Five different newcomers won events and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's swimming and diving team won 12 events in all in an impressive showing at the Wisconsin College Championship at the Walter Schroeder Aquatic Center Saturday, hosted by UW-Oshkosh.
"I was much happier with our effort and results this weekend," Milwaukee head coach Kyle Clements said. "This meet was a great opportunity to swim a lot of events in the pool that will be hosting this years Horizon League meet. With so many events and so much competition, we were able to find some new possible events and show off our team depth."
Freshman Sara Bentley continued her early success at the collegiate ranks, grabbing her first individual win of the day in the 200 IM. The Ames, Iowa native touched the wall first in the 200 IM with a time of 2:10.55, just edging out teammates Sierra Townsend (2:11.50) and Sammi Stelpflug (2:12.19).
Bentley also topped the field in the 100 butterfly, winning in 58.74 seconds, nearly a full second ahead of the rest of the field.
In the 200 backstroke, it was freshman Emily Kinnaird leading a pack of Panthers on the podium. Kinnaird took the top spot in 2:07.60, with Bentley right behind at 2:07.72. Maddy Nelson, Kristin Zablocki, Mandie Siehs and Kady Ruemmele all also had strong swims in the event to finish 3-6 for Milwaukee.
Sophomore Natalie Johnson also won a pair of individual events on the day. Johnson claimed the top spot in her primary event of the 500 free (5:04.92) before also edging the field in the 200 breaststroke (2:27.58) in the first time she has competed in the event this season. Freshman Charli Wike was second in the 200 breast at 2:28.94.
Senior Anna Yontz dominated the field in the 100 free with a winning time of 53.34, nearly a full second ahead of the rest of the field.
Newcomer Mandie Siehs claimed a win in the 50 free in 24.54, just beating out teammate Arica Smith at 24.96. Hannah Lucas also had a strong swim in the event, coming in fourth at 25.07.
Freshman Maddy Nelson grabbed another win in her young career, winning the 100 back in 58.45, with six other Panthers finishing in the top-nine in the same event.
Continuing the trend, freshman Alena Bodnaruk also claimed a win on the day, this time in the 400 IM in 4:39.55, nearly four seconds ahead of the next swimmer.
In diving, junior Rachel Margis won both boards for the second-straight week to continue her strong start to the season.
Milwaukee also won the 200 medley relay as Bentley, Wike, Townsend and Yontz teamed up to touch out Green Bay's top team at 1:48.74 for yet another win on the day.
Next up for UWM is a home meet against conference foe Wright State. The Panthers and Raiders will face off Friday evening at 5 p.m. from the Klotsche Natatorium.
The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee men's swimming & diving team won seven events Saturday – including two each by sophomore Max Ward and senior K.J. Heger – in a solid day of action at the Wisconsin College Championship at the Walter Schroeder Aquatic Center Saturday, hosted by UW-Oshkosh.
"I was much happier with our effort and results this weekend," Milwaukee head coach Kyle Clements said. "This meet was a great opportunity to swim a lot of events in the pool that will be hosting this years Horizon League meet. With so many events and so much competition, we were able to find some new possible events and show off our team depth."
Ward had one of his best days as a Panther. The sophomore led a group of five Panthers to win the 100 freestyle in 46.54, with Nick Menninga, Tim Halverson, Erik Wahlgren and Kyle Gerum taking spots 2-5 in a dominating showing by Milwaukee. Ward later took first in his more primary event – the 100 butterfly – in 50.44, nearly a full second ahead of the next finisher.
Ward also teamed up with Menninga, Mike Lucchesi and Tanner Nimke to cruise to a win in the 400 free relay in 3:08.28 after taking second in the 200 medley relay with Menninga, Lucchesi and Teddy Stackman.
Milwaukee showed off its depth in the 200 free. Kenny Stelpflug won the event in 1:45.22, just edging out teammates T. Halverson (1:45.61) and Nic Halverson (1:45.87).
N. Halverson later claimed a win of his own in the 500 free. The junior touched the wall in 4:45.85, with T. Halverson in second (4:47.38) and Stelpflug (4:48.72) in third.
Lucchesi had a pair of runner-up finishes on the day in back-to-back events. The senior first came in second in the 200 fly in 1:59.00, less than half a second from the top spot. N. Halverson came in third in the event and Ryan Finke was fourth.
Then, competing in the very next event, Lucchesi was second again in the 50 free with a strong time of 21.54.
In diving events, Heger again swept both boards for the third-straight week to start the season, while freshman Marcel Harris reached an NCAA Zone score on the one-meter.
Next up for UWM is a home meet against conference foe Wright State. The Panthers and Raiders will face off Friday evening at 5 p.m. from the Klotsche Natatorium.
