Seniors honored as 'M' tops Illini

By James Mercier

Daily Sports Writer

The Michigan women's swimming team couldn't have been faulted if it had been unenthusiastic about the weekend's Wolverine Invitational.

After spending the break competing in Hawaii, a return to dreary Ann Arbor weather couldn't have been enticing. In addition, a meet against Illinois - a Big Ten bottom-feeder - couldn't have provided much extra motivation. But on the last home meet of the season and to the careers for the squad's seven seniors, those issues mattered little.

Inspired by a ceremony for the senior class prior to the competition, the team came through, defeating the Illini, 182-156. This came on a weekend in which two swimmers - freshman Samantha Arsenault and senior Jen Arndt - were out with shoulder injuries.

"This meet wasn't all that important in the overall picture," Michigan coach Jim Richardson said. "Nobody will remember the results of (the Invitational) two months from now. But we saw some performances that showed that, despite the travel, we're a better team than we were."

On Friday, the first night of the Invitational, the Wolverines sprinted out of the gate and never looked back - placing first in four of six events and sweeping both relays. Appropriately enough, two seniors - Jennifer Crisman and Missy Sugar - led the way, taking first and third in the 50-yard freestyle.

The duo continued to perform well on Saturday. Crisman won the 100-yard butterfly, while Sugar captured first in both the 100- and 200-yard freestyle events.

"It was nice to end on a good note," Sugar said afterward. "I don't think it's hit me that it's the last home meet. It was strange to go out there and be honored (in the pre-meet ceremony). During my first three years, I got used to watching it happen to someone else."

The team was given a cake with the words "We Love Our Seniors" following the competition. The prevailing mood among the team was jovial. The suspensions, levied following team violations on the Hawaii trip, did not seem to provide a distraction.

Three teams - Michigan, Illinois and Notre Dame - took part in the Invitational, but the Wolverines and Fighting Irish did not compete against each other. Each team was scored head-to-head only against Illinois.

The event gave a chance for Richardson's team to get an up-close look at Notre Dame, which will host the Wolverines on Jan. 26.

DANNY MOLOSHOK/Daily

Senior Jennifer Crisman swims the 200-yard backstroke during the Wolverine Invitational.