The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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Winter Sports Preview Men's Gymnastics First Event: Windy City Invitational, Jan. 14 After a somewhat rocky start to the year in 2011, hindered by injuries to some of their top gymnasts, the Wolverines regrouped to make the NCAA Championship, finishing fifth of six teams at the meet. The core of that group — seniors Chris Cameron (2010 NCAA all-around champion), Ben Baldus-Strauss, Thomas Kelley and Ian Makowske — are gone. In their place is a very small group of upperclassmen. Se- nior Syque Caesar should have a big season. As a junior last year, he won the Big Ten parallel bars championship with a score of 15.25. He also competed for the Big Ten high bar championship last season. Those are his two best events, but he has competed at floor exercise and vault in the past. The Wolverines also bring back sophomore Sam Mikulak, who won the NCAA all-around championship as a true freshman last season. He should anchor the squad in all six events. True freshman Adrian de los Angeles, the 2011 Junior Nationals all-around champion, should make an im- mediate impact. Women's Gymnastics First Event: Ohio State dual meet, Jan. 13 The Wolverines will need to replace one of the best gym- nasts in program history, Kylee Botterman, who won the NCAA all-around championship last season — obviously no small order. But Michigan does return three All-Americans from last season's NCAA Championship-qualifying squad. Juniors Katie Zurales and Britnee Martinez were first- team All-America selections on vault and uneven bars, respectively, and junior Natalie Beilstein was a second-team All-American on floor exercise. Those three juniors will anchor the team, which is also comprised of six sophomores and two freshmen. Freshman Annette Miele, a USA Junior National Team member from 2008-09, could be an eventual all-arounder. Men's Swimming And Diving Record: 5-0 in duel meets, won the Dennis Stark Relays Michigan coach Mike Bottom has the Wolverines rolling in 2011-12. In the Wolverines' latest meet, a double-dual between both Indiana and Texas, they beat both teams, including edging the Longhorns 150.5-149.5. Junior Ryan Feeley is off to a good start, excelling at the 1,650-yard freestyle event, and the 200 freestyle relay team of juniors Even Gregg, Miguel Ortiz and Roman Willets and true freshman Bruno Ortiz looks dangerous. Women's Swimming And Diving Record: 1-5 in dual meets The Wolverines' lone win of the young season came over Toledo, 171-121. Senior Alexa Mehesan looks to be Michigan's top sprinter, excelling in the 50-yard freestyle and the 100-yard freestyle. Junior backstroke specialist junior Ashley Cohagen has also had a promising start in the 100-yard and 200-yard back- stroke events. Redshirt sophomore 165-pounder Dan Yates opened the season with six consecutive victories, including four at the Michigan State Open Nov. 12 to claim his weight class title. PHOTO COURTESY U-M SPORTS INFORMATION Senior Zac Stevens, ranked No. 13 in the 133-pound class, was the big individual winner of the day, scoring a 10-2 ma- jor decision victory over Pitt's Shelton Mack. Other Michigan winners at the meet were redshirt sophomore 165-pounder Dan Yates, redshirt sophomore 157-pounder Brandon Zeerip and fifth-year senior 174-pounder Justin Zeerip, ranked No. 11 in his class. Injuries have hampered Michigan in the early going. Fifth- year senior Kellen Russell, who won the 141-pound NCAA national title last year, missed the Pitt and Buffalo meets. He's expected back soon. — Andy Reid DECEMBER 2011 THE WOLVERINE 89 The schedule has been brutal so far, with three meets against powerhouses Texas, Florida and Stanford. Michigan lost all three by at least 38 points. The Wolverines had seven top-five finishes against the Gators and Cardinal, though. Wrestling Record: 1-1 In its second meet of the year, Michigan traveled to No. 11 Pittsburgh and lost 19-13. Up 13-10, the Wolverines lost decisions in the 184-pound, 197-pound and heavyweight classes.