SPORTS
Thursday, May 5, 1983

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The Michigan Daily

Darden to lead gymnasts

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By DOUGLAS B. LEVY tons of applications for the position,"
The Michigan men's gymnastics said Canham. "But we know Bob the
program is at the dawn of a new era. best. He is a part of the Michigan
On Monday, April 25, the University's family and is a super individual and
Board in Control of Intercollegiate coach."
Athletics voted unanimously to hire Aside from being Loken's assistant,
Robert K. Darden II as the successor to Darden had four successful years as a
Newt Loken, who retired last month af- Michigan student-athlete.
ter 36 years as Michigan's gymnastics "I originally came to Michigan as an
coach. all-arounder," recollected Darden.
DARDEN,. 28, has been Loken's "But the team had several excellent all-
assistant for the last seven years, around gymnasts and I wastalways the
preceeded by four letter-winning years odd-man out. So I gravitated toward my
as one of Michigan's top gymnasts. best event, the horizontal (igh) bar."
Darden was highly recommended for
the position of head coach. DARDEN EXCELLED as
"Coach Loken has been raving about Michigan's horizontal bar specialist,
Bob Darden for years," said Michigan reigning as Big Ten Horizontal Bar
Athletic Director Don Canham at the Champion in 1974-76. In 1976, he was
Board meeting. "Loken suggested runner-up in the NCAA horizontal bar
Darden three years ago when he championship and was a member of the
(Loken) then wanted to retire, but I All-American Collegiate Gymnastics
convinced him to stay." team.
Darden believes that he is fully Darden graduated from the Univer-
capable of assuming Loken's respon- sity's School of Business Ad-
sibilities. "I've been nurtured in my ministration in 1976 and is only a few
coaching education by coach Loken," credits short of earning his Master's
he said. "These last 11 years have just degree in business from Eastern
been a tremendous learning experien- Michigan. Most importantly, as a
ce." coach, Darden excells with the athletes.
FOR THOSE EXPERTS considering "Bob has always had an excellent
credentials, few candidates were more rapport with the team," said Loken.
impressive than Darden. "We received "He is a good technician and an ex-
'M'sweev runs

cellent spotter. The guys feel very safe
with Bob."
CONCERNING THE future of the
team, two major questions arise: What
effect does Loken's departure have on
recruiting efforts and will Darden seek
to change the program?
"During the year rumors have been
floating around about coach Loken's
retirement," said Darden. "The
recruits and their families were very
concerned about Newt's status. I had to
reassure parents and gymnasts that
they were coming for a viable
program."
Darden is optimistic for the "near-
term" future. "My time horizon now is
five years, and with the people we have
and the people coming in, I'll be very
happy for the next five years."
ABOUT THE program established by
Loken, Darden predicts no significant
changes. "We are working with
student-athletes, with the student
aspect emphasized. Our goal is a well-
rounded team and well-rounded in-
dividuals."
Both Darden and Loken assure that
Loken will continue to be involved with
the team. "He'll be playing a strong
part in our program," said Darden.
Loken said, "I have so many mar-
record t
By PAUL HELGREN
The Michigan baseball team is on a
roll - again.
The Wolverines' two wins over
hapless Adrian Tuesday (7-0, 8-0)
gave the blue bombers their ninth vic-
tory in their last 10 games and a 31-6
record. Earlier in the season Michigan
had winning streaks of 10 and six
games.
ADRIAN (2-10) was totally out-
classed by the Wolverines. They could
only manage three hits in the twin-bill,
none in the second game. That's
right, Michigan got a no-hitter, but
three pitchers, Bill Shut, Scott
Kamieniecki, and Jamie Piper shared
in the honor.
The offense meanwhile was sparked
by 12 stolen bases in 12 attempts. That's
nothing new for Michigan, though. Bud
Middaugh's boys are 72 for 88 on the
basepaths this season, a 82% rate of
success. Junior Chuck Froning knocked
in three runs on three singles in the
second game.
More baseball
See page 27
While the doubleheader with Adrian
was nothing more than a tune-up for the
eighth-ranked Wolverines, last
weekend's action in Columbus against
Ohio State was crucial to Michigan's
Big Ten title hopes. Michigan outscored
the Buckeyes 38-16 to win three of the

velous memories. I'm hoping that I can
still associate with the kids."
Darden is thus assuming his new
position amidst a wave of enthusiasm.
Loken had this to say of the new boss:
"The marvelous choice! I can't think of
anyone more qualified to take over the
coaching reigns than Bob Darden."

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Darden
... assistant steps up
31-6
games but were downed 1-0 in their only
Big Ten defeat to date. Michigan is 6-1
in Big Ten East Division play, 1/2 game
behind Michigan State (8-2), despite the
fact that the Wolverines have a better
winning percentage. The two rivals
meet in four games this weekend,
Saturday at East Lansing and Sunday
at Ann Arbor.
IN OTHER games in the past three
weeks, freshman Scott Kamieniecki
hurled a no-hitter against Cleveland
State in a 9-0 Michigan win. Against
Ferris State the Wolverines pounded
out 21 hits in an embarrasing 19-1 vic-
tory. Junior Rich Stoll, who later in-
jured his hand against Ohio State, two-
hit FSU.
Coach Middaugh himself reached
some personal milestones in the past
few weeks. The veteran Michigan men-
tor racked up win number 500 when
Michigan downed Cleveland State 7-1.
And in last Sunday's 17-11 drubbing of
Ohio State, Middaugh picked up his
150th win at Michigan.
The Scores
April 16 Michigan 8, Indiana 1
Michigan 6, Indiana 2
April17 Michigan1, Indiana 0
April 19 Toledo 3, Michigan 2
Toledo5, Michigan0
April 21 Michigan 7, Cleveland State 1
Michigan 9, Cleveland State 0
April 24 Michigan 11, Ferris State 4
Michigan 19, Ferris State I
April 30 Michigan 10, Ohio State 3
Michigan 11, Ohio State 2
May S OhioState SMichigan0
Michigan i7, Ohio Staie ii
May3 Michigan 7, Adrian 0
Michigan8, AdrianS
May 4 Michigan-Cleveland state (cancelled, poor
field conditions)

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Junior Bill Shuta hurled four hitless innings against A