SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1955 THE MICHIGAN INDOOR SPORTS CONTEST: DAILY PAGE 3 Big TenChampions Up for Decision Saturday By PHIL DOUGLIS EVERY YEAR around this time as March blows in like a lion. along with it cones "Big-Ten" night, a vertable three ring circus of indoor sports events. Two months of prepaiation in dual meets, none of which count in the standings, have gone before, and all this culminates in one mad evening during which four Big Ten championships are decided simultaneously. This year, Saturday is the big night, which will see the Con- ference crown its wrestling and gymnastics champions in Minne- apolis, its track king in East Lan- sing and its top swimming team in Columbus. THE OUTLOOK for this year seems to cast the Buckeyes of Ohio State as swimming favorites with Michigan as their chief com- petitor. Despite the receit Ohio State aquatic reign of terror, a string which has reached six straight. Michigan still holds more swim- ming titles than any other team. In the two decade span from 1927-48, the Wolverines splashed to 16 conference titles, all under the tutelage of Matt Mann, who retired at the close of last season. Back in the thirties, the Wol- verine powe-houses included sch names as Jack Kasey Taylor Drysdale, Ogden Dalrymple. Torn Haynie Walt Tosmski and Chaley Barker, But no Big Ten tank title'has ever tasted so sweet as ths Mihi- an triumph in 1948-its lst one to date. The Woltsinesass ere headed by the famed Harry Ho ii' ,.but also on their roster was a man nased Gus Stager- -known fsr better to- day as Michigan' spri 'ecuas- ming coach. The Iowa pool uasm ined io the rafters as thoiusais ce to see if mighty Ohio Blate, spear- headed by di'vr B'ru Harlan snow Mihigan diving coahs.ills Smith and Miller Anderson, could take its third conference crown in a row, Northwestern had the gret Bill Beusner: Iowa boasted of Wally Ris; and Purdue was head- ed by the famed Keith Carter, giving the meet a sar-siuidded flavor. Despite thosfact that it won only three firsts, Matt Mann's Michigan team nipped OSU, 62-59, to take the crown as diver Oil Evans took a crucialthird pase. Every single conference record fell that night as Michigan tasted its last cham- pionship to this very day. Six years is a long time to wait, but maybp Saturday the Wolverine will reign supreme once again. TURNING to track, Michigan has not won an indoor cinder title since 1945, and from all ap- pearances, it will have to be ranked second to pre-meet favorite Illi- nois again this year. Despite the fact that the Maize and Blue has copped 15 confer- ence indoor meets, the Illini, along with Ohio State, have left the Wolverines as bridesmaids for nine successive years, But the last Michigan indoor title in 1945 was one never to be forgotten. Over 18,000 screaming fans jammed the mammoth Chi- cago Stadium for the war-time event, and Michigan coach Ken Doherty, now at Pennsylvania, was worried about Illinois-as usual, The meet started out with one of the most amazing occurences in conference history. In the one mile run, five straight Wolverines crossed the finish line in a row -an unparalleled occurrence. The Illini went on to win seven titles to Michigan's two, but Dohert's 25 man squad piled up points in the runner-up and third positions. When the dust had cleared, 18 Wolverines had garnered points, 14 had produced their best efforts of the season, and Michigan had beaten Illinois by nine-tenths of one point, 55-54 1/10. It was the last title for Michigan indoor track force, for a long, long time. THE OTHER indoor meets on as Illinois, Michigan State, and igan grapplers have been rated and Illinois, the pre-meet favor- Saturday's agenda are gym- Minnesota all must be rated above among the nation's best, and this ites, Michigan can spring an up- castles and wrestling. Newt Lo- them. However, the Lokenmen are year they will again figure prom- set, and a good bet is that Michi- ken's gymnasts certainly can not expected to give a good showing inently in the March 5th set-to gan will be very close to the top be figured upon for a champion- for conference gym fans. at Minneapolis, though they are when the last groan has died ship (Michigan hasn't won a con- Wrestling is a different story. not favorites, away. ference gym crown in 53 years) In recent years, Cliff Keen's Mich- Despite dual-meet losses to Iowa See INDOOR, Page 7 I 1 .... _ .. .. ............... .............. ...::,:22:..:.:.:44:....:....:.:..:.,:..:.:.:....:.:.:.s.,:.:.:. ... ..:.:.:.:,:,:.:..:.,:.:4 r :. 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