Horizon League Led By UW-Milwaukee Women, UIC Men

The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee maintained its lead on the women's side of competition after two days of action at the Walter Schroeder Aquatic Center in Brown Deer, Wis. The Panther women lead with a score of 309, followed closely by the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay (306) with Wright State University third at 232. Rounding out the field is the University of Illinois at Chicago (212), Youngstown State University (121), Valparaiso University (113), Cleveland State University (109), and Butler University (71). On the men's side, UIC took over the lead with 297 points, followed by Cleveland State (258), Wright State (243), Milwaukee (225), Green Bay (219) and Valparaiso (97).

Wright State freshman Molley Pipkorn started the night with a victory in the 500-yard freestyle, taking the title in 4:54.65 and just missing the League record (4:54.39). Green Bay senior Danielle DeGrand won the 200-yard individual medley by demolishing the Horizon League record with her time of 2:01.92, ahead of Milwaukee's Molly Finn, who also broke the previous mark of 2:04.16 (2:03.08). In the 50-yard freestyle, top-seed Christine Spading of Green Bay took the title with the same time she swam in the preliminaries, 23.52, just ahead of teammate Alyssa Danielson (23.63). To conclude the evening, the Green Bay team of DeGrand, Renee Reindl, Ashley Warzon and Spading dominated the 400-yard medley relay race, bettering their own Horizon League record with a time of 3:44.42. Wright State was second (3:47.93) and Milwaukee was third (3:48.90).

For the men, CSU's Mark deSwardt took the lead early in the 500 freestyle and kept it, touching the wall in 4:26.00, and ahead of last year's champion Alex Hill of Green Bay (4:28.11). In the 200-yard individual medley, defending champion Jakub Dobies of CSU was out-touched by UIC's Evan Dunn (1:50.53) and Luke Martinez (1:50.75), who went 1-2 in the event for the Flames. Milwaukee's Jake Kalinowski sprinted to victory in the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 20.12, edging UIC's Brian Anderson (20.21) and defending champ Stephen Grove of CSU (20.33), who broke the meet record in the preliminaries (20.09). In one-meter diving, Green Bay's Daniel Pogue posted a score 320.25 to dominate the board as WSU's Caleb Nettleton (292.65) and Phoenix diver Brandon Kuntz (291.85) placed second and third, respectively. To conclude the evening's action, UIC's 400-yard medley relay team of Steve Yemm, Will Ikeda, Andrew Schmitt and Brian Anderson came from behind to beat reigning champ Cleveland State (3:16.72). The Flames' time of 3:15.78 shattered the old League record of 3:18.55, set last year by the Vikings.

The championship continues on Friday morning with the 400-yard individual medley, 100-yard butterfly, 200-yard freestyle, 100-yard breaststroke, 100-yard backstroke, the 800-yard freestyle relay and the women's one-meter board.

Day 2 Team Totals:
Women
Milwaukee 309
Green Bay 306
Wright State 232
UIC 212
Youngstown State 121
Valparaiso 113
Cleveland State 109
Butler 71

Men
UIC 297
Cleveland State 258
Wright State 243
Milwaukee 225
Green Bay 219
Valparaiso 97

Milwaukee Women Remain In First After Day Two Of Championships
The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's swimming team broke five more school records Thursday to hold on to first place at the 2009 Horizon League Championships. After two days of action from the Walter Schroeder Aquatic Center, the Panthers hold the top spot with 309 points.

Milwaukee is followed closely by the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay with 306 points and then by Wright State University with 232. Rounding out the field are UIC (212), Youngstown State University (121), Valparaiso University (113), Cleveland State University (109) and Butler University (71).

"This was not our strongest day [events-wise] but I still feel very good about where we are," UWM head coach Erica Janssen said. "Our 500 free girls did a great job. Again, school records all the way across the board. For us to be up three points right now is great. The team is really rising to the occasion and getting behind each other."

