The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com Thursday, February 14, 2013 - 7A PAUL SHERMAN/Daily Junior defenseman Mac Bennett sustained an upper-body injury Jan. 8, and Michigan coach Red Berenson said he rushed Bennett back to help the reeling Wolverines. Bennett gains coach's perspective Junior defensemen said he felt helpless while nursing a month-long injury By LIZ VUKELICH Daily Sports Editor In the past month, Mac Ben- nett discovered a newfound respect for the Michigan hockey team's coaching staff. It dates back to Jan. 8, when the junior defenseman sustained an upper-body injury in Michi- gan's game against Bowling Green. Since then, Bennett could do nothing but watch from the stands as the Wolverines stum- bled their way through the rest of January. It was during this month-long absence that he gained a new per- spective on some of the team's problems. "If anything, it's frustrating," . Bennett said. "I'm helpless stand- ing up there, you want too yell down to the ice and grab someone and say, 'Do it this way,' but you can't do that. "Now I understand what it would be like to be a coach ... when they're trying to getcthrough tous and tell us to do things certain ways and we're just not doing it. It's frustrating to watch." The bulk of the Wolverines' injuries this season have been to their defensemen, so Bennett's absence on the blue line was a big enough blow in itself. But even more worrisome for the Wolverines was that everyone's happy. That was kind of my role while I was out." Michigan coach Red Berenson knew this off-ice leadership could 'only do so much. Though Bennett tried his best to carry the team off the ice, just being a presence in the locker room didn't seem to be enough to get the team back on track. "I can tell you through these last eight games of hell that the absence deprived them of one of their "You want to alternate cap- tains. And for yell down to a team that's ' been struggling the ice and gra to find consis- tent leader- Someone" ship to guide it through its rough patches, that perhaps was the biggestblow our team." of all. ThoughI The captains say time and ingbyhims again that the best way to lead is only had a c by example. But with his injury, tact practic Bennett had to find a way to direct team before the Wolverines in lieu of playing. the Notre D "If I can't be a presence on the end. ice, I just have to up my presence Berenson in the locker room," he said. "Just timing of B be around the guys, make sure have been our team has gone through, it's been just as tough on (Bennett)," Berenson said. b "I know he couldn't wait to get back on the ice and do what he does best to help influence Bennett started skat- elf a few weeks ago, he ouple days of full-con- e with the rest of the returning to action in tame series last week- n admitted that the ennett's return might a little premature - had the Wolverines been faring a little better in their games, the coach would've waited until after the bye week before putting Ben- nett back'in, giving him another two weeks of practice to fully, regain his legs. His rustiness definitely showed - a poor turnover in front of Michigan's goal let in the Fight- ing Irish's fifth goal of the night on Friday. Though his defen- sive-zone coverage did slightly improvethe nextnight, it was still too little, too late for the Wolver- ines, who ended up surrendering 13 goals on the weekend. After Saturday's game, Ben- nett admitted that though he had physically recovered, he still wasn't mentally where he need- ed to be in order to productively contribute to the defense. He said having to take time to think about his actions as a result of los- ing muscle memory over the.past month slowed down the pace of his game. That's why the upcoming bye week couldn't come at a better time for Bennett. "It's coming back," Bennett said. "I want to get back to the point where I don't think, I just play" Zakharia no longer one-trick gymnast By CINDY YU floor. Daily Sports Writer This year, as an upperclass- man, Zakharia has taken on Junior Reema Zakharia is more responsibilities and is more becoming a stronger asset for focused on refining the details of the No. 3 women's gymnastics her routines, saying consistency team. is an emphasis. Typically a floor exercise Her strategy has worked. specialist, Zakharia competed Earlier this year, she scored a in three events for just the sec- career-best9.925 on floor against ond time in her career at the last Illinois and was named Big Ten home meet against Iowa on Feb. Co-Event Specialist of the Week. 2. To have her ready to go on Zakharia made up her own vault and beam will add a more floor routine that features excit- seasoned competitor to the mix ing choreography and an enor- and motivate her teammates to mous running double-front work even harder. opening pass. Her background "It was great doing three in dance radiates in her high- events," Zakharia said. "I'm not energy routine and brings out 100-percent her upbeat personality. satisfied with "Training is going well," my perfor- Zakharia said. "The girls are all mance, but it's working hard. We're just trying just driving to really build our confidence me to work even more and hit routine after even harder in routine." the gym and Against the Hawkeyes, consistently RUBYWALLAU/Daily Zakharia hit all of her routines. get inthe otherlineups." On vault, she upgraded her The Wolverines (4-1 Big Ten, front-handspring pike from the 8-1 overall) have shown surpris- previous year to a front-hand- ing depth and persistence from spring pike with a half twist. On last season,whichwasmarred of beam, she executed a clean set injuries and void of any seniors. under pressure after the Michi- "Ther's definitely a very dif- gan gymnast competing prior ferent team dynamic," Zakharia to her fell. Her routine featured said. "The upperclassmen really a front-tuck-to-back-tuck flight show a different sense of leader- series and a front full-twisting ship, and I