Feb. 6, 2010

Results

MILWAUKEE - Junior Danielle Wenger broke Klotsche Natatorium records in the 500 and 1000 freestyle, but it was not enough Saturday afternoon as the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's swimming & diving team was edged by the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay by a final score of 122-121. The 400 freestyle relay added another pool record for the Panthers, but the Phoenix ended the meet with just enough to escape with the victory and snap UWM's seven-dual win streak in the process.

"One point ... we were right there," Milwaukee head coach Erica Janssen said. "We swam really well and didn't roll over with the defending champs coming in here. We stepped up and competed and a dual meet is no indication of what will happen at conference."

Wenger started her great day with a six-second victory in the 1000 free, touching the wall in 10:19.05 to break the pool record of 10:21.68 set by Northwestern's Vicky West in 2003. The win in the 500 free was a bit closer, as her time of 5:04.31 eclipsed the pool standard of 5:06.06 set by Green Bay's Molly Cox in 2006.

The last event of the day was also a thriller, as the UWM squad of sophomores Heidi Niespodzany and Sarah Wardecke, junior Ellie Gross and freshman Randee Cardinal won in 3:31.17. Cardinal's anchor leg was exciting to watch, as she and GB's Mary Stravinski were neck-and-neck the whole final length of the pool. Cardinal won the touch-out, beating the Phoenix by 19-hundreths of a second (3:31.36) to break the former mark of 3:32.88 set by Northwestern in 2005.

In addition to the record-breaking performances, UWM also got individual victories from senior Kerry Rossow, junior Kelsey George, Wardecke, sophomore Danielle Chapman and freshman Shannon Slattery.

Rossow ended her home career in fine form, leading a 1-2-3-4 finish for Milwaukee in the 200 breaststroke. Her time of 2:23.05 just beat Slattery, who was second in 2:23.31. Senior Bailey Nennig was third in 2:24.82, while freshman Emily Blohm was fourth in 2:25.27.

George was the top diver for the home team, winning the three-meter board with an NCAA zone-qualifying total of 296.78 points. In addition, freshman Aubrey Griffiths was third on the three, recording a season-best point total of 265.78. George led the way for the Panthers in the one-meter event, taking third with 255.08 points.

Wardecke won the 100 freestyle in 52.71, while also taking second in the 50 free. Her time of 24.54 in the 50 was touched-out by the winning time of 24.36.

Chapman provided UWM a victory in the 200 backstroke in 2:07.99 and Slattery the win in the 200 IM in 2:10.90.

The team sets its sights on Chicago, heading to the Horizon League Championships at the UIC Natatorium. The meet starts Feb. 24 and runs through Feb. 27, with preliminaries each morning and finals each evening.