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." THE NEW LINE CHINESE CUISINE 1(ai qarden CRYU SPECIALIZING IN HONG KONG, TAIWANESE, U SZECHUAN & HUNAN STYLES 734-995-1786 116 S. MAIN STREET ETWEENHURONAND WASHINGTON ST.) ANN ARBOR WWW.KAIGARDEN.COtM 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.