Nov. 5, 2005

Complete Results

MILWAUKEE - Freshmen Molly Finn led the way with four victories, including a new Klotsche Center and freshman record in the 400 individual medley, as the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's swimming & diving team defeated the University of Illinois at Chicago, 196-103, Saturday afternoon at the Klotsche Center.

Senior Julie Olson and junior Lindsay Caldwell contributed with three victories each, as the Panthers won 12 events overall to outdistance the Flames in the Horizon League match-up.

"It's one of those things where you never know," Milwaukee head coach Dave Clark said. "The women swam very well. There were a number of times they won some touch-outs that could have made a difference in the meet. Overall, it was an excellent swim."

Finn set a new Klotsche Center and freshman mark with her time of 4:38.05 in the 400 IM. It topped the building record of 4:38.92 set by Katie Finan (ISU) in January of 2005 and the old freshman standard of 4:41.70 held by former Panther Danielle Bradley.

She also claimed wins in the 200 fly (2:08.65), 100 fly (59.60) and as part of the 400 medley relay team that touched the wall in 4:01.97.

"Molly Finn's performance was definitely a highlight," Clark said. "She came very close to the varsity record in the 400 IM [the record is 4:37.13] as well."

Junior Heather Sawatzki had did have three second-place finishes for UWM, placing second to Finn in three different events: the 100 and 200 fly and 400 IM.

Olson, Caldwell and sophomore Jess Kelly rounded out the winning 400 medley relay squad for the Panthers.

Olson added victories in the 100 backstroke with a time of 1:00.82 and 200 backstroke in a time of 2:09.21.

Caldwell placed first in both breaststroke events, winning the 100 in a time of 1:06.50 and the 200 in a time of 2:25.10.

"The team swam very consistently and very well overall," Clark said. "They just kept coming swim after swim."

Other winners for Milwaukee included Kristina Hansen in the 200 freestyle in a time of 1:58.83 and sophomore Heidi Goetsch in the 100 free with a time of 55:09. Goetsch gave UWM a 1-2 finish in the 200 free as well with a time of 1:59.24.

Senior diver Erin Blemberg also had an outstanding performance, winning both diving events. She secured a win on the one-meter board with career-best 284.33 points and was tops in the three-meter event with 277.35 points. Her score of 284.33 on the one-meter board threatened the school record of 289.65 and betters her old career-high of 281.40 set in 2004. With a score of over 265 points, she also qualifies for NCAA Zone Diving in the event.

The Panthers had the top four finishers on the one-meter board, as junior Crystal Szymanski was second (season-high 242.70), junior Emily Duesler third (221.48) and sophomore Megan McLoone fourth (216.00). Duesler also placed second in the three-meter event with a season-high score of 246.98.

The Panthers continue their homestand next Saturday against Northern Iowa and North Dakota. The action is set for a 1:30 p.m. start at the Klotsche Center.