Oct. 15, 2010

Results

ALLENDALE, Mich. - Senior Danielle Wenger won twice and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's swimming & diving team won 11 of 16 events overall to hand Grand Valley State University a 177.5-122.5 loss Friday evening. The Panthers won both relays and broke a pair of pool records in earning their first victory of the young season.

In addition to Wenger, UWM also received individual victories from senior Kelsey George, juniors Sarah Wardecke, Heidi Niespodzany and Danielle Chapman, sophomore Maggi Beck and freshmen Emily McClellan and Diana Diel.

"They are a very good team, so it was great for us to break some of the pool records," UWM head coach Kyle Clements said. "It was a solid meet overall with a lot of good swims. I was also happy to see Emily (McClellan) and Diana (Diel) get their first collegiate wins. We had a feeling that they would make an immediate impact and it was good to see them take advantage of their opportunities."

After Milwaukee opened the meet with a win in the 400 medley relay, Wenger topped the field in the 1000 freestyle in a pool-record time of 10:22.01. She also won the 500 free later in the meet in 5:05.52.

"It was a long meet and for us to get right off a five-hour bus ride and compete like this all night really shows the team is moving in the right direction," Clements said.

George set a pool record in winning the one-meter competition, setting a career-best with an NCAA zone-qualifying point total of 297.23. She also placed third on the three with 275.55 points.

Wardecke was the winner in the 200 breaststroke, touching the wall in 2:22.36. She also placed second in the 50 freestyle in 24.40.

Niespodzany had the winning time of 1:55.43 in the 200 freestyle, while also placing second in the 100 free in 54.51.

Chapman won the 200 backstroke in 2:09.06, while Beck claimed a win in the 200 IM in 2:11.30.

McClellan earned her first Milwaukee win in the 100 breaststroke in 1:05.43, while also placing second in the 200 IM in 2:14.04. Diel earned her first victory with a 53.37 clocking in the 100 freestyle. She also placed second in the 100 butterfly in 58.46.

The Panthers are right back at it tomorrow, taking on Valparaiso at 3 p.m. Saturday.