Wisconsin Sweeps UW-Green Bay (M:159-77; W:159-80)

GREEN BAY, Wisconsin, October 6. THE University of Wisconsin Badgers swimming and diving teams embarked on their 2007-08 season with wins over UW-Green Bay at the Dorschl Natatorium in Green Bay, Wis. The women's team took the win 159-80, while the men were equally as strong, winning 159-77.

The Lady Badgers won all 13 events as they opened their ninth season under head coach Eric Hansen.

"It was fun to see the team come together for the first time this year," he said afterwards.

The team got things started right away as it took the top four spots in the 200-yard medley relay, the night's opening event. The "A" team of sophomores Sara Goff, Libby Brooks, and seniors Katie Imhoff-Smith and Jackie Vavrek actually ended up tying with the "B" team of freshman Margaret Meyer, sophomore Rosie Morahan, and seniors Jenny Gelden and Kristy Brager with a time of 1:46.54.

The results of the event epitomized the feelings Hansen had after the meet.

"I think (our win) shows the potential of what the freshmen class can do," he said. "I was impressed with our newcomers and our veteran team members."

In the other relay event of the night, the team of senior Hannah McClurg, Meyer, freshman Karlyn Hougan and Vavrek finished first in the 200-yard freestyle relay with a time of 1:36.60.

In the 1000-yard freestyle, sophomore Gabby Maddalena took top honors while junior Katie Twitchell ended up in third place. Maddalena dominated the field as she finished with a time of 10:05.72, almost 36 seconds faster than the second place finisher. Twitchell ended with a time of 10:52.72.

Maddalena's domination didn't end there though as she blew past the field in the 500-yard freestyle. Her time of 4:59.13 was 11 seconds faster than second place.

The Badgers claimed the top four spots in the 200-yard freestyle. Junior Jen Illescas was the top finisher with a time of 1:52.43. McClurg took second with a time of 1:55.43, while Gelden was third with a time 1:55.57 and sophomore Kasey Carpenter finished fourth in a time of 1:56.35.

Illescas won her second event later in the night when she finished first in the 100-yard freestyle in a time of 52.43.

In the 50-yard freestyle, seniors Vavrek and Jenny Will finished one and two. Vavrek swam to a time of 23.36, while Will came in at 25.13.

Sophomore Candice Peak finished first in the 200-yard IM with a time of 2:08.99, while fellow sophomore Morahan was next with a time of 2:09.85.

Later in the night, Morahan beat the competition by at least four seconds as she won the 100-yard breaststroke in a time of 1:05.40.

Imhoff-Smith was the lone Badger to earn points in the 100-yard butterfly as she finished in a time of 57.33 to earn nine points. Junior Christine Zweigers was third with a time of 54.15.

Like in the 200-yard medley relay, Goff was on the winning end again in the 100-yard backstroke as she won with a time of 58.65.

In diving, freshman Ciara Rinaudo won the 1-meter diving with a score of 214.28. Also earning points for the Badgers in the event were sophomore Jenny Hawkins and freshman Jamie Hood with scores of 204.08 and 172.65, respectively.

Hawkins took home top honors later in the night as she won the 3-meter diving with a score of 222.38. Rinaudo was third with a score of 217.73.

Hansen was pleased with the team's performance and is looking forward to the rest of the season.

"It was a really solid team effort and I think it's something we can build from," he said.

The men won 12 of the 13 events in the dual against the Pheonix.

In the first men's race of the night, the 200-yard medley relay, UW's four relay teams took first through fourth place. All four relay teams finished two seconds before UW-Green Bay's A team finished the race. Later, in the 200-yard freestyle relay, UW's ‘A' and ‘B' teams took first and second place.

Freshmen Thompson and Luke Lengfeld took first and second place respectively in the 1,000-yard freestyle.

Junior Scott Rice took home two titles as he claimed first place in the 200-yard freestyle and 100-yard butterfly.

Sophomore Phil Davies won the 100-yard freestyle and placed third in the 200-yard freestyle.

Kyle Sorensen and freshman Mitch Buenger took home first and second place titles in the 50-yard freestyle.

The top three finishes in the 200-yard individual medley belonged again to three Badger swimmers, as Brett Koerten, Dan Koenig and Eric Johnson placed first, second and third respectively.

In the one-meter diving competition, Badger divers swept the titles as freshman Caleb Percevz, sophomores Tim Feyersein and Dan Smith performed some stellar dives.

Sophomore Derrick O'Donnell won the 200-yard backstroke race and senior Mike Swanson placed second in the 500-yard freestyle. Dan Koenig took home the title in the 100-yard breaststroke with a time of 59:96.

The three meter diving competition had similar results as the one-meter, as all three top divers were from Wisconsin. Percevecz and Dan both claimed the same spot as they had in the one-meter dives, with sophomore Al Morrison placing second.

Special thanks to Wisconsin for contributing this report.

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