UW-Milwaukee vs. Wisconsin

MADISON, Wisconsin, October 10. THE Wisconsin swimming and diving team began the 2008-09 season on a winning note Friday, sweeping all 12 events on the way to a 147-74 win over UW-Milwaukee. The Badger men were similarly successful, topping the Panthers 156-70 in a dual at the UW Natatorium.

The Badgers kicked things off by sweeping the top three spots in the 400-yard medley relay, with the team of Amie Osten, Ashley Wanland, Anna Chang and Christine Zwiegers claiming the win in 3:50.69. Wisconsin got off to a quick start with a win in the night's opening event, the 400-yard medley relay. The foursome of senior Nick Fulton (New Brighton, Minn.), junior Steven Wiesner (Montrose, Colo.), sophomore Conner Andrews (Nashotah, Wis.) and freshman Chris Nemeth (Highland Hills, Ohio) swam the event in a time of 3:27.88.

It was then time for the much-heralded freshman class to take over. The group was ranked ninth entering the season and it did not disappoint.

Freshman Brett Nagle (Portland, Ore) was the next victor in the evening as he won the 1000-yard freestyle in a time of 9:37.52.

Fellow freshman Wes Lagerhausen (Fontana, Wis.) took first in the 200-yard freestyle. He swam it in a time of 1:43.58.

Later in the evening, another freshman scored a win as Jeff Morris won the 500-yard freestyle. The Fort Thomas, Ky. native won the race in 4:43.95.

Andrews added his second win of the season when he claimed first in the 50-yard freestyle. He won the race with a time of 21.79.

Wanland, a freshman, also took top honors in the 100 breaststroke with a time of 1:03.55.

Gabby Maddalena was fastest in the 1,000 freestyle, clocking in at 10:07.60, and was followed by freshmen Danielle Beckwith and Kelly Winckler in second and third. Beckwith swam a 10:10.85, while Winckler recorded a 10:22.28.

Maddalena later added another win in the 500 free with a time of 4:59.05.

Rosie Morahan and Maggie Meyer went 1-2 in the 200 free, with Morahan clocking a 1:52.78 to take the win. She then added a victory in the 100 free, as well, in a time of 51.87.

In the other sprint freestyle race, Zwiegers clocked a strong 24.24 to claim the 50 free.

The top four spots in the 200 individual medley went to Wisconsin swimmers, with Candice Peak's winning time of 2:05.68 leading the way. Senior Jen Illescas followed in second, with Libby Brooks taking third and Maddalena fourth.

Peak added another win in the 100 backstroke with a time of 56.77, while Illescas got a win of her own in the 100 butterfly. She clocked in at 56.46 to win by more than three full seconds.

Ciara Rinaudo took the top spot in both the 1-meter and 3-meter diving events ahead of teammate Emily Cheffins, who was twice a runner-up. Rinaudo scored 274.43 in the 1-meter competition and tallied 271.88 points to take the 3-meter title.

Senior Scott Rice (Des Moines, Wash.) showed why the Badgers are counting on him for veteran leadership as he won two events on the evening. He won the 200-yard IM in a time of 1:55.67 and then captured first in the 100-yard butterfly with a time of 50.07.

Fellow senior Kyle Sorensen (Palatine, Ill.) proved that he will be one of the team's top contributors as he won the 100-yard freestyle in a time of 46.21.

Like Rice before him, junior Derrick O' Donnell (McFarland, Wis.) also won two races on the evening. He got his first win in the 100-yard backstroke as he won the race in a time of 51.06 and then added another first place finish in the 100-yard breaststroke. He did so with a time of 59.35.

The last race of the night was an exhibition in the 200-yard freestyle relay. The race had an interesting twist as each Wisconsin foursome represented a class. On this night, the sophomores prevailed as Andrews, Fraser Roberts (Richmond, British Columbia), Luke Lengfeld (Cross Plains, Wis.) and Kyle Thompson (New Berlin, Wis.) won with a mark of 1:24.59.

A strong opening performance behind them, the Badgers now jump directly into Big Ten Conference competition and will take on Iowa in a dual next Friday (Oct. 17). The Badgers and Hawkeyes will compete beginning at 5 p.m. in Iowa City, Iowa.

Special thanks to Wisconsin for contributing this report.

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