)nline poll 3o online and vote for who Michigan ,all will miss the most next season: ) David Terrell C) Anthony Thomas I) Drew Henson D) the offensive line nichigandaily.com/sports SPORTS MONDAY APRIL 30, 2001 champions again: Blue crew Racures conference crown v Kristen Fidh aiy Sports Writer The final race of the afternoon - a showdown tween Michigan, Ohio State and Michigan State - kept the crowd on its toes. But even if the /olverines were to come in dead last, they still ould have won the title. Last Saturday, the No. 2 Michigan women's row- am (27-3) won four out of six races, including ie final event, to emerge as the Big Ten Champions >r the second-consecutive year. The Wolverines imed 56 total points. Runner-up Ohio State fin- hed with 43. The regatta's last race was the first varsity eight, id Kate Johnson, one of Michigan's top rowers, ad re-injured a rib the previous Friday and was not >mpeting. "We had to change the lineup because of an , and Allison Hickey was put in the stroke at," Michigan coach Mark Rothstein said. "I ought she rowed a great race." In the beginning of the race, the Wolverines fell ehind both Michigan State and Ohio State. By the alfway point, Michigan had passed the Spartans ad slashed the Buckeyes' lead. "Ohio State had an excellent start, and had a good lead," Rothstein said. "We got down by alot, which wasn't really the plan." The strokes from both boats got faster and stronger, but Michigan was able to pull ahead for the win, securing its second conference crown. "Our rowera did a really good job of staying calm" Rothstein said. "They got down early but had enough fitness that they could stay composed." Michigan also won the second varsity eight, first varsity four and the first novice eight. It came in second in the second varsity four and third in the second novice eight. Wisconsin won both of those races. The Wolverines' novice boats are made up of non-varsity rowers, but the races still earn points - much like consolation heats in swimming. Even though the Big Ten is highly competitive in the sport nationally, rowing provides one of the only outlets for university students to become part of intercolle- giate athletics by walking onto the novice boats. "I was really used to being a competitive athlete in high school, and when I was a freshman and was- n't competing, I felt really unbalanced," said sopho- more Amy Caughlin, who walked onto Michigan's rowing team this past fall. "I really wanted to try courtesy of Michigan Athletic Department The No. 2 Michigan women's crew team won another Big Ten conference championship this weekend. something, and this is the only sport here that you only makes them work harder. can truly walk on." "Coach came to us in the beginning of the year As a high school cross-country runner, rowing and explained to us about the little competition provides the same test of endurance for Caughlin. going on within the athletic department over which But even though she is a newcomer to the sport, women's team can reach a national championship Caughlin is reminded everyday of what achieve- first' Caughlin said. "He really made us think ments lie ahead. about how every stroke counts because, even just "There are a lot of varsity girls that were on being on novice, if it isn't the varsity girls (winning novice last year, so you can see where you can go if the title) this year, it could be us ina couple years.' you put the work in," she said. "It's really encourag- For Rothstein, the championship is at an arm's ing because most of them walked on too, and every- length, and he doesn't want to waste any energy. one wants to make the team as good as it can be." When asked if he would take the girls out to cele- Right now the team holds its highest national brate the Big Ten victory before the qualifying ranking in the program's five-year history, at No. 2 races, he replied with a simple "No. behind Brown. "We have practice on Monday;' Rothstein said For Caughlin and her teammates, the excitement with a smile. NFL Draft recap 'M' gymnasts within tenths of title By Chris Burke Daily Sports Writer ATHENS, Ga. - The best team score ever posted by the Michigan women's gymnastics team at the NCAA Championships - 197.275 - still wasn't enough to overtake defending NCAA champion UCLA and home-favorite Georgia on April 20. Yet even with a third place finish in the Super Six, the Wolverines came away feeling pretty good about themselves. "There's only a tiny little part of me that is wondering what could have been, but we are so excited about the way we performed tonight," Karina Senior said. "We all came together as ateam, and we can't be disappointed with that." A crowd of 8,245 invaded the Stegeman Coliseum for the meet. The host Bulldogs scored a 197.4 to place second in the team com- petition, behind a mark of 197.575 posted by UCLA. For the second night in a row, the Wolverines were sparked by the performance of Olympian Elise Ray. After winning the co-title in the all-around competition Thursday night, Ray followed up by posting the highest individual score in Michigan's NCAA champi- onship meet history with a 39.625. The lowest score Rayhad all night came from a 9.875 on the bal- ance beam. That mark was still high enough to match teammate Shannon MacKenzie for the best score posted by a Michigan com- petitor on that event during the evening. Add in scores of 9.9 on vault and floor, as well as a 9.95 on the bars and the result was a second consecutive superb night from Michigan's freshman star. "I couldn't have done half as well as I did without the team behind me," said the ever-humble Ray. "I'm strictly focused on team - all the individual stuff is kind of extra. "I've never, ever had this much fun doing gymnastics before, so that in itself is just wonderful. I think that plays a huge part in how I did." The Wolverines began the evening on bars and scored a 49.275 - the highest team score of the night - led by Ray's score and a 9.875 from Bridget Knaeble. After Michigan finished the beam with four straight hits, started by Missy Peterson's 9.85, the Wolverines sat tied for second-place with Georgia. "I told the kids before the meet if you go out there and perform to the best of your ability, whatever place you come in, I'm going to be proud of you," Michigan coach Bev Plocki said. The final two rotations gave Plocki something to be proud of. Michigan was awarded a 49.375 on floor and a 49.375 on the vault. In the end, it wasn't enough to overcome UCLA's stellar perfor- mance and the emotionally-charged showing of Georgia, but the team headed out of nationals feeling as if they had proven some- thing. "We were not ranked higher than probably sixth or seventh dur- ing the season after the preseason poll;' Plocki said. "I think we came in here and demonstrated that we're better than a sixth or sev- enth place team. We hung in there and we fought and we did a great job." Alabama finished in fourth-place with ateam score of 196.550. Nebraska and Utah tied for fifth at 196.025. However, despite UCLA's victory, the Wolverines left the Super Six meet on Friday night happily reflecting on their season. It was a season in which Michigan won the Big Ten title, the NCAA Northeast Regional and almost included a national title. Oh, so close. A Michigan Odyssey Bridget Knaeble is a finalist for the Honda Award, which recog- nizes the top female collegiate athlete in each of the 12 NCAA sports. KNAEBLE'S AcCoMPUSHMENTS: Scored 9.975 to capture Big Ten title on the uneven bars Second team All- America honors Twice named a BADOs N StDLOFFDaiiy NACGC/W Scholastic Bridget Knaebe is all smiles after her All-American nomination for the Honda award. David Terrell will take his show to the Windy City. The 2001 NFL Draft has come and gone. The same can be said for the three former Michigan stars that were selected in the first round. The p other time in histroy Michigan lost that many to the opening round ,tsin 1995. 2001 NFL Draft No. 8 DAvio TERmj.: The Bears selected Terrell - the Wolverine selected highest in the draft since Charles Woodson in 1998. No. 17 STEE HurCeuNsoN: After leading what was arguably Michigan's most impressive offensive line ever, Hutch joins the Seattle Seahawks. No. 18 JEF BAcxus: Just when Detroit is in trouble, it calls on this durable tackle from down the street. 95 NFL Draft No. 17 TYRONE WHEATEY: After falling short of his potential with the New York Giants, he's having success in Oakland. 9 No. 23 Tv LAw: Law is still starting and playing well in New England. No. 31 TrEZEUE JENKINs: Drafted by Kansas City, Jenkins is now out of the NFL.