Men's Team Scores
1. Milwaukee 124
2. Oakland 106
3. Green Bay 81
4. UIC 78
5. Cleveland State 75
6. Wright State 71
7. Valparaiso 48
Women's Team Scores
1. Green Bay 114
2. Milwaukee 110
2. Youngstown State 110
4. UIC 101
5. Oakland 96
6. Wright State 89
7. Cleveland State 88
8. Valparaiso 52
Wisconsin-Milwaukee Men
The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee men's swimming & diving team broke two school records and sit in first place after the first day of action at the 2015 Horizon League Championships in fine fashion at the Walter Schroeder Aquatic Center Wednesday.
Nic Halverson and the 200 medley relay each broke a school record to headline an outstanding first day in the pool for the Panthers.
With one day in the books, Milwaukee is in first place with 124 points. Oakland sits second at 106. Green Bay is third at 81 points, with UIC (78), Cleveland State (75), Wright State (71) and Valparaiso (48) rounding out the scoring.
"One of the things we're working on this year is getting going right when it's called for," Milwaukee head coach Kyle Clements said. "This first night is always a tough night. All of the sudden you're here warming up and you have to get going. We did a lot better job this year than in year's past.
"We're looking forward to tomorrow. We're off to a fast start but we have to carry into prelims tomorrow if we want to do what we want to do at the end."
N. Halverson led four Panthers to the podium in the first individual event of the meet and just missed a league title. In the 1000 freestyle, the junior posted a school-record time of 9:17.40 to take second overall. That was a full four seconds ahead of the previous school record set by Kenny Stelpflug in 2013. Stelpflug came in third in the event at 9:22.50. Right behind was Tim Halverson in fourth at 9:22.65, with newcomer Max Gatzke taking fifth at 9:23.18 to dominate the podium. Junior Erik Wahlgren also scored for UWM in the event, posting a lifetime best 9:42.58 and taking 11th.
Milwaukee also broke a school record in the 200 medley relay to wrap up day one. John Kangas, Taylor Wisdorf, Mike Lucchesi and Tanner Nimke combined to post an outstanding time of 1:29.36, nearly half a second ahead of the previous school record set back in 2011.
The Panthers also had a strong showing in the 200 free relay. Lucchesi, Nimke, Wahlgren and Nick Menninga posted a time of 1:21.25, just shy of the school record for fifth place on the day.
Day two gets underway Thursday with prelims starting up at 10:30 a.m. and finals slatted for a 6:15 p.m. start with the men's 3-meter diving.
Wisconsin-Milwaukee Women
With wins in two of the four events on the day, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's swimming & diving team kicked off the 2015 Horizon League Championships in impressive fashion at the Walter Schroeder Aquatic Center Wednesday.
Natalie Johnson and the Panther 200 freestyle relay both were crowned league champions on the day to start the league meet with a bang.
After the first full day of action, Milwaukee sits in a tie for second place with 110 points. Green Bay holds a narrow lead with 114 points, while Youngstown State is tied with UWM for second. UIC is currently fourth at 101 with Oakland just behind at 96. Wright State (89), Cleveland State (88) and Valparaiso (52) round out the scoring after day one.
"One of the things we're working on this year is getting going right when it's called for," Milwaukee head coach Kyle Clements said. "This first night is always a tough night. All of the sudden you're here warming up and you have to get going. We did a lot better job this year than in year's past.
"We're looking forward to tomorrow. We're off to a fast start but we have to carry into prelims tomorrow if we want to do what we want to do at the end."
Johnson, last year's Horizon League Newcomer of the Year, successfully defended her crown in the 1000 freestyle with a dominating showing, posting a winning time of 9:59.80. That is a new lifetime best for Johnson and it is the second-fastest time ever posted by a Panther in the event. Also scoring for Milwaukee in the 1000, freshman Alena Bodnaruk posted a lifetime-best time of 10:30.11 for 13th place overall.
Milwaukee claimed another league title on opening day in the 200 free relay. Anna Yontz, Mandie Siehs, Sierra Townsend and Hannah Lucas teamed up to touch the wall first in 1:32.95 to top the field. That time is a season best and just missed the school record.
Junior Rachel Margis continued her outstanding season with a third-place finish in one-meter diving, tallying a strong score of 277.45.
In the day's final event, UWM came in fourth overall in the 200 medley relay. Sara Bentley, Lucas, Townsend and Yontz posted a season-best time of 1:43.30.
Oakland
Both the men's and women's 200 medley relay teams set team records Wednesday evening in the first day of action at the 2015 Horizon League Swimming and Diving Championships, hosted by the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee at the Walter Schroeder Aquatic Center.
The Oakland men's 200 medley relay team of Aleksander Danielewski, John Schihl, Tuomas Kiviluoma and Jeremiah Morren touched first in 1:27.32, setting both an Oakland and Horizon League record with their efforts. Morren had a race-best 19.34 split in the freestyle, Kiviluoma's butterfly split of 21.23 kept Oakland in the lead for good.
For the women, Oakland's quartet of Kyra Rietveld, Takara Martin, Holly Morren and Nikki Flynn combined for a time of 1:41.32, eclipsing the previous team record of 1.41.56 set during the 2013 season. Rietveld set the tone with a time of 25.90 to lead in the backstroke, giving the Golden Grizzlies a lead it wouldn't relinquish.
"We ended the session on a real positive note with two school records; that is a great way to finish off the day," Oakland head coach Pete Hovland said. "We got the jitters out, and now it's time to focus on business."
Adding a key individual win on the men's side was Seth Timmons, who took first place in the men's 1000 freestyle with a time of 9:15.61, which ranks second all-time in program history.
"Our distance swimmers did really well, and for Seth to post that time and win the event really gave us a boost," Hovland said.
Tricia Grant was victorious in the women's 1-meter diving event, posting a score of 300.95 to win her third 1-meter conference championship title and sixth overall.
"Tricia turned in a really gutsy performance for us today," Hovland said.
Other notable finishes for the Golden Grizzlies included the men's 200 free relay team of Morren, Kiviluoma, Danielewski and Jorden Merrilees taking second in 1:20.20, which is second-best in program history; Morren's leadoff time of 20.07 ranks second in team history for a 50-meter freestyle swim. In the women's 1000 free, Cassie Misiewicz (10:20.29), Nichole Contesti (10:20.89) and Arynn de Leeuw(10:21.16) finished 6-7-8 in the final. Jacob Pearson (9:38.50) placed eighth for the men in the 1000 free.
Day two of action begins with preliminary rounds at 10:30 a.m. and finals slated for 7 p.m. Events for Thursday are the 500 freestyle, 200 IM, 50 free and 400 medley relay along with men's 3-meter diving.
