Oct. 22, 2010

Results

MILWAUKEE - Led by two wins each from seniors Danielle Wenger and Kelsey George and junior Heidi Niespodzany, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's swimming & diving team cruised to a 156-86 victory over Boston College Friday evening at the Klotsche Natatorium. The Panthers won 10 of the first 11 events of the night and got pool records from freshmen Diana Diel and Emily McClellan to claim the big win over the Eagles in their home opener.

"Top to bottom, the girls are swimming very well," UWM head coach Kyle Clements said. "We had a hard week of practice, so I was happy that they were able to come in tired and keep doing this. From seniors to freshmen, I am very encouraged. They are supposed to be tired, but they are still going fast, so it's a great indicator on how the season is going."

Wenger claimed individual wins in the 1000 freestyle in 10:22.83 and also in the 500 freestyle in 5:08.03. George won both diving events and Niespodzany topped the field in the 100 freestyle (53.84) and the 200 freestyle (1:55.96) in front of the home crowd.

"Not having to sit on a bus for five hours and having to travel was nice," Clements said. "Just being at our home pool, finally, I think that helped with seeing those fast times. They all did well, I am happy - it was a total team effort."

George led a solid diving effort for UWM, winning the one-meter with an NCAA zone-qualifying total of 277.20 - just off her career-best of 280.45. In second was sophomore Aubrey Griffiths at 235.70 and junior Morgan Hearn third at 216.30. On the three-meter, George completed the sweep with a total of 252.60, with Griffiths second at 228.00.

Diana Diel and Emily McClellan added their names to the record book, with Diel topping the field in the 100 backstroke in a winning time of 58.44. That eclipsed the pool record time of 58.84, set back in October of 2003 by Northwestern's Katie Paglini. McClellan's record came in the 100 breaststroke, with her topping the field in 1:04.98 to break Kerry Rossow's pool record of 1:05.46 set in December of 2007.

Other winners for Milwaukee included junior Sarah Wardecke, sophomore Maggi Beck and the 200 medley relay team (1:48.92).

Wardecke won the 50 freestyle in 24.50, with junior Danielle Chapman placing second in 25.03. Back won the 400 IM in 4:39.98, with sophomore Ashley Yanzsa second in 4:47.40.

Freshman Mary Kuyvenhoven just missed a victory in the 100 butterfly, with her second-place time of 59.78 just behind the winning 59.56. Sophomore Taylor Andrews had a solid night in the distance events, placing second behind Wenger in the 1000 free (10:51.10) and the 500 free (5:17.62). Senior Ellie Gross (second in the 200 free in 1:57.40), sophomore Randee Cardinal (second in the 100 free in 52.48) and junior Maggie Pease (second in the 100 back in 1:01.76) all contributed to the victory.

Milwaukee remains at home and continues with a Horizon League meet against Wright State Oct. 29, starting at 6 p.m.