Oct. 20, 2006

Complete Results

MILWAUKEE - Senior Kyle Luska and junior Tyler Jefferson highlighted the efforts of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee men's swimming & diving team in its home opener on Friday night at the Klotsche Natatorium. Despite their results and three other second-place finishes, the Panthers dropped the meet to Wright State, 151-86.

"There is no question that Wright State is probably one of the best teams in the Horizon League," UWM head coach Dave Griffore said. "So for us to have a chance this early in the year to race them gives us an opportunity to show us where we want to be."

Luska topped the field on the one-meter board, recording 227.18 points to give the Panthers their lone victory on the night. He also took third place on the three-meter board.

Jefferson nearly had two victories to his name, taking second in the 100 freestyle by eight-hundreths of a second. His time of 48.38 was touched out by Micah Belew (48.30) in the closest race of the evening. In the 50, his time of 21.99 came up just short of Wright State's Zach Fisher, who touched the wall in 21.31.

"Tyler had a great meet," Griffore said. "He went under 22 [in the 50] and 48-low [in the 100]. He did not do that all season last year so that was a step up for him. He's a great backstroker but we need him in the 50 and 100 and he performed well tonight. I am excited to see what he can do in future meets."

Other second-place finishers for the Panthers included junior Chase Gravengood in the 200 IM, sophomore Robby Liebold in the 1000 freestyle and freshman Jeremy Waldhart in the 200 backstroke.

Liebold also took third in the 500 freestyle to pace the distance events for Milwaukee.

"Robby is coming along," Griffore said. "He competed well. Again, if you look at last year, he is further along now than where he was."

Gravengood swam a time of 1:57.49 in the 200 IM, just behind Warren Thompson's winning time of 1:56.18. He also placed third in the 200 butterfly, with Thompson - who won the 400 IM and took second in the 200 fly behind Gravengood at the league championships last year - taking the victory.

Waldhart placed second in the 200 back with a time of 1:58.92 and also took fifth in the 200 IM.

The Panthers are off for the week, getting back to action next Friday at home. They take on Wheaton College in a dual scheduled for a 4 p.m. start.