a week and it was made stopping Thompson a
incrediblytough," said Michigan point of emphasis.
coach Kim Barnes Arico. "Start- "I think teams are really key-
ing with Penn State then having ing on (Thompson), and they're
to travel to Indiana and then really setting their defense to
returning (home) and having take her out of what she's capa-
to play Iowa ble of doing," Barnes Arico said.
for a second "She needs to make some adjust-
time, having Michigan at ments (and) be able to curl off
us coming off Minnesta screens.
beating them. Matchup' "We need Kate, and we need
I don't think Michigan 16-4; Rachel to make some shots for
that's an easy Minnesota 13-8 us."
week for any- When' Thurs- Sheffer, who scored her
body." day8 m s 1000th career point against
The Wol- Penn State, was held scoreless in
verines looked Where: Wil- the loss to Iowa.
fatigued in liams Arena The Golden Gophers boast
their most TV/Radio: their own 1000-point scorer
recent loss to WTKA (AM in guard Rachel Banham, who
Iowa. Hav- 1Moluecom red 37 points in Minneso-
ing outplayed ta's loss to Illinois on Monday.
the Hawkeyes Banham leads the team with
for most of the game, Michigan 21 points per game, which is
couldn't keep up in the last few good for second in the Big Ten.
minutes when fatigue started to Junior forward Micaella Riche is
kick in. That was especially true another offensive threat, averag-
for senior guard Jenny Ryan, ing 12.6 points per game and 7.2
who played just shy of all 120 rebounds.
minutes ofthe tough three-game Overall, Minnesota is a high-
stretch. powered offensive team. The
"I think I took (Ryan) out for Golden Gophers are second in
six seconds," Barnes Arico said the Big Ten in points pergame,
after the loss to Iowa. "That's averaging 71.5, so the Wolver-
probably all she's going to get. I ines will have to rely on their
think obviously she's worn out." defense to slow them down.
Unfortunately for the Wol- Meanwhile, Minnesota is in
verines, they only had a four-day the middle of a four-game losing
break before hitting the road to streak and will do everything it
face Minnesota (2-5, 13-8) on can to end it against Michigan.
Thursday. "We have to get prepared for
"Our schedule is incredibly a very good Michigan team and
tough, but we have had the abil- leave this (streak) behind us so
ity to bounce back this season," we can get better for Thursday,"
Barnes Arico said. "It's going to said Minnesota coach Pam Bor-
be tough on Thursday. Anytime ton.
you go on the road in the Big The Wolverines are tired, but
Ten, it's really hard, and I think their extra day of preparation
we have to get our toughness will prove to be critical come
back and the chip on our shoul- game time.
der back and be ready to go at "We have to rest up and get
Minnesota because everybody is a couple of days of practice in,"
gunning for us now." Barnes Arico said. "We haven't
Michigan will need an been able to do that with the
improved offensive showing three games in a week so hope-
from its leading scorers, senior fully (we'll) be more energized
forward Kate Thompson and and ready to go by Thursday."
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For Caesar, a
surprise record
By ALEX TAYLOR
Daily Sports Writer
When fifth-year senior Syque
Caesar walked onto the mat for
his parallel bars routine for the
Michigan men's gymnastics
team Saturday, he did so as a cap-
tain, an Olympian and a national
champion.
-After sticking his dismount,
Caesar jumped off the mat as a-
NCAA record holder.
Setting the NCAA record on
parallel bars with a score of 15.90,
Caesar eclipsed the previous
record of 15.85, set in 2008.
However, setting the record
was the last thing on Caesar's
mind as he prepared for the rou-
tine.
"Honestly, I was just trying
to hit a decent, clean routine
because we had a couple of falls
before I went," Caesar said. "I
just wanted to contribute to the
team."
Even after finishing his routine
and seeing the reaction from the
fans and his teammates, Caesar
still didn't grasp what he had just
accomplished.
"I didn't think I beat the
record," Caesar said. "All I know
is that when the score came up,
I was just pretty amped and
psyched about it. The whole team
was comingup to me congratulat-
ing me. I was just pumped."
Caesar credits a record board
hanging in the gym as his main
motivation. This board lists the
Michigan gymnast with the high-
est score in each event. Under
the parallel bar section, Caesar
had been at the top with a score
of 15.65 until the end of the last
season when junior Sam Mikulak
scored a 15.75 on the event. That
score served a constant reminder
to Caesar.
"I've been just staring at that
all preseason long, and I've been
mentally and sub-conciously
thinking, 'Man I really would
like to tie that score or beat it,"'
Caesar said. "And luckily, it just
happened this weekend. I wasn't
expecting it."
Now, Caesar's score will be
the one serving as motivation for
gymnasts on his team, as well as
gymnasts from all over the coun-
try.
Competing with gymnasts
from around the country is noth-
ing new to Caesar, who competed
for Bangladesh in the 2012 Lon-
don Games.
Unfortunately for Caesar, he
tore his left bicep just eight days
before the Olympics were set to
begin. Caesar had just recovered
from a tear in his right bicep
that ended his season that Janu-
ary. Despite this injury, Caesar
still managed to eompete in four
events while in London..
"He was 4-for-4 on routines,"
said Michigan coach Kurt Golder.
"(That) was pretty incredible to
be on that big stage when his last
meet was back in January, and
now here you are in July compet-
ing in the Olympic Games. Andhe
rocked his routines."
The Olympics were not just a
competition for Caesar, but also
a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
"My Olympic experience was
everything I could have dreamed
of and then some," Caesar said.
Caesar was particularly
impressed with the Olympic Vil-
lage, where all the athletes stay.
"The biggest thing was, when
you walk outside your apartment
in the village, no matter who was
around you, every person around
you is an Olympian," Caesar
said. "You are just surrounded
by Olympians from all over the
globe. That was just a real cool
ALLISON FARRAND/Daily
Fifth-year seniorSyque Caesar competed in the 2012 Olympics for Bangladesh.
experience just meeting all the
different athletes."
During the Games, Caesar was
able to interact with U.S. sprinter
Tyson Gay, men's all-around gold
medalist Kohei Uchimura as well
as the "Fierce Five", the gold-
medal-winning United States
women's gymnastics team.
In addition to meeting other
athletes, Caesar also attended
other competitions such as div-
ing, track and field and the gym-
nastics events.
In addition to the memories
Caesar acquired while in London,
he was able to take some valuable
lessons back to Ann Arbor with
him.
"In terms of gymnastics, I've
just raised my personal stan-
dards, my gymnastics potential
and where I want to be," Caesar
said. "My standards weren't as
high before, but now I have a bet-
ter understanding of what is pos-
sible, and what I can do and how
far I can go."
The lessons and experiences
he obtained during the Olym-
pics, coupled with the Olympic
experiences of fellow Olympian
Mikulak, have helped out each
gymnast individually, as well as
their teammates.
This higher standard is appar-
ent in the way the Wolverines
carry themselves each day to the
expectations and goals they have
for themselves.
"No. 1 goal is not anything
personal: it's all about the team,"
Caesar said. "We know exactly
what our goal is. Our goal is to
win the Big Ten team title and
win the NCAA team title."
If anyone knows how to lead
his team to these goals, it's Cae-
sar. As a freshman, he was part of
a Michigan team that took the Big
Ten team title. This was followed
up by a sophomore season that
included a NCAA team title.
With this experience under his
belt, along with his newly minted
NCAA record, Caesar's full atten-
tion will be on the team and help-
ing it bring home some hardware
this year.
"Everyone on the team is hun-
gry to do that," Caesar said.