The Miami diving team currently has just two divers on its men’s squad. The way Miguel Velazquez has been performing recently, that may be enough for the team to make noise in nationals.
Velazquez, who hails from Mexico City, has made a name for himself in his two years with the Hurricanes. The sophomore was recently named an All-American diver for the second year in a row.
Apart from the All-American mention, Velazquez has enjoyed a very successful year individually. In January, he finished second place at the Speedo American Cup diving championship in Bloomington, Indiana. Velazquez followed that performance with a win in the Big East Championships’ one-meter diving event in February.
Velazquez had already qualified for the NCAA Championships by the time he came to the NCAA Diving Zone B regional qualifiers at Auburn University. But that didn’t stop him from finishing third in the event.
A week later, Velazquez showed up at the University of Texas for the NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships, placing 17th in the one-meter dive on opening day. Velazquez would rebound to finish fourth in the three-meter dive, a result the sophomore was much more content with.
“It was just a different event, and I missed a dive on Thursday,” Velazquez said.
Velazquez finished the NCAA Championships with the 10th place finish in the men’s platform dive.
“I did as good as I expected to do and I am pleased with my performance this year” Velazquez said.
Velazquez is the lone sophomore on a swimming and diving squad that consists of five seniors. That number pales in comparison to the 23 swimmers and divers on UM’s women’s team, but Velazquez still finds a way to have fun and be competitive.
“I am happy with my performance this year and with the team,” Velazquez said. “I wish we had more divers to make the team bigger but we all get along great.”
Velazquez has enjoyed success at nearly every level of competition. In addition to his accomplishments is placing high for Miami, Velazquez has continued to amass personal best numbers in events like the one-meter springboard, the three-meter springboard and the three-meter platform.
This comes just two years removed from a high school career in which Velazquez was both a district and state champion at Gulliver Prep in Miami.
Unfortunately, the future is uncertain for Velazquez and the other five members of Miami’s men’s swimming and diving team, since the program is being terminated following this season. Until that time, though, Velazquez is continuing to have a positive outlook on things.

Justin Waltz can be reached at j.waltz@umiami.edu.

Men’s Tennis
University of Miami men’s tennis player Todd Widom was recently selected by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association for the ITA All-Star Team.
The ITA All-Star Team will represent the United States in Japan this summer from June 12 through 16.
According to a release from the ITA, the team will help Waseda University celebrate its 100th anniversary of tennis by competing in two exhibition matches in Tokyo.
Matches are scheduled to take place at Ariake Stadium, which holds a capacity of 10,000 spectators. On June 14 the All-Stars will face Waseda University, which earned the No. 1 ranking in Japan last year, and on June 15 they will face a Japanese All-Star Team. Both matches will use a format similar to the one World Team Tennis uses, which features men and women competing together on the same team in men’s and women’s singles, doubles and mixed doubles.
The Hurricanes first singles player was one of just 10 men’s and women’s players selected for the team.
Last season, Widom was an All-American selection having advanced to the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA Tournament.
Throughout the spring, Widom has been ranked in the top-20 (current ranking: 14th) and he has accumulated an 11-4 record in dual matches this season.
The ITA release elaborated, “Criteria for the player selections included: the player’s national ranking(s); sportsmanship, leadership and character; and tennis playing accomplishments, honors and awards. The selections were made by the ITA Board of Directors.”
The team will be coached by Bob Bayliss of Notre Dame and Ann Lebedoff of Pomona-Pitzer (Calif.) Colleges.

Track and field
The University of Miami women’s track and field team debuted at No. 25 in the season opening Trackwire 25 Outdoor Track and Field Poll released Tuesday.
The Hurricanes have two individuals and two relays ranked by Trackwire including two-time All-American Lauryn Williams who is fifth in the 100-meters, and freshman All-American Charlette Greggs who ranks 12th in the 400-meters.
UM’s 4×100-meter relay of freshman Dominique Darden, Greggs, senior Sharianne Lawson and Williams, ranks sixth in the nation, while the 4×400-meter relay of senior Sashanie Simpson, Greggs, senior Jamillah Wade and junior Kitoya Carter ranks fifth.
The Hurricanes host their final home meet of the season, the Miami Gatorade Track and Field Classic, this Saturday, April 12 at Cobb Stadium in Coral Gables. Field events are scheduled to begin at noon, with track events starting at 5:15 p.m.

