Quotes: Maize 329.97, Blue 326.27
12/15/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Gymnastics
Michigan Head Coach Kurt Golder
Opening statement... "I'm pretty pleased with what we did. We need to improve in a few areas -- specifically rings -- and we need to improve our vault difficulty. Last year at this time we were doing higher level vaults than we're doing right now, but I'm sure that will come around. I think what I am most pleased with is pommel horse. We had a few hit routines; at the same time some of our top performers made mistakes. In order to win championships, we're going to have to get the best guys to hit, too. I'll have to get used to this new scoring system. We're healthy. No one's banged up and that's always a concern in the first meet."
On whether anyone surprised him with a performance... "I can't think of anyone that surprised me because I've seen them all do good routines in practice, so when they did it in a meet it's not surprise."
On Thomas Kelley winning high bar as a freshman... "The last time that happened was probably back in the day of Scott Vetere and Daniel Diaz-Luong. If we looked back, it would be one of them who won the Maize and Blue."
On the first regular-season meet... "We expect just a few key top guys in each event to score a little bit higher. I would expect to be here in the fall. Then you go on break and miss a few days of training because you're home for the holidays. If we come back and just compete at the same level we're at right now but eliminate just a few mistakes, that's all I'm looking for right now."
On how the team has bonded... "I think very well. That's how it appears to me. When we were competing tonight, they looked especially at the end that they were all one team. They all gather together. Even the Maize team said 'Go Blue.'"
On the goals for the season... "It's always to win a national championship. I think it's possible. I wouldn't say we're favored. We're preseason ranked sixth. I think we're maybe in the top four. We got rated a little lower than we should be. We'll have to see in April. They certainly didn't think we would do what we did last year. They had us preseason ranked eighth and we were ranked No. 1 for almost the whole season and we finished fourth. I expect us to exceed expectations again this year."
On whether there are any trap meets on the schedule..."Every meet that is on the road. I schedule really tough. We only go against the top teams in the country. Everyone always loves to beat Michigan. Last year we did very well here so I highlighted all of our away meets this year and said, 'The home meets will take care of themselves.' We have to focus on the road because when it comes to Big Tens and NCAAs they are both on the road."
U-M Senior/Junior Co-Captain Arren Yoshimura
On the meet... "I think it went pretty well. We definitely have room for improvement but it's a fun meet. This is the first time we have been here in Cliff Keen. There were no injuries so that was good."
On improvements before the regular season... "Consistency because we had a few falls -- this year the judges will deduct eight tenths instead of five tenths. Difficulty is another challenge."
On whether a rivalry developed between the two squads ... "It always builds up the last week or so. There is always some trash-talking in the gym. We're a competitive bunch of people. There is no bad blood there. I guess you could say it was a healthy environment."
On being a captain for the intrasquad... "I just made sure everyone is ready to go when it's time to do routines, a lot of behind-the-scenes stuff like making sure mats are in place and hyping everyone up."
On embracing the role of captain..."It's still kind of a dream but it's a real honor to be elected captain by 24 of my peers. I'm just trying to get them ready and psyched. I want to do what I can to put the team on a competitive level."
U-M Freshman Thomas Kelley
On winning the high bar during his first performance... "It feels really good to come into a new atmosphere -- I have never competed here before -- and hit a routine. That was one of my goals. The Maize and Blue Intrasquad goals are to stay healthy and make sure to hit routines. That's what I really wanted to do on high bar, and I came through."
On the team's performance... "I feel like there are some rough spots. I am glad we're missing now instead of later in the season. I learned a lot about myself from this and competing in the college atmosphere so it was beneficial for me to learn about college gymnastics."
On the crowd's effect... "I zone out when I'm in a routine. I don't hear anything. When I'm in there, I'm in a whole other world."
U-M Junior Ralph Rosso
On the team... "I think we started off a little slow tonight but found some momentum after the first two events. We were a little off on pommel and floor, and floor is usually a strong event for us. After that, I realized we have a lot of work to do if we want to contend for a Big Ten title."
On steps the team will take... "I think everyone has to go back into the gym and find out what works and doesn't work. We have to do more repetitions and gain more confidence. I've been with this team for three years and I don't have any doubts right now. I think we just need to find out what's wrong and fix it."
On his individual success in the intrasquad... "I think I stayed relaxed. Some of the sets weren't new so I was confident. I felt good tonight. But it's not an individual sport, it's a team sport so once we start getting it together, I'll talk about myself."
Players Mentioned
