UW-Stevens Point Sweeps WIAC Championships For Second Straight Year

STEVENS POINT, Wisconsin, February 17. FOR the second straight year, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point captured both the men's and women's titles at the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) championships, which were held at UW-Stevens Point's Health Enhancement Center.

The men's team won the league crown for the eighth consecutive season and 11th time in school history, while the women secured the WIAC trophy for the second straight year and fourth time in program history.

In the men's competition, the Pointers totaled 914 points during the three-day meet to outdistance UW-La Crosse for the seventh straight year. The Eagles finished with 882 points, followed by UW-Eau Claire in third with 507 points, UW-Whitewater in fourth with 457 points, UW-Oshkosh in third with 310 points and UW-River Falls in sixth with 175 points.

In the women's race, UW-Stevens Point compiled 993.50 points to surpass UW-La Crosse's second-place total of 900.50 points. UW-Eau Claire finished third with 460.50 points, followed by UW-Whitewater in fourth with 365 points, UW-Oshkosh in fifth with 244 points and UW-River Falls in sixth with 199.50 points.

UW-Stevens Point secured three individual titles during the final day of competition. Chase Gross captured the 100-yard freestyle for the second straight year with a NCAA "B" qualifying time of 46.47 to earn his second title of the meet. He won the 200-yard freestyle yesterday. The Pointers' Ben Gensler established a pool record and NCAA "B" qualifying mark in the 200-yard breaststroke with a time of 2:04.90. It marked the second consecutive year he has won the event and his second title of the championship after winning the 100-yard breaststroke a day ago. Rob Donisch also earned his second title in as many days, winning the 200-yard butterfly with a clocking of 1:55.72.

UW-La Crosse's Anthony Schmidt defended his title in the 200-yard backstroke with a mark of 1:55.73. It was his third trophy during the championship after he won the 200-yard individual medley and 400-yard individual medley. Schmidt was named the Swimmer of the Meet for his performances. The Eagles' Karl Richters claimed the 1,650-yard freestyle for the third consecutive season with a time of 16:44.83. He becomes just the second individual to win the event three straight years, joining UW-Whitewater's Mike Foss (1983-85).

UW-La Crosse also won their fourth relay title at the league competition when the 400-yard freestyle relay team of Matthew Diehl, Christopher Boyle, Michael Beilman and Anthony Wolff established a pool record and NCAA "B" qualifying time of 3:05.78.

UW-Oshkosh's Jacob Chadderdon won the three-meter diving competition with a score of 510.45 and was voted the Diver of the Meet for the second straight year.

UW-Stevens Point's women's squad captured all five individual titles and the relay crown during the third day of events. Abby Strobel won the 200-yard backstroke for the second consecutive season with a NCAA "B" qualifying time of 2:08.16. She was voted the Swimmer of the Meet after earning her third individual title of the championship. Kristen Bennett claimed the 200-yard breaststroke with a NCAA "B" qualifying mark of 2:24.74. She also won the 100-yard breaststroke yesterday.

Caitlin Hake captured her second title of the championship, winning the 100-yard freestyle with a time of 52.59 and establishing a NCAA "B" performance, while Kari Slawson also earned her second crown of the meet after finishing first in the 1,650-yard freestyle with a clocking of 18:00.09. Amy Bennett placed first in the 200-yard butterfly with a time of 2:11.71.

The Pointers' 400-yard freestyle relay quartet of Kesley Crunstedt, Jerica Crook, Beth Bard and Hake surpassed the NCAA "B" qualifying mark with a time of 3:33.70. It was UW-Stevens Point's third relay title at the championship.

UW-La Crosse's Amanda Medendorp earned the Diver of the Meet award for the second straight season after winning both diving events during the first two days of the meet.

UW-Stevens Point head coach Al Boelk was voted the league's women's coach of the year for the third straight season and fifth time in his career. He also won the award 2000 and 2003. UW-La Crosse head coach Rich Pein was named the WIAC men's coach of the year for the fourth time in his career. He also claimed the honor in 1992, 1995 and 2001.

UW-Eau Claire's Nick Peterson was selected the conference's Max Sparger Scholar-Athlete, while UW-Stevens Point's Beth Bard earned the Judy Kruckman Scholar-Athlete award.

Men's Swimmer of the Meet: Anthony Schmidt of UW-La Crosse
Women's Swimmer of the Meet: Abby Strobel of UW-Stevens Point
Men's Diver of the Meet: Jacob Chadderdon of UW-Oshkosh
Women's Diver of the Meet: Amanda Medendorp of UW-La Crosse
Men's Coach of the Year: Rich Pein of UW-La Crosse
Women's Coach of the Year: Al Boelk of UW-Stevens Point
Max Sparger Scholar-Athlete: Nick Peterson of UW-Eau Claire
Judy Kruckman Scholar-Athlete: Beth Bard of UW-Stevens Point

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