Women’s Tennis
The No. 19-ranked Miami women’s tennis team fell 5-2 to No. 16 William & Mary Sunday afternoon in Williamsburg, Virginia.
Miami falls to 14-5 overall while W&M improves to 19-4 on the season.
The Hurricanes fell despite winning the doubles point.
Melissa Applebaum teamed with Megan Bradley to beat No. 9 Kate Boomershine and Candice Fuchs 8-4 at No. 1 doubles.
Igna deVilliers and Abby Smith downed Kari Olsen and Lingda Yang 8-5 at No. 2 doubles.
Staci Stevens defeated Nina Kamp 6-7, 6-4, 1-0 (4) at the No. 4 spot in Miami’s only singles win.
The Hurricanes close out the season Saturday at 3 p.m. hosting Notre Dame.

Miami coaches have suspended freshman defensive end John Wood for the remainder of spring practice.
Coach Larry Coker said Tuesday that Wood violated team policy. Coker wouldn’t elaborate further but said the coaching staff will make a decision soon on Wood’s status for the fall. Coker also said the suspension began prior to the Hurricanes spring scrimmage Saturday.
Wood played as the second team right defensive end behind John Square during the spring and was trying to earn a starting spot at a position with plenty of holes after the graduation of four key players.
Despite the loss of Wood, Coker seemed positive about the situation at defensive end.
“We feel really good about the guys we’ve signed,” Coker said. “I think we’re fine there and we may need some help from some young players.”
The defensive line is also without the services of junior tackle Santonio Thomas, whose grandfather recently died.
Thomas missed Saturday’s scrimmage and still had not returned to practice Tuesday.
Thomas received a medical redshirt after missing most of last season because of a torn pectoral muscle, but had worked as the first team tackle next to Vince Wilfork throughout the spring.

Gore Still Not Ready
Coaches held Frank Gore out of contact Tuesday to protect a shoulder bruise sustained two weeks ago in a scrimmage. After losing Gore all of last season to a torn ACL, coaches have kept a close eye on him this spring. Gore also stayed sidelined during Saturday’s scrimmage.
“I’m real hungry because this is my first time ever sitting out a whole year,” Gore said. “I’m just going to practice hard and when it comes game time I’m going to go out and do my best.”

Beard Undergoing Succesful Rehabilitation
Kevin Beard, who has missed all of spring practice while recovering from a torn ACL, said that his recovery is on schedule. Beard tore the knee ligament against Pittsburgh Nov. 21. and knows that he will have to work hard to get his starting position back.
“No job out here is given to you,” Beard said. “I don’t have that mind set where I know I’m the starter because these guys out there are working hard and making plays and I’m on the sideline.”
Wide receiver coach Curtis Johnson says that Beard’s job remains relatively safe.
“You don’t lose your job, if you’re a starter, to an injury,” Johnson said. “I play four to six guys all of the time but his name will probably be in the program first.”
The Hurricanes finish spring practice today with their 15th practice.
The Hurricane will have a spring practice wrap-up in the next edition.

Nate Johnson can be reached at NPJ44@aol.com.

