The Illinois women's tennis team got wins from No. 2 singles player Susanne Land and No. 6 Jessica Klapper but fell 7-2 to Maryland on Thursday in Tallahassee, Fla.

Illinois freshman Travis Romagnoli won the vault with a score of 9.675 at the Big Ten individual gymnastics championships Sunday in Minneapolis.

Romagnoli, who also placed fourth in the high bar with a 9.5, fourth in the floor exercise at 9.5 and fifth in the parallel bars at 9.575, became the first UI freshman to win a Big Ten individual title since Dominick Minicucci did so in 1988.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – Lindsey Durlacher liked his national championship chances so much Saturday, he'd already gone ahead and planned the celebration a day in advance.

He was going to make those thousands of Iowa crazies "my fans." Going to take a victory lap or two around the Uni Dome's rubber mat. Going to wave to the crowd, going to dance a jig, going to love every minute of it.

Jerry Turek, Cary Franklin and Gavin Sontag won singles and doubles matches as the Illini won their home opener 6-1 over defending Big Ten Conference champion Michigan on Saturday at Atkins Tennis Center.

A year ago, Michigan beat Illinois 7-0.

University of Illinois athletic director Ron Guenther and wrestling coach Mark Johnson have agreed to a three-year extension of Johnson's contract, it was announced Thursday.

The extension, through the 1999-2000 season, must be approved by the UI's Board of Trustees, which is considered a formality.

   CHAMPAIGN  Used to be, Seth Brady would listen to Mark Johnson''s speeches and wonder about his coach''s sanity. Or at least his coach''s wide-eyed optimism.

   "His goals were really clear," said Brady, a University of Illinois senior. "Where he wants to be in five years ... in a position to win a national title."

   The University of Miami baseball team edged Illinois 3-2 on Sunday to complete a sweep of the three-game weekend series in Coral Gables, Fla.

The University of Miami baseball team improved to 16-10 with a doubleheader sweep against Illinois, 4-7, on Saturday at Coral Gables, Fla.

Miami won the opener 5-2 despite being outhit by the Illini 9-7. The Hurricanes took advantage of five Illinois errors and six walks.