Swimcloud

Oakland Leading Horizon League

Oakland Men

Six Oakland swimmers and divers captured individual titles while both of the program's 800 freestyle relay squads reset program records during the third day of competition at the 2015 Horizon League Swimming and Diving Championships, hosted by the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee at the Walter Schroeder Aquatic Center.

The night was capped off by back-to-back 800 freestyle relay wins for the Oakland men and women. The women's team of Nikki Flynn,Patricia Aschan, Arynn de Leeuw and Emily Flowers touched first in 7:21.44, shattering the program's previous record by nearly three seconds and just missing the Horizon League record by less than two tenths of a second. 

The men's team of Jorden Merrilees, Andrew Binder, Tuomas Kiviluoma and Jacob Pearson followed suit, and rocketed by Merrilees' school and Horizon League record time of 1:35.55 in the first 200 yards, the quartet finished in 6:29.64 to set both the Horizon League and Oakland record for the 800 freestyle relay.

The Oakland women improved their lead on the field, leading second-place Milwaukee 582-428, while the men moved into first place over the host Panthers 521-446.

The Golden Grizzlies started the night with a bang, as Aschan (4:16.84), Megan Hunter (4:21.92), Stella Pasalidou (4:22.80) and Cassie Misiewicz (4:25.60) swept the top four places in the women's 400 IM. Aschan's time set a Horizon League record in the event and ranks second-best in program history and was an NCAA "B" time. Hunter now ranks sixth in the Oakland recordbook, while Pasalidou moved in to seventh in team history.

Winning her fourth 3-meter title of her career and seventh conference championship diving event, Tricia Grant turned in a score of 330.10, just missing her career best in the event. 

Flynn (1:48.32) moved into second all-time in Oakland history with her winning time in the women's 200 freestyle, just missing the Horizon League record by less than three tenths of a second. Flowers (1:51.60) added a fifth-place finish for the Golden Grizzlies. 

Takara Martin won the 100 breaststroke with an NCAA "B" time of 1:02.33, with teammates Rachel Waite (1:03.00) and Melissa VanderMeulen (1:03.26) taking second and fourth, respectively.

Kyra Rietveld placed second in the 100 backstroke with a time of 55.57, while Flowers came back from swimming the 200 freestyle to place eighth in a time of 57.90. 

In the women's 100 butterfly, Holly Morren (56.22) finished fourth with a time that ranks ninth in team history, while Hannah Oswald(56.83) took seventh. 

For the men, Merrilees improved his Oakland and Horizon League record times in the 400 IM, touching first in 3:45.73 for an NCAA "B" cut. Mitch Alters placed fourth with a time of 3:56.72.

John Schihl (54.48) moved into third place in program history with his winning time in the men's 100 breaststroke, an effort that was an NCAA "B" mark. Teammate Hrafn Traustason (54.75) touched fourth, and his time also made the NCAA "B" standard. 

Binder (1:39.12) and Pearson (1:39.68) finished second and fifth, respectively, in the men's 200 freestyle. 

In the men's 100 backstroke, Aleksander Danielewski (48.11) improved his personal best time to take second overall and post an NCAA "B" standard time. John Ferrara was hot on his heels, placing third in 49.31.

In the men's 100 butterfly, Mario Rusnak (48.54) placed third while Tuomas Kiviluoma (48.87) took fifth. 

The Horizon League Championship concludes Saturday with preliminary rounds at 10:30 a.m. and finals slated for 7 p.m. Saturday's events are the 1650 Freestyle, 200 Backstroke, 100 Freestyle, 200 Breaststroke, 200 Butterfly, 400 Freestyle Relayalong with men's 1-meter diving.

Men's Team Scores 
1. Oakland 521 
2. Milwaukee 446 
3. Green Bay 353 
4. Wright State 352 
5. Cleveland State 336 
6. UIC 296 
7. Valparaiso 81 

Women's Team Scores 
1. Oakland 582
2. Milwaukee 428 
3. Green Bay 353 
4. UIC 332 
5. Youngstown State 278
6. Wright State 271
7. Cleveland State 161
8. Valparaiso 120

 

Wisconsin-Milwaukee Men

Nick Menninga won a league title, three Panthers broke school records and two more posted NCAA B-cut times as the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee men's swimming & diving team continued their roll in the third day at the Horizon League Championships at the Walter Schroeder Aquatic Center Thursday.

With one day remaining, the Panthers have 446 points for a solid second place. Oakland leads the way with 521 points. Green bay is third at 353, with Wright State (352), Cleveland State (336), UIC (296) and Valparaiso (81) rounding out the scores.

"Tonight was another great night for us," Milwaukee head coach Kyle Clements said. "It was a little different story than yesterday. We did it in the morning – getting in those finals and then tonight we had some ups and downs because we swam so fast this morning."

"We're in a really nice spot to get something out of this finish tomorrow night. We knew it was going to be tough to win on both sides but being a top-two team and getting a runner-up trophy would be huge. It would speak volumes to the depth and the overall top speed we have on both teams."

Menninga was crowned league champion in the 200 freestyle to steal the headlines. The sophomore posted an outstanding time of 1:39.08, over five seconds faster than his previous season best. Tim Halverson came in seventh for Milwaukee at 1:40.57, with Erik Wahlgren and Ryan Finke both scoring in the B final.

