Oct. 7, 2011

Final Scores

Results

Madison, Wis. - Sophomore Becky Yokosh won the 200 backstroke and took second in the 100 back but the University of Wisconsin used strong performances across the board to hand the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's swimming & diving team a loss Friday night in the season opener for both teams.

Yokosh also contributed to a first-place performance by UWM in the 200 freestyle relay. The team (senior Sarah Wardecke, freshman Sierra Townsend, Yokosh and senior Heidi Niespodzany) finished with an NCAA `B' cut time of 1:36.33.

The Panthers did get second-place efforts from the 400 medley relay team, Wardecke, junior Maggi Beck, sophomores Diana Diel, Emily McClellan and Brittany Walsh.

"Overall, it was a great team effort on the women's side," UWM head coach Kyle Clements said. "They were ready to race someone else besides themselves and they came out and put the effort down in the pool. The exciting thing is that, this is a good starting point. We know we have a lot of work left to do but it's a good starting point."

Wisconsin senior Becky Thompson posted NCAA `B' qualifying times in both the 50 and 100 freestyle to help lead the Badgers to wins in 13 of 15 events and a 175-116 victory.

Yokosh (57.40) finished second in the 100 back, just .36 seconds behind first place to lead the Panthers to a two-three-four finish in the event. Sophomore Erika Pliner came in third (59.61) while junior-transfer Diandra Prutton took fourth (1:01.05).

McClellan took second in the 100 breaststroke with 1:02.31.

Wardecke swam the 200 breast in 2:23.11, good enough for second overall.

Sophomore-transfer Brittany Walsh finished second in the 500 free in 5:19.29. Freshman Kelly Theis (5:22.27) and junior Karmyn Van Dewettering (5:26.25) finished just behind and also placed in the event.

In a highly competitive 100 butterfly, Diel finished second in 59.87 seconds.

The Panthers return home next week to host Grand Valley State Saturday, Oct. 15 at 1 p.m.