Wisconsin-Milwaukee Men
Max Gatzke won the 1000 freestyle but it wasn't enough as the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee men's swimming and diving team came up short to a talented Wright State University team, 203-97, Friday evening from the WSU Natatorium.
Milwaukee finished second in 12 of the 16 events on the day and had plenty of solid performances but just couldn't quite get enough against the Raiders in their home pool.
Gatzke posted the lone win for UWM on the night. The senior cruised to the win, touching the wall first in 9:50.09. Defending Horizon League Swimmer of the Week Nic Halverson was second on the night in 9:59.90.
N. Halverson also posted runner-up finishes on the night in the 200 IM (1:55.93) and the 200 back (1:56.13).
Tim Halverson just missed a win the 200 free. The senior posted a time of 1:46.81 for second, followed closely by Erik Wahlgren in 1:47.52 for third.
Gatzke nearly claimed another win in the 500 free, taking second in 4:48.26 with T. Halverson taking third at 4:53.83.
Nick Menninga also just missed a win on the night, taking second in the 50 free by a fraction of a second. The junior from Madison, Wis. touched the wall in 22.05, just over two-tenths of a second shy of the win.
Later, younger brother Ryan Menninga was second in the 200 fly in 1:57.27)
Freshman Jacob Barson (1:01.14) came in second overall in the 100 breaststroke, while senior J.J. Melville was runner-up in the 200 breast (2:15.72).
Other second-place finishes on the night include Kyle Gerum (100 back), Marcel Harris (one-meter diving) and the 400 free relay team of Gerum, Wahlgren, Yevgeniy Foster and N. Menninga.
The Panthers have a pair of meets next weekend, both in the Chicago area. UWM will take on Wheaton College Friday before a Saturday meet at UIC.
Wisconsin-Milwaukee Women
Sara Bentley continued her hot start to her sophomore season, winning another three individual events to help the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's swimming and diving team to a 154.5-144.5 win at Wright State University Friday at the WSU Natatorium.
Milwaukee split the 16 events with the Raiders, but the Panthers depth proved to be the difference to improve UWM to 2-0 on the season.
Bentley – the two-time Horizon League Swimmer of the Week to start the season – swept the backstroke events for the third-straight meet. The sophomore took the 200 back in 2:09.52, with junior Kristin Zablocki right behind at 2:12.47 for second. Bentley also claimed a solid win in the 100 back in 58.29, nearly two seconds ahead of the next finisher.
Finally, the Ames, Iowa native wrapped up her day with a win in the 200 IM. Bentley touched the wall first at 2:10.63, with freshman Addison Skogman taking second at 2:12.67.
Skogman claimed a win of her own in a dominating showing by Milwaukee in the 1000 free. The freshman led the way in the longest event of the day, topping the field in 10:47.41. Alena Bodnaruk came in second on the day at 11:15.49, while Abby Duke was third in 11:21.03.
UWM took the top-two spots in the 200 free. Senior Nicole Hutchins claimed her first win of the season in 1:58.36, just out-touching teammate Emma Helgeson at 1:58.46.
Natalie Johnson was the next to claim a win for Milwaukee. The junior cruised to a win in the 500 free in 5:16.52, nearly 15 seconds ahead of the next finisher.
Freshman Carley Thomas notched the first win of her collegiate career. The Racine native won the three-meter diving competition with a score of 234.75. Thomas also led the way for Milwaukee on one-meter, taking third at 246.00.
The Black & Gold also claimed a win in the 400 free relay. Johnson, Arica Smith, Shelby Rozeboom and Mandie Siehs teamed up to take the win in 3:34.43, over a full second ahead of Wright State's top squad.
Milwaukee had plenty of other strong swims on the day, including runner-up finishes by Siehs in the 100 free, Johnson in the 200 fly and the 200 medley relay.
The Panthers have a pair of meets next weekend, both in the Chicago area. UWM will take on Wheaton College Friday before a Saturday meet at UIC.