Senior Molly Finn earned second-team all-league honors in the 200 IM, touching the wall in 2:03.08. That marked the second time Thursday that she broke her own school record after coming in at 2:04.16 in preliminaries (which tied the conference and league record set by Jessica Weidert in 2008) and toppled her former school mark of 2:06.75 set last year.

Green Bay's Danielle DeGrand won the event in a league-record time of 2:01.92.

"Molly broke the school record by almost three seconds so that was just incredible," Janssen said. "Her split in the 400 medley relay was phenomenal as well - she really had a great night in the pool."

Junior Bailey Nennig placed third in the 200 IM with a time of 2:04.95, besting her previous career time by nearly three seconds. Junior Ali Winius placed 11th in a time of 2:09.55, topping her former career-best by over three seconds as well.

Sophomore Danielle Wenger made a nice comeback attempt in the 500 freestyle, nearly catching the eventual winner, Wright State's Molley Pipkorn, before settling for second place. Her time of 4:55.29 was good enough to break the school record, which she actually held and lowered again in yesterday's 1,000 free in a time of 4:57.23.

"For Danielle, it was just a great swim for her," Janssen said. "The eventual winner was on the other side of the pool so Danielle could never see her. It was still a great swim. When you break the school record you just cannot be upset with it."

UWM placed four in the consolation heat in the 500, with freshman Heidi Niespodzany winning the heat, sophomore Ellie Gross placing 10th, junior Alex Nelson 13th and junior Jenny Westfall 14th. Niespodzany cut nearly four seconds off her previous season-low in winning the consolation heat in 5:01.26. That time also set a new UWM freshman record in the events (5:04.27; Kelsey Ogle).

The other three all set career-best times in the race: Gross touched the wall in 5:01.98, Nelson in 5:07.73 and Westfall in 5:09.60.

Freshman Sarah Wardecke came close to a league crown in the 50 freestyle, only to come up 24-hundredths of a second behind the winner, Christine Spading of UWGB (23.52). Wardecke's time of 23.76 lowered her own school freshman record in the event. Fellow freshman Danielle Chapman earned a spot in the consolation final, placing 15th with a season-best time of 24.50.

Another school record fell in the 400 medley relay, with the top four teams all coming in under the former Horizon League record of 3:50.64. Green Bay won in 3:44.42, while the team of Wenger, junior Kerry Rossow, Finn and Wardecke placed third in 3:48.90.

That broke the former school mark of 3:51.09 set in 2006 (Olson, L. Caldwell, Finn, Kelly).

400 Medley Relay, Winchell Break Records, Men Add Six Entries To All-Time Top 10
The Cleveland State University Vikings continued their assault on the Vikings record book during the second day of the 2009 Horizon League Championships. In five events, the Vikings added six new entries into the All-Time Top-10 list including two school records. After day two of the four-day event, the Vikings are in second place with 258 points.

“We had a solid day and we’re looking forward to tomorrow,” head coach Wally Morton said. “We had some really solid performances today and we have some outstanding swimmers seeded high that will race tomorrow.”

Mark deSwardt opened the meet with a win in the 500 free, giving the Vikings the first four wins of the meet after they swept all three events on Day One. deSwardt bettered his season-best time with a swim of 4:26.00 and moved into No. 2 on the CSU all-time list. It was deSwardt’s 10th 500 free win of the year and his second conference title in two days. Pieter Ritz also tallied points for the Vikings, finishing 13th (4:40.46).

In the 200 IM, three Vikings recorded back-to-back Top-5 finishes. Jakub Dobies swam his season best 1:51.58 to finish third overall while Marko Milenkovic’s swim of 1:51.79 was the sixth-fastest time in school history and good enough for fourth place. In 1:52.70, Deni Gasparin picked up a ninth-place finish with his best time of the season. During the preliminary swims, Volkmar Baur finished in his season-best time of 2:01.94 (18th). 

