Oct. 28, 2005

Complete Results

WHEATON, Ill. - Freshman Molly Finn won three events and set a new school record in the 200 butterfly to lead the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's swimming & diving team to a 113-92 victory over Wheaton College on Friday night at Chrouser Aquatics Center. UWM won seven events overall to claim their first dual victory of the season.

Finn's performance was the highlight of the night, as she broke the oldest record in the Panther record book. Her time of 2:08.25 in the 200 fly eclipsed the old standard of 2:08.81 set by Paula Mueller back in 1991. In addition to the school mark, Finn lowered her own freshman record in the 200 IM to 2:11.08 - from her previous-low of 2:11.32 set against Northwestern - and also took first place in the 200 breaststroke with a time of 2:29.01.

"Molly Finn was absolutely outstanding tonight," Milwaukee head coach Dave Clark said. "Her victories in those three events really set us up well on the women's side."

Joining Finn with a first place finish was junior Lindsay Caldwell and freshman Kristina Hansen. Caldwell swam a season-best time of 23.96 in the 50 free while Hansen also finished with her season-best time of 2:11.37 to claim the victory in the 200 backstroke

The team's other two wins came in both relays, also on the strength of the squad's best times of the year. The team of senior Julie Olson, Caldwell, junior Heather Sawatzki and sophomore Heidi Goetsch touched the wall in a time of 4:00.33 to beat Wheaton by over five seconds in the 400 medley relay.

In the 400 free relay, Goetsch, junior Bridget Fargen, sophomore Jess Kelly and Caldwell edged the Thunder for the win in a time of 3:36.32.

"Lindsay finishing in under 24 seconds in the 50 free was outstanding, as was the anchor leg she swam in the 400 free relay," Clark said.

Another highlight for the Panthers included four of the top five finishers in the 1000 free. Freshman Kelsey McDonough placed second in a time of 11:03.65, with junior Susan Harmsen third (11:08.58), sophomore Michal Hawker fourth (11:16.32) and senior Jess Thibodo-Johnson fifth (11:19.32). McDonough was also the highest UWM finisher (third) in the 500 free.

Hansen placed third in the 200 free with a time of 1:59.78. Sawatzki was third in both the 200 IM and 200 fly, while Olson placed second in the 200 back.

"We swam very well all the way around," Clark said.

There were no diving events at tonight's meet.

The Panthers continue a busy weekend with a trip to Rochester, Mich. tomorrow for the Golden Grizzly Quadrangular Meet. They join host Oakland University, Wayne State and Cincinnati in the pool starting at noon.