Coming into the season, perhaps the biggest debate on the Hurricanes baseball team was which player would emerge as the starting catcher.
Erick San Pedro has answered that question by giving the ‘Canes stability at baseball’s toughest position. San Pedro enters this weekend batting .367 at the plate with three home runs and 22 RBIs. Head coach Jim Morris points to San Pedro’s hitting as something that has kept him as Miami’s primary catcher.
“It’s been a battle all year for the starting catcher’s spot,” Morris said. “Both of them (Eric and Greg) have done well, but it was a close match, and still is. They have different abilities but both of them are very gifted catchers.”
San Pedro’s average ranks third on the team, showing the strides he has made as a hitter. He batted just .217 his freshman season and did not hit a home run.
But his recent success at the plate prompted Morris to move him to the five hole this past weekend, an unfamiliar spot for the sophomore.
“He has come a long way as a hitter but I’m not sure he is ready to hit five for us yet,” Morris said. “I would hate to put too much pressure on him too early, but right now, he needs to bat five, six, or seven, and knock in runs for us to help us win.”
Despite his success, San Pedro is very modest. His turnaround can be attributed to a newly found patience at the plate. As an aggressive player, San Pedro has worked hard to calm down and wait for his pitch, something that has made him one of the ‘Canes best hitters, but that’s a label the catcher doesn’t necessarily want to wear.
“I wouldn’t say that I’m one of the best hitters on the team because there are a lot of great hitters on this team,” San Pedro said. “Last season I worked out a lot, and I’ve calmed down in my approach of swinging the bat. I’ve been more patient seeing the ball and I’ve been trying to hit the ball to right field.”
Morris points to San Pedro’s effort in helping his teammates as something that has helped the ‘Canes win close games.
“The thing that has helped us has been a team effort,” Morris said. “Erick has really picked it up. Different guys have been hot at different times and that’s what it takes to win.”
As a catcher, San Pedro realizes that hitting is not his only job. As the only player who can see the entire field, San Pedro feels that he has a very important role in this team defensively.
“Catching is all about taking control and being in charge,” San Pedro said. “Every pitch I’m always telling the pitcher something. The most important aspect is being a leader, being a captain on the field, and telling people where to go and how to set up defensively.”
San Pedro has also possessed strong character in his two years at UM. Morris states that San Pedro’s traits off the field are just as beneficiary to the team as what he does on the field.
“Erick is a great kid and a really hard worker who is very attentive and listens,” Morris said. “He wants to be the best he can be, and he is fun to be around. How he conducts himself is really a credit to him and his family.”
This work ethic could have been picked up from San Pedro’s father, who has always been his biggest supporter. No matter what happens in his life, Erick says his father is there to pick him up and help him move on to the next step.
“My dad helps me out a lot,” San Pedro said. “Even though he gets on my case once in a while, he is the one that looks out for me. He brought me up playing baseball and he is there for me when times are good and times are bad.”
Above all, though, San Pedro is most proud of his ability to deliver when the game is close.
“I like being on the spot when the game is on the line,” San Pedro said. “One of the main reasons I am here is because when Coach Morris came to watch me play (in high school), I got the game winning hit against a district opponent. Clutch and aggressive are the things I try to be on the field.”

Darren Grossman at DRG215@aol.com.

It is somewhat appalling that Hurricane fans are so quick to label Brock Berlin as the starting quarterback this coming season.
To everyone that has penciled Berlin in as our savior, I ask you this important two-part question: what about Derrick Crudup and what exactly has Berlin done to earn the spot?
At last Saturday’s CanesFest Spring Game neither quarterback had bad performances by any means. However, Berlin did not separate himself from Crudup at all, and in fact, probably didn’t perform as well.
Berlin was 8-16, 129 yards with one touchdown Saturday. Crudup threw for a more efficient 7-8 for 100 yards and a touchdown coming on an opening drive that featured the junior completing all four of his passes. It appears to me that Crudup had the better showing, not Berlin.
I am not looking to bash Berlin here; I simply want there to be a level playing field for both candidates. Berlin did not have a bad Spring Game. The Florida transfer looked very strong in the game’s final drive. But that doesn’t take away from what Crudup accomplished at the Orange Bowl.
As far as personality goes, both have displayed tremendous patience with the media. The two have answered every tough question, and their candor has made them very difficult to dislike.
What irks me about the controversy is that when Berlin transferred to UM, he immediately was surrounded by undeserving hype. What has Berlin done that Crudup hasn’t in his career?
Look at both players’ roles in their first two years. Berlin was Rex Grossman’s backup at Florida. He hardly saw the field, gaining his only notoriety in the first half of the Orange Bowl against an overmatched Maryland team despite throwing two interceptions before Grossman took over.
Crudup was an understudy to a great quarterback in Ken Dorsey, seeing action almost exclusively in mop-up duty. He did make an appearance in the Fiesta Bowl, however, completing a crucial eight-yard pass to Quadtrine Hill in the second overtime .
Berlin has played in 12 career games, completing 53-87 passes for 653 yards, 11 touchdowns and two picks (don’t forget that he played for Steve Spurrier, known to run up the score late in the game). Crudup has completed 25-48 passes for 326 yards, three touchdowns and zero interceptions in his two years playing for a coach who actually has class, unlike the one who used to roam the sidelines in Gainesville.
Both quarterbacks are 6’1″ and are separated by eight pounds. Both quarterbacks went to high school in Florida.
The Hurricanes are in good hands with either quarterback. Both Crudup and Berlin will give the ‘Canes a great chance to win if the rest of the offense is intact.
My problem with the quarterback controversy, though, is that Crudup has been labeled as the underdog when he should be the favorite, given that he has played here for two years learning how to win from his predecessor.
Most fans assume that Berlin is better than Crudup without ever seeing him play. There is a stigma attached to Berlin because people are always intrigued by the unknown. They feel they have seen all that Crudup can offer in his limited duty over the past two years.
What the fans don’t know is how hard Crudup has worked in the off-season to improve his arm, accuracy, range and mobility. Not many people expected Crudup to perform at such a high level this spring.
He has turned heads within the program and that is why head coach Larry Coker is likely going to delay his decision until at least the summer.
I am not demanding that Crudup start over Berlin. Either quarterback will help the team win. The only thing that I demand is for the Hurricane fans to not be so hasty in naming Berlin the starter, and for the coaching staff to give Crudup a fair chance this spring.