mean that with every dismount. Zakharia's frontctum- single individual" bling is highlighted in her beam Despite an impressive start to and floor routines. On floor, she the firsthalfofthe season, Mich- tied for fourth witha 9.825. igan has yetto peak, accordingto The junior spent the previous coach Bev Plocki. The Wolver- week rehabbing her leg and did ines still have upgrades planned, not compete in the most recent and a top-six lineup to finalize. meet againstcOhio State. They are utilizinga new strategy "I wouldn't call it- an injury, of switching up the lineups to but we have to monitor it and be keep veterans fresh and injury- careful going forward," Plocki free and to give their teammates said. "I would expect to see her the opportunity to gain valuable in and out of the lineup depend- meet experience. ing on where we feel like we "Our team score could be need to resther." higher if we did X, Y and Z," Zakharia is excited to return Plocki said. "That's a good thing. to the lineup this Saturday It keeps a team motivated, hun- against Penn State. gry, and they work harder in the "Every meet has the same gym as a result." amount of pressure," Zakharia As a leader on the team, said. "Whether you are compet- Zakharia has experienced the ing in conference or against the highs and lows of Michigan Southeastern Conference, there gymnastics. During her fresh- are great gymnasts out there so men year, she was a member of you always just want to put out the team that won the Big Ten your best-'A' game." Championship and qualified for Zakharia and the Wolverines the Super Six - the most presti- have proven that they can han- gious competition in women's dle the pressure of being on top. collegiate gymnastics. Last They've been ranked in the top year, Zakharia competed on a three everyweek this season and team that failed to qualify for twice have been ranked No. . the NCAA Championships and , "I just want my team to get ended afive-year winningstreak back out there and get the Big at the Big Ten Championships. Ten Championship title back Hailing from the same gym as like we deserve," Zakharia said. 2012 Olympic bronze medalist "I definitely want to head back Danell Leyva, the Miami native to the Super Six again, end up is one of the best floor-exercise on the podium and go after that workers inthe nation. Her fresh- national championship because man year, Zakharia was the I really think we are contend- Michigan builds young stars to fill void left by departing seniors Driesenga, Fitzpatrick and Susanna could be contributors By ALEJANDRO ZUNIGA Daily Sports Writer As one of eight sophomores on the preseason watch list for USA Softball National Collegiate Player of the Year, pitcher Hay- lie Wagner was nowhere to be found when the No.14 Michigan softball team opened its season in Florida last weekend. Instead, sophomore Sara Driesenga took .to the circle for the Wolverines (3-1), which may- have found another ace for their rotation. Wagner, a 32-game winner and unanimous Big Ten Pitcher of the Year in 2012, was expect- ed to retain her leadership role this season. But her absence from practice and Michigan coach Carol Hutchins' vague words suggest that the pitcher is suffering from a health-related issue. "We don't really like to talk about injuries," Hutchins said. "She just isn't in the lineup yet. We're hopeful that we'll get her back in a relatively short period of time." Driesenga made the most of her opportunity, pitching 23 innings on the weekend and W allowing just three earned runs. Her efforts were capped by a complete-game shutout in the Wolverines' 4-0 blanking of Samford on Sunday, when Dries- enga added two hits and an RBI. "I thought (Driesenga) han- Sophomore pitcher Sara Driesenga replaced Haylie Wagner. who was the 2012 Big Ten Pitcher of the Year, last weekend. died it well," Hutchins said. "She's a fit kid, she's a strong kid. ... The competition isn't going to get any easier." Though not as impressive as Wagner, Driesenga's freshman year was also solid. In2012, she made the All-Big Ten first team as a utility player after splitting time on and off the mound. Still, her performance last weekend demonstrated marked improve- ment since the successful fresh- man campaign. "Sara is definitely better now than she was at the end of last season," Hutchins said. "She still isn't quite where she needs to be. ... (Driesenga and Wagner) are both going to pitch for us, and we'll see where that goes." But the competition for playing time is far from over. Hutchins stressed that they weeks before Big Ten play will allow players to earn bigger spots on the team. Freshman pitcher Alice Fitzpatrick made her collegiate debut on Feb. 9 against Florida Atlantic by strik- ing out a batter in 0.2 innings, and she will be used more this weekend. Senior pitcher Stephanie Speierman also saw action against the Owls, but was chased after allowing two runs - one earned.. Two other starting slots are up for grabs as well. Before the season began, Hutchins named four players who might take over the vacant first base posi- tion. Junior Taylor Hasselbach held the spoton opening day, but freshman Kelsey Susanna also saw time by the end of the week- end. Juniors Nicole Sappingfield and Lyndsay Doyle have secured starting roles in the outfield, but Hutchins said the third position was still undecided. Winners of five consecutive conference titles, Michigan is still searching for its 2013 iden- tity. Before the season-opening tournament in Florida, Hutchins - who has been a part of the program since 1983 - claimed she had no idea how the team would perform in game situa- tions. Though the team's week- end was marred by a close loss to No. 12 South Florida, she was pleased with the way the team was coming together. "We did play well," Hutchins said. "If we keep getting runners on, then there's going to come that big hit where we do score and we do get that extra run across the board that will push us over and help us win."