The Michigan softball team won many individual awards despite struggling as a ,eam in the postseason. Wage 14. SPORTS Monday 13 June 14, 1999 Not-so-cruel summer or sorts ans ow that the calendar has N changed to June and the weather has gone from warm to "hot as hell," there is a void in the life of a Michigan sports fan. ootball? Fall practice starts in two months and M i c h i g a n 's potential start- ing quarterback, T Drew Henson, is Berka playing third Teeing base in the New Off York Yankees' it system. 0ithout a quarterback, there is no football. Basketball? Although Ed Martin seems intent on keeping the basket- ball program on its heels, there real- ly isn't anything going on. Hockey? It's 90 degrees outside, not exactly the conditions necessary for a sport played on ice (although it doesn't stop the NHL). So what's a Michigan sports fait to ? Besides watching Major League seball - which seems to have 20 games on television a day - there's really not much to get excited about. Or so it seems. There are plenty of sports to fol- low or do in the summer besides girl (or guy) watching. Most involve a cold beer and a pair of sunglasses, but then again, most great things in life do. SOLF: Yes, old men love this sport. Yes, its extremely boring to watch golf on TV But it is extreme- ly hard and quite frustrating, like the nerdy kid in class who grunts while raising his hand. While it may be hard, it is also pretty cool. You get to knock the hell out of a little white ball, drive around in a sporty golf cart, and enjoy the picturesque scenery of the golf course. ut if the frustration of regular f makes you want to curse every time you see a Tiger Woods com- mercial, then go play sonic putt-putt. Its easy to play and the balls are multi-colored. And the putt-putt world champi- ons reside in Ypsilanti, so you might find financial profit from obtaining autographs of these 11-year old I~rd beaters. *ut probably not. IM SOFTBALL: On the surface, its pretty similar to golf. You try to knock the hell out of a white ball See BERKA, Page 15 'M' knights athletes of year National champions Katie McGregor and Justin Toman etched in history By Raphael Goodstein a Daily Sparts Writer Katie McGregor and Justin Toma followed in the footsteps of Michiga legends like Glen Rice and Charli Woodson by complementing national title with the Michigan aff ]etc of the year award. McGregor became Michigan's fir individual cross country champio when she won the 1998 NCAA crop country title. Toman, a sophomore, helped th Michigan men's gymnastics teat capture its first national title in 2 years by winning the individual pa allel bars championship, placin third in the high-bar, and finishin fifth place on the high bar. Both athletes are nominees for th Big Ten Conference athlete of the year awards, which are named after Jesse Owens and Suzy' in in es a h- st in ss te m THE LIST OF LEGENDS Past Michigan men of the year Past Michigan women of the year J. Toman G. Rice K. McGregor A. Colloton C. Woodson J. Abbott S. Griffin M. Fischbach B. Morrison J. Harbaugh K. Holmes A. Seegert T. Dolan M. Hammerstein A. Kampfe C. Schmidt G, Borgess B. Larkin B. Wymer S. Schroeder C. Webber S. Humphries M. McClimon M. Mactaggart D. Howard A. Carter L. Hooiveld S. Frederick- M. Barrowman B. Woolfolk M. Gehrs Foster B. Lang L. Anderson Favor. T Toman becomes the first gymnast to be Michigan athlete of the year. "He was the leader in everything lie did," team mate Lalo Haro said. "He was very committed to the team, he was a leader the whole year." Toman is the 17th recipient, of the 18th annual award. In 1996, swimmer Tom Dolan added to his already full mantel by repeating as Michigan ath- lete of the year. That same yeas Dolan won the gold medal in th Olympics. "He (Toman) was always one of the last people to leave practice," Haro said. "He was a very important piece of the team." Toman is -one of five Achiv 0 9 gymnasts tha r- World Univi ig United States ig de Mallorca, the WUG titl he "On the flo low co-captai "People really dence and itr Toman v Michigan and and internatio DAN unNAE a spo r Ic s t will compete in 1999 year with awards outside of the gym ersity Games for the as well. He was awarded the acade- . ie will travel to Palma mic all-Big Ten Conference honor, Spain to compete for and Michigan Athletic Academic e July 3-7. Achievement accolades. or he really led us," fel- "I expect more of the same thing in Randy D'Amura said. next year since he's gotten all y looked up to his confi- of the exposure at 'ubbed off." Michigan for being one xill represent both of the top athletes," I the Big Ten in national D'Amura said. nal competition. He has Toman also ot on the United States br ought home his, National Team and will second Big Ten title" 'epresent the U.S. inter- in the parallel bars nationally for the year. and set a Wolverine, He was also the sole record by bringing home U.S. competitor at the four All-Arnerican awards n e rn at i o n al inmoneseason. ivitational it Mexico. "He was a leader the whole Toman finished with year," Haro said. a bronze medal McGregor was also a on the still leader in almost everything rings she did. She took home all America honors in cross- Country, indoor and outdoor track and field. McGregor also. : "He set led the Wolverines to consecu the example for tive Big Ten indoor track and everyone else," Haro said. "He always went a little beyond everyone olse and everyone else 'ould follow. He was 'utstanding all year." Toman finished the field championships and an outdoor track and field championships. She has also been nominated for NCAA woman of the year and the Honda Broderick Cup, the award given to the nation's top female ath- lete. McGregor is Michigan's most dec- orated distance runner, and had an impressive post-season performance this year, including the 5,000 meter Big Ten title. In her four years at Michigan, McGregor fin- ished as a three-time NCAA champion, eight- time NCAA All-American- and three-time Big Ten Conference champion. McGregor still holds the NCAA idoor champi- onship record in the distance medley relay. She owns the Michigan record for All- American hon- ors in track with six. McGregor is the 16th woman FILE PHOTO to take home the award in its 18th year of exis- tence. As another year in Michigan athletics passes, two have assured thetr places in maize and blue histo- ry. These two student- athletes are truly she leaders and best. LEEPERSi Fm 7 P I NTSl Y L~ioA'lo CAT U U ur Maximum Score At EXCEL, we focus upon the key distinctions that result in great scores. You will learn to anticipate the exam's thinking, manage your time more effectively, control exam-day anxiety, and refine your test-taking strategies. Professional Instruction, Innovative Materials, Individual Attention, & Affordable Tuition. Prepare Now for the GRE & GMAT (on Computer) July classes for the Oct. LSAT & Fall GRE plus, Special Programs for the MCAT & DAT E P1117 South University Test Preparation 996-1500