Nov. 6, 2010

Results

EVANSTON, Ill. - The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's swimming & diving team won twice Saturday afternoon when it competed in a quad meet at Northwestern University. The Panthers topped North Dakota, 196.5-102.5, beat league-foe UIC, 198-100, and fell only to the host Wildcats by a 190-104 tally. Junior Sarah Wardecke highlighted the action by winning a pair of events as UWM moved to 7-2 on the season.

In addition to Wardecke, the Panthers also received victories from sophomore Maggi Beck and the 200 freestyle relay team, as well as strong showings from senior Danielle Wenger and freshmen Diana Diel and Emily McClellan.

"Overall, it was a good meet but I think the team was still feeling the effects from yesterday and the training so far," UWM head coach Kyle Clements said. "We did manage some top times on the day. Heidi Niespodzany had a good day and Sarah Wardecke was great. The team is swimming pretty tired and still putting up good times doing it so that was good to see."

Wardecke topped the four-team field in the 50 and 100 freestyle, winning in season-best times of 24.17 and 52.25.

Beck claimed the overall victory in the 400 IM in 4:36.61, with sophomore Emily Blohm right behind in 4:40.28. Both times were season-bests.

The 200 freestyle relay team of Wardecke, Diel and sophomores Danielle Chapman and Randee Cardinal closed out the night with a big win in a season-best time of 1:37.35.

Wenger had a strong showing in the distance events, taking second overall in both the 500 freestyle (5:06.54) and the 1650 free (17:32.23).

Diel was second in the 100 butterfly in 58.71, while McClellan had a nice showing in the breaststroke events. She was third in the 200 in 2:23.50 and was touched-out of a victory in the 100 (1:05.34 to 1:05.23).

Beck was also fourth in the 200 fly in 2:11.42, with junior Heidi Niespodzany fourth in the 200 free in a season-best 1:55.25.

Other top finishers for UWM included Chapman in the 200 backstroke in 2:07.60 and senior Ellie Gross in the 100 back in 59.39. Her time was fourth overall, but the winner touched the wall in the closely-contested race in 59.10. In diving, senior Kelsey George led the way with two fourth-place efforts, scoring 251.60 points on three-meter and 244.45 on one-meter.

Up next, Milwaukee closes out the month of November with a trip to the Stevens Point Border Battle next weekend, where it will look to defend its team title from last year.