Senior Mike Lucchesi had an unbelievable day in the 100 butterfly. The Greendale, Wis. native broke his own school record in prelims with a blazing time of 47.77, nearly half a second ahead of his previous school record. In finals, he finished league runner-up with a solid time of 47.91. Those two times are both NCAA B-cuts and are now the two fastest in UWM history.

Also in the 100 fly, sophomore Max Ward won the B-final at 49.30, with classmate Yevgeniy Foster right behind at 49.84 for 11th.

Yet another record fell when Nic Halverson took to the pool in the 400 IM. The junior came in third overall at 3:54.18 – an NCAA B-cut time – to break his own school record by nearly two seconds. J.J. Melville came in eighth for the Panthers after posting a lifetime best of 4:01.92 in prelims and swimming his second individual event of the day.

Milwaukee continued its record-breaking day in the 100 breaststroke. Junior Taylor Wisdorf posted a school-record time of 55.76 in prelims to break Brady Huemann's previous record set in the same pool at the same meet three years ago. Wisdorf followed up his record-breaking prelim performance by taking seventh overall in finals at 56.03.

In the 100 backstroke, junior John Kangas won the B-final at 50.45 – dropping over a full second off his prelim time. Freshman Kyle Gerum also scored for UWM, placing 12th overall at 51.38.

The Panthers just missed another school record in the day's final event. Kenny Stelpflug, T. Halverson, N. Halverson and Menninga teamed up to post a time of 6:37.65 for second overall – giving them the third-fastest time in UWM history.

"It's a big day tomorrow," Clements said. "Green Bay is right on our heels on the women's side. The guys have a lot of good events for us. We have diving, the mile and 100 free and those should all be good events for us going into this last day."

 

Wisconsin-Milwaukee Women

Maddy Nelson broke another freshman record and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee put together a total team effort to maintain their second-place standing through three full days at the Horizon League Championships at the Walter Schroeder Aquatic Center Friday.

With one day remaining, Milwaukee sits in second place in a very tight race with 428 points. Oakland leads the field with 582 points. Green Bay is third at 413. UIC sits fourth at 332, while Youngstown State (278), Wright State (271), Cleveland State (161) and Valparaiso (120) round out the scoring.

"Tonight was another great night for us," Milwaukee head coach Kyle Clements said. "It was a little different story than yesterday. We did it in the morning – getting in those finals and then tonight we had some ups and downs because we swam so fast this morning."

"We're in a really nice spot to get something out of this finish tomorrow night. We knew it was going to be tough to win on both sides, but being a top-two team and getting a runner-up trophy would be huge. It would speak volumes to the depth and the overall top speed we have on both teams."

Milwaukee's best finish of the day came from a pair of freshmen. In the 100 backstroke, Maddy Nelson and Sara Bentley finished third and fourth overall, respectively. Nelson broke her own freshman record at 55.62, with Bentley right behind at 56.00.

UWM got valuable points in the B-final from two more underclassmen. Freshman Kady Ruemmele took 11th at 57.73, just ahead of sophomore Kiersten Seidel at 59.64 for 15th.

One night after dominating the 50 freestyle, Mandie Siehs and Anna Yontz jumped on the podium yet again in the 200 free. Siehs came in third overall with a lifetime best of 1:50.06 – the sixth-fastest time in UWM history. Yontz was right behind with a season best of 1:51.80 for sixth place overall. Freshman Arica Smith also scored for UWM in the B-final after posting a lifetime best of 1:56.98 in prelims.

Junior Rachel Margis continued to show she is one of the league's top divers, taking fourth overall on the three-meter board with a score of 256.25. Anna Percival also did well, taking 15th and scoring for UWM.

Milwaukee continued to show off its young depth with four underclassmen scoring in the 400 IM. Freshman Sami Stelpflug led the way, taking sixth overall at 4:28.97 – the sixth-fastest time in program history. Classmate Alena Bodnaruk was right behind in eighth after posting a prelim time of 4:29.85.

In the B-final, Seidel  - swimming in her second individual event of the day – placed 15th and newcomer Natalie O'Connell was 16th.

Despite only competing in the event five times this season, sophomore Kristin Zablocki jumped on the podium in the 100 butterfly Friday. Zablocki posted a very strong time of 56.95 to take eighth overall. Senior Sierra Townsend came in 10th at 56.99 and Ruemmele added more valuable points by placing 15th.

In the 100 breaststroke, freshman Charli Wike led the way for UWM. Wike came in eighth overall at 1:05.50 to earn a spot on the podium in her first Horizon League Championships. Hannah Lucas had an outstanding showing by winning the B-final with a season-best 1:04.77, just ahead of O'Connell at 1:05.10. Freshman Adrienne DiFoggio also scored for Milwaukee, taking 15th.

UWM added 32 more big points in the final event of the night. In the 800 free relay, Yontz, Natalie Johnson, Bodnaruk and Siehs teamed up to take third overall at 7:29.15 – the fourth-fastest time ever turned in by a Panther relay.

"It's a big day tomorrow," Clements said. "Green Bay is right on our heels on the women's side. The guys have a lot of good events for us. We have diving, the mile and 100 free and those should all be good events for us going into this last day."

The final day of the 2015 Horizon League Championships kick off Saturday morning with preliminary action at 10:30 a.m. The champions will be crowned following the evening finals, starting with diving at 6:15 p.m., followed by swimming events at 7 o'clock.

Comments