Nov. 21, 2009

Results

MILWAUKEE - The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee men's swimming & diving team won all 15 events on its way to a commanding 200-57 victory over Valparaiso University Saturday at the Klotsche Natatorium. Sophomore Jake Koll and freshmen Nathan Welchlin and Mike Schalla each won two events to lead the way as the Panthers won their home opener and improved to 16-0 all-time against the Crusaders with the victory.

"It's nice to finally be in Milwaukee and have a chance to compete in front of the home crowd," UWM head coach Erica Janssen said. "Overall, I thought we had a great day. For the guys to win every event - even when we had some people swimming off-events that they don't usually compete in - really shows the depth of this squad."

In addition to the three already mentioned, Milwaukee also received individual victories from senior Jeremy Waldhart, sophomores Jordan Diel, Evan Green, Brady Huemann and Sam Keele and freshmen Cris Smith, Zachary Kraai and Justin Hastings.

Welchlin continues to make the transition to college swimming an easy one, winning the 100 backstroke in 53.88 and the 200 butterfly in 1:54.55. He has now won 10 times on the season and done so in back, fly and freestyle events.

Schalla posted the first two victories of his collegiate career, winning the 200 freestyle in 1:48.01 and the 100 free in 47.32. Koll swept the diving boards, recording point totals of 275.70 on the one-meter and 295.65 on the three.

In the breaststroke events, it was Diel in the 100 in a winning time of 1:01.65 and Keele in the 200, touching the wall in 2:11.17.

In the distance events, Hastings won for the fourth time this campaign, this time in the 500 free in a time of 4:54.52. In the 1000 free, Smith earned the top spot in 9:55.98.

Waldhart won the 200 back (1:56.92), Green the 100 fly (52.41) and Kraai won his first-ever collegiate race in the 50 free, topping the field in 22.62. He touched-out sophomore teammate Nathan Rahe, who settled for second in 22.85.

Huemann won the tough 400 IM, finishing in 4:16.99 and the 800 freestyle relay team beat Valpo in 6:58.75.

The team is off for the rest of the month and has just one meet left on the 2009 portion of its schedule. The Panthers make a return trip to the Falcon Invitational, where they will look to defend their team title from a year ago Dec. 4-5.