Eric Kalis can be reached at elk777bc@hotmail.com.

The baseball team may have had its winning streak snapped this past week, but that doesn’t darken the team’s postseason outlook.
The Hurricanes(25-6) travel to Charlottesville to take on the University of Virginia in a three game series this weekend. The three contests against the Cavaliers marks the first road action for the ‘Canes since March 7-9, when the squad was at Tennessee.
Miami’s schedule also differs from past weeks by virtue of the absence of a mid-week game. But the ‘Canes feel that not having a game to prepare for the weekend isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
“Not having a game in the middle of the week helps in that all of our pitchers got to throw on Tuesday so our bullpen got work,” head coach Jim Morris said. “When you play a mid-week game the bullpen might not get work.”
Miami will certainly need to be at full strength against a Cavaliers team that is undefeated at home and happens to be playing its first night game Davenport Field. However, the ‘Canes are confident given their past success in Tennessee and Gainesville.
“We actually have played well on the road,” Morris said. “Going into Virginia, though, is going to be very tough. They’re 16-0 at home and with the new ballpark it should be an exciting time for them.”
The Cavaliers are led by junior pitcher Jeff Kamrath, who was named Pitcher of the Week in the Atlantic Coast Conference, and freshman starter Mike Ballard. Virginia recently handed No. 20 Clemson its first loss of the season, proving that they are familiar with upsetting ranked opponents.
A nice surprise for the Hurricanes has been the starting pitching of J.D. Cockroft, who had his longest outing of the season on Friday, picking up a win in 7.2 innings of work against Oral Roberts.
Rotating as the ‘Canes set-up man and closer before ace Dan Touchet suffered a season-ending injury, Cockroft hasn’t experienced any problems adjusting to the demands of a starting pitcher.
“My first start lasted about five innings,” Cockroft said. “It hasn’t been a really hard switch for me. I started during the summer and it’s where I feel most comfortable.”
Known by his teammates to be a tireless worker, Cockroft has to work even harder to keep his arm fresh for Friday night starts.
“My arm is holding up pretty well,” Cockroft said. “I’ve been doing more rehab work between starts and more running so I feel pretty good for this weekend.”
Despite the success of Cockroft, the pitching of the Hurricanes has been a bit problematic as of late. Vince Bongiovanni had his shortest outing of the season on Saturday, going just one inning, and No. 3 Brandon Camardese struggled in each of his last two outings.
Morris still has complete faith in his pitchers, but knows that there is always some uncertainty when it comes to starting pitching.
“I always worry about pitching in every game,” Morris said. “That’s just part of my mentality, but I am definitely concerned about Vince and Brandon because you need three or four starters to get to Omaha and win.”
After a week that Morris labeled as “disappointing”, the Hurricanes look to this weekend’s series as a chance to beat a good team on the road and get themselves back into the top 10 in their quest to host a regional game in May.
“We didn’t have a good week last week and I wasn’t pleased with it at all,” Morris said. “The funny thing about baseball is that it’s not always the best team that wins; it’s the team that plays the best. Hopefully we will be the best team on the field this weekend.”

Eric Kalis can be reached at elk777bc@hotmail.com.