Jan. 16, 2011

Results

MILWAUKEE - Senior Danielle Wenger and freshmen Emily McClellan and Diana Diel combined to break four pool records Sunday afternoon, helping send the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's swimming team to a 167-90 victory over Carthage College at the Klotsche Natatorium.

Just one day removed from finishing up a 10-day training trip in Florida, the women won 11 events on the afternoon, with junior Danielle Chapman joining McClellan and Diel in winning a pair of events on the day.

"It's been over a month since we have taken part in a real meet so everyone was itching to get back on the blocks," UWM head coach Kyle Clements said. "It [the records] caught me off guard and not a lot of things do with this team. Getting in at noon yesterday and then swimming already today just shows what this team is about. We talked in a team meeting that our physical attributes need to match our energy level in this meet and whatever came out, came out - and it came out fast. I was really happy to see it and they were excited. We have about three dual meets left and we are ready to go. This is the time of the year where everything needs to come together and it did today."

Wenger topped the field in the 500 freestyle in 5:01.01, breaking the pool record of 5:02.43 that she set earlier this season (Oct. 22).

McClellan and Diel continue their impressive campaigns. McClellan broke the Klotsche record in both breaststroke events, touching the wall in 1:04.85 to edge the 1:04.98 she already established earlier this season (Oct. 22). Then, in the 200 breast, she won in 2:19.82 to top the pool mark of 2:20.17 set in 2003 (Katie Simmons of Northwestern).

Diel led the way in the 100 butterfly in 58.33 to edge the former mark of 58.74 set in 2007 (Ashley Warzon of Green Bay). She also won the 100 freestyle in a time of 52.29.

"The sky is the limit for Emily and Diana," Clemenst said, "Emily is getting stronger and refining her technique and it's paying off for her. And, I was glad to see Diana get that record as well, because she works as hard as anyone on the team."

Chapman swept the backstroke events, claiming the win in the 100 back in 1:00.44 and in the 200 back in 2:08.71.

Both relay teams posted victories as well as sophomores Maggi Beck (400 IM in 4:37.40) and Taylor Andrews (1650 freestyle in 18:09.63) to round out the UWM highlights on the day.

The 200 medley relay of Beck, McClellan, Diel and junior Sarah Wardecke won in a time of 1:48.61 while the 200 freestyle relay team of junior Heidi Niespodzany, Diel, sophomore Randee Cardinal and Wardecke closed out the meet with a win in 1:39.23.

Milwaukee is back in action this Saturday, swimming at the University of Chicago at 1 p.m.