LAVELL
Continued from Page 13
just trying to stay in shape and be
ready for whatever happens," said
Blanchard. "You prepare for a situa-
tion that arises and you hope for the
best."
Right now, reality is the CCRB on
spring afternoons. It's here where
Blanchard abuses the rims and
unsuspecting ballers looking for a
game. He effortlessly makes the net
dance with turnaround jumpers. He
passes too. He gets your attention
with those rim-roaring dunks, ankle-
weights strapped on tight; there's no
crowd-reaction to hush those excla-
mation points.
"Right now, I'm just trying to stay
in shape, ball-handling and every-
thing," Blanchard said. "Just play.
Go out there and have fun, that's the
main goal out there. You never can
be satisfied with any part of your
game so what you do is go out there
and work on every part of your
game and see what happens."
And if nothing works out in the
summer leagues, Blanchard will
head back overseas to play basket-
ball.
But he's no stranger to surmount-
ing odds. His high school team, Ann
Arbor Pioneer, won just one game
during his freshman year. By gradu-
ation, Blanchard was a state cham-
pion. In Blanchard's last season at
Michigan, he was the catalyst for 13
consecutive wins after a 0-6 start.
And through it all, he doesn't have
any regrets about his Michigan
career.
Any?
"Definitely not, I think it was a
great experience," Blanchard said.
"If I had to do it again, I'd do it
again."
Michigan taught Blanchard that
even Superman is mortal; it taught
life lessons instead of realizing
dreams. And for someone so driven,
so humble, there has to be disap-
pointment. He's maintained the "I'm
happy with how everything worked
out" attitude to the media and his
fans, and they may believe him.
But the rims at the CCRB don't.
SPORTS
IM INOTES
Brannen, Willis fall
short of qualifying
Michigan junior Nate Brannen
and sophomore Nick Willis contin-
ue to chase Olympic dreams. Both
are trying to qualify for the upcom-
ing games in the 800- and 1500-
meter runs. Brannen and Willis
participated in the Victoria Interna-
tional Track Classic this past week-
The MichiganDaily - Monday, June 14, 2004 -15
end, competing in the 800-meter
run. Willis registered a personal
best time of 1:47.38 to win the 'B'
race, falling .38 seconds short of
the Olympic 'B' qualifying stan-
dard. Brannen finished seventh in
the 'A' race with a time of 1:47.63.
Neither runner has qualified for the
Olympics; they have until July 11to
reach the Olympic standards. The
runners will complete their West
Coast running schedule on Saturday
at the Prefontaine Classic in
Eugene, Oregon.
Pankratz inducted
into Hall of Fame
University of Michigan Field
Hockey coach Marcia Pankratz was
inducted into the United States Field
Hockey Association Hall of Fame on
Saturday in Collegeville, Pa. Mem-
bers are chosen based on a points
system designed to reward those with
the most U.S. National Team appear-
ances. Pankratz led the Wolverines to
the 2001 NCAA Championship.
Ellerton finishes fifth
in 800-meter final
GALL Despite failing to win her race,
Gallo was satisfied with the
Continued from Page 13 progress she made this year and is
earned All-American honors, led by excited about competing as a senior
Gallo. next year.
"I was happy to see us enter the "I'm not disappointed at all,"
meet and make such a strong field Gallo said. "I'm happy with how my
and compete," Henry said. "(The times have come down. I was sixth
athletes) weren't as happy they want- at indoors and I improved on that.
ed to be, but overall, I am pleased Plus, two of the girls who finished
with how it turned out." ahead of me aren't coming back next
The final meet of Lindsey year so I am in a good position to
Stephenson's career was bittersweet. vie for the title next year."
Despite attaining her goal of All- Likewise, Henry is enthusiastic
American by making it to the final about the team's prospects for next
nine javelin throwers, she was disap- year.
pointed that she was unable to make "We don't rebuild, we reload,"
it to the awards podium - reserved Henry said. "It's not about a great
for the top eight finishers - and recruiting class, it's about a great
earn points for Michigan. returning class. I'm looking for-
"(My performance) was average. ward to next year to see if they can
Not well, not bad," Stephenson said. step up."
"You always want to do better and ELLERTON: MICHIGAN'S LONE
place high. I really wanted to make RANGER IN TEXAS: On the men's side
it to that podium." of the NCAA Outdoor Champi-
The same goes for senior Melissa onships, sophomore and 800-meter
Bickett, who finished in 11th place specialist Andrew Ellerton was the
in the discus, but still earned All- only athlete to compete for Michi-
American honors by being among gan. After cruising into the event
the top-eight American competitors. final, Ellerton finished in fifth-place
"She had a very good career and with a time of 1:47.28.
four years at Michigan," Henry "It didn't quite go as well as I had
said. "At this event, it just didn't hoped it would. I knew to have a
click for her." chance to win I had to position
Other Wolverines who competed myself with the leaders with 100
at the event were senior quad-cap- meters to go, and I didn't do that,"
tain Vera Simms in the 400-meter Ellerton said. "I made a couple of
hurdles and sophomore Elizabeth tactical mistakes and got myself
Boyle in the pole vault. Both were boxed in. I'll learn from this and
unable to advance out of the prelimi- come back for next year."
nary rounds and each finished 22nd Ellerton earned All-American sta-
in their respective events. tus for the third time in his career,
As a whole, Henry felt a sense of and earned Michigan its only team
disappointment from his team. points in the meet. With his four
"They wanted to make it to the points, the Wolverines finished in a
podium and earn some points for tie for 50th place at the meet.
their team," Henry said. "They went At this point, Ellerton is undecid-
in with the confidence and determi- ed as to whether he will pursue a
nation to get it done, but unfortu- berth to the U.S. Olympic trials like
nately, it didn't happen for us, so teammates Nick Willis and Nate
they are disappointed." Brpnen I
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