STEVENTS POINT, Wisconsin, February 15. THE of Wisconsin-Stevens Point's men's and women's teams lead the 2007 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) swimming and diving championships following the first of three days of competition at UW-Stevens Point.
The seven-time defending champion men's squad compiled 261 points to outdistance UW-La Crosse with 260 points. The Eagles are followed by UW-Whitewater (141 points), UW-Eau Claire (139 points), UW-Oshkosh (116 points) and UW-River Falls (56 points).
UW-Stevens Point's women's squad, which claimed last year's championship, totaled 292.50 points. UW-La Crosse is second with 270 points, followed by UW-Eau Claire (120 points), UW-Whitewater (95 points), UW-Oshkosh (86 points) and UW-River Falls (78.50 points).
In the men's race, UW-La Crosse secured three individual titles and one relay crown. Matthew Diehl captured the 50-yard freestyle with a NCAA "B" qualifying time of 20.80, while Joel Coyne won the 500-yard freestyle with a performance of 4:44.96 and Anthony Schmidt claimed the 200-yard individual medley with a clocking of 1:55.72.
The Eagles' 200-yard freestyle relay team of Diehl, Christopher Boyle, Adam Carlson and Anthony Wolff established a NCAA "B" qualifying time of 1:23.55 en route to winning the event.
UW-Eau Claire's Bryan Dykstra claimed the one-meter diving competition with 480.10 points.
UW-Stevens Point's Matt Meyer, Ben Gensler, Rob Donisch and Chase Gross earned a NCAA "B" qualifying time in winning the 400-yard medley relay with a performance of 3:26.86.
In the women's contest, defending champion UW-Stevens Point claimed three individual titles and one relay crown during the opening day of events. Caitlin Hake defended her title in the 50-yard freestyle with a NCAA "B" qualifying time of 24.14, while Abby Strobel protected her crown in the 200-yard individual medley with a performance of 2:12.15 and Kari Slawson claimed the 500-yard freestyle with a time of 5:12.49.
UW-Stevens Point's 400-yard medley relay team of Strobel, Trish Nye, Meghan Walsh and Hake finished first, posting a NCAA "B" qualifying performance of 3:57.97.
UW-La Crosse's Amanda Medendorp won the three-meter diving competition for the second straight year with a score of 480.25, while Clare Hathaway, Brianna Peyer, Danielle Rux and Heather Vogts teamed to win the 200-yard freestyle relay in 1:38.46.