U-M Gymnastics Teams Share Roads to No. 1, Championships
3/29/2000 12:00:00 AM | Men's Gymnastics, Women's Gymnastics, Features
By Denis Naranjo, U-M Athletic Media Relations Student Assistant
It is rare when you can daydream about your team's momentous winning season and see a peer coach from down the hall positioned on the same plateau. Today that is what it is like to walk in Weidenbach Hall in the shoes of Kurt Golder and Bev Plocki, the head men's and women's gymnastics coaches, respectively, at the University of Michigan. In short, they are a part of some specially made sports history.
For the first time in Michigan's storied sports tradition, both the men's and women's gymnastics teams have solidified No. 1 national rankings at the close of both the regular season and Big Ten Conference Championships. Golder is fresh from coaching a superlative win at the men's Big Ten Championships in East Lansing (March 17), while Plocki directed the same feat for the women (March 18) at State College, Pa. Of course, their work is unfinished, as the round of NCAA Championships lurks as the final hurdle toward capping an exceptional year.
Next up for Plocki's team is the NCAA Region 5 Championships (April 1) at Penn State, and then the highly anticipated NCAA Championships (April 13-15) in Boise, Idaho. Golder's squad travels to Iowa City, Iowa, and the University of Iowa's Carver-Hawkeye Arena to defending its 1999 national title at the NCAA Championships (March 30-April 1).
What transpires next is obviously the most interesting and challenging goal yet. Both coaches are discarding personal accolades and team won-loss records in favor of refocusing on immediate goals. "The team that hits and the team that handles the pressure the best will be victorious," Plocki asserts without hesitation.
"In January we made a point of evaluating where we wanted to be by this time," reflects Golder. "Each athlete had to know what was a desirable goal and what degree of discipline and training was necessary. That's why I'm elated to see both men's and women's programs attaining a high peak this time of year. For now, it's a rewarding feeling and very special."
"It's a great thing we've started here," echoes Plocki, from Butler, Pa., who in her 11th year has coached Michigan to eight Big Ten Championships. "We want to carry momentum through regionals. There's a lot of parity this year in women's gymnastics, but I feel this could be our year."
Expectations for the women as the season began were low-key for good reason. Graduated were experienced impact gymnasts such as Lisa Simes, Beth Amelkovich, Nikki Peters and Kathy Burke. That key leadership issue whetted the competitive appetite of the entire team as underclassmen continually rose to the occasion, says Plocki.
"My team captains always play an important role. I expect them to be the conduit between the team and myself. I keep an open door policy and promote communication among everyone."
One tri-captain just happened to be Big Ten Gymnast of the Year and eight-time All-American Sarah Cain. Her record-making performances kept team momentum in check and provided the lead score at nearly every rotation. Cumulative team wins stirred up attention and a top-five ranking most of the way. After a third-place finish at the Super Six Challenge (Jan. 8) against rivals Alabama, Florida, Nebraska, UCLA and Georgia -- which has defeated Michigan three times this season -- team members never lost sight of a prized ingredient -- their own potential.
"Sure, as I told the girls, at nationals we'll see Georgia, UCLA, Alabama, Utah and Nebraska all over again," says Plocki, who recently garnered a sixth Big Ten Coach of the Year honor. "But we have a mindset that if we're hitting our routines and are mentally focused, we'll be hard to beat. That's why I feel it's our year to bring home a national title."
In State College, the women's team recorded a new team and Big Ten Championship record (197.850), winning its second straight conference crown -- and eighth in the last nine seasons -- and easily outdistancing second-place Penn State. Cain added another milestone to her illustrious Michigan career -- a Big Ten record 39.750 in the all-around. "She's so graceful and makes everything look easy. That's the ultimate goal for a gymnast. For the team, she leads by example," Plocki said.
From Plocki's and Golder's head coach corner, their mirrored successes pose inviting comparisons. However, each vigorously exhorts the art of continuous improvement. Nurturing the ideal student-athlete role means empowering academic and athletic goals, but with structure, style and a mental focus. Whether during four-hour practices or the adrenaline rush of a major meet, timely peak performance becomes the operative creed. Individually, their personal flair for leadership leverages the most out of a supportive, resource-laden sports environment set up under their wing.
"To be a good coach you have to continually change," Plocki said. "You have to be intuitive enough to stay in tune with what your team needs. The chemistry and the makeup of players changes every year. So you must remain sensitive to the team dynamic."
Golder admits his team's lessons learned came chiefly on the road. A loss at Ohio State and two narrow wins over Michigan State and Oklahoma were firm wakeup calls. Even with a No. 1 ranking in hand, he kept the team focused on the Big Ten Championship, easily outdueling runner-up Ohio State (232.100-229.500). At the NCAAs, he says the stiffest competition may come from Iowa, Penn State, Ohio State and Oklahoma should the Wolverines slip below something less than an optimum showing.
"I expect everyone on our team to live up to his potential as a student and an athlete," counters Golder. "Coming into this year we lost only one senior. We're the defending NCAA champions so I knew we were capable of winning another one. That remains our goal."
Golder raves about his most successful performer, sophomore Scott Vetere, who has strung together an amazing season. At the Big Ten meet, Vetere snagged the all-around title, was named Big Ten Gymnast of the Year, plus won individual honors on pommel horse, still rings and high bar. In similar fashion, the rarefied scorecard of Cain, who is ranked No. 1 nationally in the all-around and vault, helped to anchor Plocki's team success.
Simultaneous success between the men's and women's teams has politely fueled a little competitive fire. Golder says the enthusiasm has rung contagiously ever since last season, when the women fell short of a national championship by a mere three-tenths of point.
After only four seasons, Golder has supremely turned around the men's program from a winless 1995 season (0-11) to last year's national championship acclaim. Under Golder, Michigan earned its first NCAA title since 1970 and its first Big Ten championship since 1975. Last season he also earned National, Central Regional and Big Ten Coach of the Year honors. He repeated the latter award again this month.
But the Alpena, Mich. native and U-M alum ('77) has learned to walk and talk cautiously. "The only concern I ever have is losing our competitive edge. We've got to make sure we do what we did to get this far. My job is to create and ensure we have a consistent environment on a consistent basis. If we create the right motivational environment, these guys will achieve."
While Golder has eyes on a certain blue-chip recruit for next season, Plocki should definitely be all smiles the next four years. She's already received a commitment from the top-ranked U.S. high school gymnast and an Olympic Team hopeful in Elise Ray, who will join Chris Mantilia, Canadian Allison Rudisi and Calli Ryals in the Class of 2004.
Maybe that's why the tide of Michigan all-around, All-America and championship awards aren't likely to subside, ensuring more high-flying scores in Cliff Keen Arena.
Players Mentioned
