Sports Briefs

Michigan forward Thomas taken in WNBA Draft

Michigan senior forward Stacey Thomas became just the second Michigan women's basketball player ever taken in the WNBA draft when the expansion Portland Fire chose her in the second round with the 23rd overall selection.

Thomas, who was the third Big Ten player taken in the draft, led the Wolverines in scoring averaging 14.5 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 3.4 steals per game this past season.

She became the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year while setting the conference all-time steals record with 372.

-from staff reports

Golfers place seventh at Fossum

The Michigan men's golf team tied for seventh, out of 18 teams, at the Fossum Invitational in East Lansing this weekend.

The Wolverines battled the opposition, as well as a challenging layout at the Forest Akers West Golf Club, en route to a 303-293-303, for a total of 899. Northwestern claimed the title with a final total of 870.

This tournament was a good opportunity for Michigan to measure itself against the rest of the Big Ten. Aside from the Wildcats and Wolverines, six other Big Ten schools participated in the Fossum Invitational.

-from staff reportss

'M' faces nation's best at Penn Relays

The Michigan men's track and field team took on some of the best athletes in the world this weekend at the Penn Relays, held at storied Franklin Field in Philadelphia.

The Wolverines got off to a strong start thanks to the efforts of junior Mike Wisniewski, who posted an NCAA provisional qualifying time of 29:05.12 in the 10,000 meters.

Wisniewski's time was good for a second-place finish in the event, behind West Virginia's Steve Bohan, who came home in 29:04.37.

-from staff reportss

Michigan St. strips men's gymnasts of varsity status

EAST LANSING (U-WIRE). - MSU took a step toward eliminating the men's gymnastics team on Monday, possibly due to efforts to comply with Title IX regulations.

Head coach Rick Atkinson was informed last Monday that the team would be dismantled.

After being told of the news, Atkinson called his team and summoned them to a meeting at Jenison Field House.

"A lot of people were pretty speechless," senior gymnast Mike Quarress said. "The younger guys are pretty upset. Now they have to figure out what to do - their whole lives will change."