The Vikings showed considerable strength in the men’s 50 free with three all-time Top-10 times. Stephen Grove and Mike Marsico were neck-and-neck for third and fourth place, respectively while Keith Everhart finished 10th overall. Grove entered the event with the second-fastest time in school history (20.41) and set a new school and Horizon League record during the preliminary heat (20.09) before logging a time of 20.33 in the final. Marsico and Everhart also swam their way into CSU’s Top-10 list. Marsico went a 20.48 for the third-fastest swim in school history and Everhart’s time of 20.71 is the fourth-fastest time. During the preliminary heat, Travis Lombardozzi also swam a season best of 21.45 (24th). 

The 400 medley relay team kept the Vikings solidly in second place in the rankings at the conclusion of Day Two. The team recorded a runner-up finish and new school record of 3:16.72. The Vikings were just out-touched by UIC (3:15.78). Both CSU and UIC broke the previous Horizon League record of 3:18.55 set by the Cleveland State team in 2008. Todd Winchell led off the relay followed by Dobies, Grove and Marsico. 

Matt DiMasso kicked off the first Horizon League Championships of his career in the 1-meter diving competition. DiMasso picked up an 8th place finish with a lifetime best score of 235.50.

Behn, 400 Medley Relay Set Records, Women Log Season-Best Times In Every Swim
The Cleveland State University women continued to show improvement during the second day of the 2009 Horizon League Championships. All seven individual swimmers notched their top times of the season and Carys Behn improved on her own school record in the 500 free. After Day Two of the four-day event, the Vikings are in seventh place with 109 points.

“We had a solid day and we’re looking forward to tomorrow,” head coach Wally Morton said. “All of our women swam a lifetime best today and that is very encouraging. They are improving all the time.”

The Vikings opened Day Two with the 500 free as Carys Behn bettered her own school record for a third-place finish. Behn’s time of 4:55.35 broke the mark of 5:04.29 she set on Jan. 24. During the preliminary rounds, Frances Carrion swam her season-best 5:20.26 to finish in 25th place.

CSU did not qualify a swimmer for the finals of the 200 IM, but both of its swimmers posted their best times of the season during the preliminaries. Rachel Arzadon finished in 2:18.20 (20th) and Brittany McCann touched in 2:21.50 (24th). 

The Vikings’ top finisher in the 50 free was Kristina Nagy in 14th place. Nagy nearly broke into the top 10 swims in school history, missing the 10th spot by .01 seconds with a time of 24.49. Brittany Tweardy finished 16th with her fastest time of the season (24.71). During preliminary heats, Maria Culjak (25.06, 21st) and Diana Mruk (25.94, 29th) also swam their fastest times of the season.

The women swam an impressive 3:56.14 in the 400 medley relay, setting a new school record with a fifth-place finish with the swims of Maria Culjak, Arzadon, Katie Bellew and Behn. In the leadoff leg, Culjak swam the fifth-fastest 100 fly time in school history (59.40). The old relay record of 3:57.01 was set in 2005.

Two More Men’s Records Fall at Horizon League Championships
After setting a school record in three events on the opening night of competition, Valparaiso returned to the water on Thursday to break two more school marks at the Horizon League Swimming and Diving Championships held in Brown Deer, Wis.
 
Adam Jajtner (Port Washington, Wis./Port Washington H.S.) broke his second individual record of the championships with an 11th place finish in the 500 freestyle, touching the wall in 4:38.19.  He shattered his own previous school mark of 4:44.52 set in 207 by more than six seconds.  The senior set a school mark in the 1,000 freestyle on Wednesday night as well.
 
Blake Edwards (Orange, Calif./Lutheran H.S. of Orange County), turned in the third fastest time ever in the 500 free as well with a mark of 4:47.92 while Trevor Trimpe (Connersville, Ind./Connersville H.S.) moved into fourth all-time with his time of 4:49.35.
 
