Wright State vs. Wisconsin-Milwaukee

MILWAUKEE, Wisconsin, October 29. FOUR different members of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's swimming & diving team recorded a pair of wins to help the team to a 163-76 victory over Wright State Friday at the Klotsche Natatorium. Seniors Danielle Wenger and Kelsey George, junior Sarah Wardecke and freshman Diana Diel each claimed a pair of events as the Panthers topped the Raiders to extend their dual-win streak on the season to four.

Wenger and Diel each broke pool records in their victories. UWM also won both relays and received another individual win from sophomore Maggi Beck.

"Once again, our depth really showed through that there are no weak spots," Milwaukee head coach Kyle Clements said. "Every event is going to be a solid event for us. Obviously, the individual wins are a big part of it, but it's the people behind the winner that are going 2-3-4, or, if we lose, going 2-3-4 behind that and erasing the opponent's advantage."

Wenger broke her own pool record in the 500 freestyle with a time of 5:02.43, bettering her old mark of 5:04.31 set in February of last season. She topped WSU's Molly Pipkorn, who came in second in 5:06.85 after pulling away late.

"That race was the most fun to watch all night, with the league co-athletes of the year from last season going head-to-head," Clements said. "And, Danielle breaking her own pool record in 5:02 – I am not shocked in any way, shape or form, but it wasn't expected since we are in the midst of some heavy training."

Diel's pool mark came in the 200 IM, eclipsing the former mark of 2:07.14, set by Northwestern's Erin Swenson in October of 2003, when she touched the wall in 2:05.67. It's the third record she has already broken this season, with the freshmen standard in the 100 butterfly and the Klotsche record in the 100 backstroke already on her resume.
"It was the first time she got to swim the 200 IM – she is just one of those versatile swimmers that I can put in many places – and I needed her in the 200 IM and she showed up big with a pool record," Clements said. "It's a good problem to have, but, eventually I am going to have to pick three events for her to swim at conference."

Wenger also won the 1000 freestyle in 10:34.42, leading a 1-2-3 showing for the team. Sophomore Ashley Yanzsa was second in 10:40.38 and classmate Taylor Andrews was third in 10:46.21.

Diel's other victory came in the 100 freestyle, leading another top-three sweep for the Panthers. Her time of 53.02 led the way, followed by junior Heidi Niespodzany (53.46) and senior Ellie Gross (54.10).

George continues her solid efforts on the diving boards, sweeping both events for the second time this season, while eclipsing NCAA zone-qualifying scores on each board with a season-best 278.55 on the one-meter and 287.25 on the three.

Wardecke paced the field in the 200 breaststroke (2:22.04) and also in the 50 freestyle (24.33). Beck's win came in the 200 butterfly in a time of 2:09.65.

Lastly, the 400 medley relay opened the meet with a win in 4:02.14 and the 400 freestyle relay team closed it out with a victory in a season-best 3:31.63.

UWM closes out the homestand with a dual meet against Wheaton College next Friday, getting underway at 6 p.m.

Meanwhile, nine different members of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee men's swimming & diving team recorded individual victories to pace a 165-71 victory over Wright State University Friday evening at the Klotsche Natatorium. The Panthers also won both relays against the Raiders to extend their winning streak in dual meets to four on the season. Sophomore Nathan Welchlin was the only double-winner in the meet, touching out victories in the 100 and 200 freestyles.

"The team is swimming absolutely amazing," UWM head coach Kyle Clements said. "The times are great, but the way they are swimming in their races, their attitude in the pool, their attitude on the deck, knowing that every time they get in the water that everything is going to get put together, that's fun for them. And, being able to experience that on a meet by meet basis, it's good for them to see their hard work pay off."

There were plenty of close races on the night, with several decided by less then a second. In fact, Welchlin won the 100 free by 0.17 seconds (touching the wall in 46.71) and the 200 by nine-tenths (1:42.62).

Senior Jake Kalinowski also won the 50 free by that same 0.17 difference and senior Matt Kluczinske earned his victory in the 200 backstroke by 23-hundredths as well.

"[Finishes like that] means they are listening to me," Clements said. "We spend a good portion of every day working on the fundamentals of racing and one of those things that we do is stress great turns and great finishes. I am glad to see that they are taking it to heart and putting it to use. There are plenty of things that don't end up getting transferred from practice to a meet setting, but, as you can see from a lot of the results, the close finishes are just disciplined swimming."

After opening with a win in the 400 medley relay in a time of 3:28.66, freshman Jeff Maxwell paced a 1-2-3 finish for UWM in the 1000 freestyle in a winning time of 9:48.68. Sophomore Cris Smith was second (10:00.67) and classmate Brian Verink was third (10:03.50).

Kalinowski claimed the 50 free in 21.31, followed by another strong showing by the Panthers in the 200 IM. Junior Sam Keele won in 1:56.86, followed by sophomore David Dvorak (second in 1:57.94) and junior Brady Huemann (third in 1:58.15).

The team followed that with a top-three sweep in the 200 butterfly and never looked back. Juniors Jordan Diel (1:53.32), Sky Boggio (1:56.68) and Evan Green (1:56.96) led the way.

Kluczinske won the 200 back in 1:55.80, senior Dan Heraly the 500 freestyle in 4:44.64 and Huemann the 200 breaststroke in 2:08.57.

In diving, junior Jake Koll was the winner on three-meter, recording a season-best 281.10 points. Freshman Trevor Sisson was third with 244.35 and also took second on the one-meter with 264.67 points.

Milwaukee ended the night with a win in the 400 freestyle relay (Welchlin, sophomore Mike Schalla, Dvorak and Kalinowski) in a season-best time of 3:07.52.

UWM closes out the homestand with a dual meet against Wheaton College next Friday, getting underway at 6 p.m.

The above article is a press release submitted to Swimming World Magazine. It has been posted in its entirety without editing. Swimming World offers all outlets the chance to reach our audience by contacting us at Newsmaster@swimmingworldmagazine.com. However, Swimming World reserves the right to choose what material is posted.

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