Milwaukee Press Release
CHICAGO – The Milwaukee women's swimming & diving team continued its perfect season Friday and Saturday by taking first place at the inaugural Flames Invite hosted by UIC.
UWM racked up 1371.5 points in just 18 events to easily take the top spot out of the three teams. UIC finished runner-up with 1070 points, while Olivet Nazarene University was third at 811.5.
Milwaukee started things off with a win in the first event of the busy meet. Shelby Rozeboom, Sara Bentley, Arica Smith and Mandie Siehs combined to take the top spot in the 200 free relay in 1:35.49 – a full second ahead of the next team.
The Panthers then swept the top three spots in the next event – the 500 free. Danielle Kudis claimed the top spot in 5:03.34, with Addison Skogman (5:10.72) and Alena Bodnaruk (5:13.60) right behind for second and third.
Later on in the mile, Skogman took the lead and finished first with a winning time of 17:23.64. Kudis was next in 17:35.93 for second, while Natalie Johnson came in fourth in 18:07.27.
Smith touched the wall first in the 50 free in 24.13, with Rozeboom close behind in 24.33 for third.
UWM went 1-2 in the 200 breaststroke. Natalie O'Connell was first in 2:20.53, while Adrienne DiFoggio right behind at 2:22.85 for second.
Sara Bentley posted a pair of wins on the weekend. The junior's first W came in the 100 butterfly in 57.16, with Kady Ruemmele taking fifth overall in 1:00.05. Bentley also topped the field in the 100 backstroke with a winning time of 56.05. Classmate Maddy Nelson was third in 58.30.
Milwaukee also won two more relays at the meet. In the 200 medley relay, Bentley, Jenn Kordik, Rozeboom and Siehs teamed up for a win in 1:46.09 – just over one-tenth of a second ahead of the next team.
Then, to close things out at in the 400 free relay, Kudis, Smith, Rozeboom and Siehs combined for the top time of 3:30.87 – nearly three full seconds ahead of the next group.
Up next, Milwaukee has its final dual meet of the season next Saturday with a quick trip up to Green Bay to take on the in-state rival at 1 pm from Dorschel Natatorium.
CHICAGO – The Milwaukee men's swimming & diving team posted a second-place finish at the Flames Invitational Saturday at the conclusion of the two-day meet hosted by UIC.
The Panthers finished the meet with 1118 points for second out of three teams. Olivet Nazarene came in first with 1138.5 points, while host UIC took third at 1059.5 points.
Nick Menninga – the reigning Horizon League Swimmer of the Week – picked up right where he left off with a win in the 50 free. The senior touched the wall in 21.07 – over three-tenths of a second ahead of the next swimmer. Evan Kuker also did well, taking sixth in 21.59.
Menninga later also claimed victory in the 100 free with a winning time of 46.42.
Jacob Barson swept the breaststroke events on the weekend for the Black & Gold. The sophomore first topped the field in the 100 breast in 58.63, with Justin Ogle placing fourth in 1:00.56. Then, in the 200 breast, Barson again took the top spot in 2:09.09. This time, Ogle took third overall in 2:12.73, while fellow freshman Tim Greci was fifth in 2:15.12.
Milwaukee finished 2-3 in the 100 backstroke. Kuker led the way, taking runner-up in 51.95, while Kyle Gerum was right behind at 52.20 for third.
Jacob Fase also picked up a silver medal for the Panthers over the weekend. The freshman came in second overall in the 500 free with a solid time of 4:39.88 – just over one second shy of the win.
Milwaukee also posted second-place finishes in three of its five relays on the weekend. In the 400 medley relay, Gerum, Barson, Yevgeniy Foster and Menninga combined for a time of 3:26.94. Then, in the 200 medley relay, Kuker, Barson, Anthony Kolbus and Menninga touched out in 1:33.92 for second in another close race.
Finally, in the final event of the weekend, Kolbus, Sam Salganik, Andrew Kasper and Menninga teamed to go 3:08.30 for second place on the day.
Up next, Milwaukee has its final dual meet of the season next Saturday with a quick trip up to Green Bay to take on the in-state rival at 1 pm from Dorschel Natatorium.