The Crusaders also set their third relay record of the event, doing so in the 400 medley relay on Thursday.  The team of Austin Hunter (La Crescent, Minn./La Crescent H.S.), David Sivak (Hobart, Ind./Hobart H.S.), Ansel Hillmer (Tampa, Fla./Hillsborough H.S.), and Victor Sikorski (Valparaiso, Ind./Wheeler H.S.) touched the wall in 3:29.12 to place sixth, and better the 2006 school mark of 3:31.25 by more than two seconds.
 
Sikorski and Sivak also moved themselves into the top-three all-time in the 50 freestyle on the night.  Sikorski moves into second place after finishing 21st overall with a time of 20.80 seconds.  He even bettered that mark in preliminary heats earlier in the day with a time of 20.77 seconds.  Sivak moved into third on the Valpo charts with his time of 21.10 seconds as well.
 
Kyle Verage (Hubertus, Wis./Marquette H.S.) was Valpo’s lone competitor in the 200 individual medley on the night, turning in a time of 2:05.65 while Kurtis Malone (Pekin, Ill./Pekin H.S.) placed 12th on the one-meter diving board with a score of 202.75 points.
 
As a team, Valpo sits in sixth place halfway through the four day meet with 97 total points.  UIC leads the way with 297 points followed by Cleveland State (258).  Wright State (243), Milwaukee (225), and Green Bay (219) are third, fourth, and fifth respectively.
 
Valparaiso will dive back into the water for day three of competition on Friday morning as preliminary heats begin at 10:30 a.m.   Finals are scheduled for 6:30 p.m. in the evening.
 
Crusaders Move Up in Standings as Valpo Sets Two School Records Thursday
Shaunna Dangremond (Tucson, Ariz./Sabino H.S.) set a school record in the 200 individual medley and was a part of the record-setting 400 medley relay on Thursday evening as Valparaiso moved up into sixth place halfway through the 2009 Horizon League Swimming and Diving Championships held in Brown Deer, Wis.
 
Dangremond set her new school mark in the morning preliminary heat with a time of 2:09.58, to break a 17-year old record set by Paige Hassinger in 1992.  She then finished 13th overall in the evening finals with a time of 2:10.81.
 
The sophomore also led off the record-breaking 400 medley relay in which teammates Amy Andracki (Arlington Heights, Ill./Prospect H.S.), Rachel Majercik (Schaumburg, Ill./Conant H.S.), and Jaclyn Krause (Rochester, Mich./Notre Dame Prep H.S.) finished with a time of 3:57.78, bettering the previous school mark of 4:03.77 set last season by more than five seconds.  The team placed sixth in the event.
 
Krause and Majercik both had big finishes for the Brown and Gold in the 50 freestyle as well, advancing to the A finals.  Krause placed fifth overall in the event, the top Crusader individual finish to date in the competition.  Her time of 24.09 seconds, set in the prelims, is the second fastest mark in the event in Valpo history.  She turned in a time of 24.16 seconds in the finals.  Majercik also finished eighth in the event with a time of 24.34 seconds in the finals after posting a time of 24.27 seconds in the prelims.
 
The other final event contested on Thursday saw Kristy Shew (Terre Haute, Ind./North Vigo H.S.) post the fourth quickest 500 freestyle time in school history with a mark of 5:12.66.  Stephanie Ferschl (Mukwonago, Wis./Mukwonago H.S.) also moved onto the all-time lists in eighth spot after swimming the race in 5:17.94.
 
Valpo past Cleveland State in the team standings halfway through, moving up into sixth place with 113 points, four ahead of the Vikings (109).  Butler is eighth with 71 points.  Milwaukee (309) has a three-point lead over Green Bay in the race for the title while Wright State is third with 232 points.  UIC ranks fourth through two days with 212 points while Youngstown State (121) is fifth, just eight points in front of the Brown and Gold.
 
The Crusaders return to action on Friday morning for day three of competition with preliminary heats beginning at 10:30 a.m. and the finals slated for 6:30 p.m.