Oct. 12, 2007

Results

MADISON, Wis. - Junior Robby Leibold won the 1000 freestyle and sophomore Patrick Rongitsch recorded NCAA Zone-qualifying scores in both diving events to lead the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee men's swimming & diving team in its season opener Friday.

The Panthers fell to the Badgers, 154-85.

"I was still happy with the results," UWM head coach Dave Griffore said. "We did a lot better than we did last year at this point in the season. We have a long year ahead of us and we can learn a lot from this meet."

Leibold won the 1000 handily, touching the wall in 9:41.69 to beat Wisconsin's Mike Swanson (9:53.30) by over eight seconds. He also took second in the 500 free in a time of 4:44.31.

Rongitsch started the new season off right, recording second-place finishes in each diving event. On the one-meter board, he recorded a point total of 318.75, topping his career-high from last season of 277.60. On the three-meter, he scored 335.70 points, easily topping his former best in the event of 270.40. Both scores were above NCAA Zone qualifying standards.

"Robby is a different swimmer this season," Griffore said. "This was the best start of his collegiate career - about 20 seconds faster than he was at this time last season. P.J. (Rongitsch) dove very well and we look forward to what he will be able to do the rest of the season."

Milwaukee also received second-place efforts from senior Chase Gravengood and sophomores Jeremy Waldhart and Cody Smith.

Gravengood led UWM in the 100 butterfly, taking second in 52.64. Newcomer Andrew Belton was third in 54.37. Gravengood also chipped in with a third-place effort in the 200 IM.

Waldhart and Smith had strong swims, with Waldhart taking second in the 100 backstroke in 54.71 and Smith second in the 100 breaststroke in 1:02.41.

The men hit the road again next week, heading right into Horizon League competition. They travel Ohio to take on Wright State next weekend, scheduled for a 4 p.m. CST start Friday.