Men's Swimming & Diving October 16, 2015

Swimming & Diving Kicks Off 2015-16 Season Saturday

Panthers host Grand Valley State at the Klotsche Natatorium

MILWAUKEE – The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee men's and women's swimming & diving teams are set to kick off the 2015-16 season Saturday, welcoming Grand Valley State University to the Klotsche Natatorium for a 1 p.m. meet.

Scouting the Meet
The Panthers are excited to get back in the pool after an outstanding finish to the 2014-15 season. Both teams finished as league runners-up at last year's Horizon League Championships, winning an impressive seven individual titles and breaking nine school records along the way.

Saturday's meet will also serve as the season opener for GVSU. The D-II power won their conference title on the men's side and finished runner-up on the women's side. The Lakers also showed well at the NCAA Championships, with the men taking sixth and the women's team finishing 20^th overall.

History Of Success
Milwaukee just missed another pair of Horizon League Championship last February in hosting the league meet, taking second on both the men's and women's side.

In all, UWM has won seven Horizon League titles in swimming & diving in program history. Milwaukee has been crowned league champs on the men's side four times (1999-2000, 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12) and three times on the women's side (2000-2001, 2011-12, 2012-13).

Additionally, the Panthers have claimed an outstanding 16 team trophies (first or second) at the league meet since the move to Division I in 1990, with 12 of those trophies coming in the last seven years.

Back For More
Milwaukee had loads of success during last season and a majority of the team returns for the 2015-16 campaign.

In fact, the Panthers broke nine school records a year ago, with seven of those record-breakers back for more this year. Rachel Margis (1M), Tim Halverson (500 Free), Nic Halverson (1000 Free, 400 IM), Max Gatzke (1650 Free) and Taylor Wisdorf (100 Breast) all return in pursuit of more top times/marks this season.

Diving For Gold
UWM has always boasted some of the best divers in the conference, and this season figures to be much of the same.

Rachel Margis heads into her senior season leading the women's team. The Racine native has finished in the top-three four times at the league meet in her first three years and holds the school record on the one-meter board. Anna Percival also enters her senior season, while three freshmen (Cassidy Pilo, Carley Thomas and Kendra Wolf) all join the ranks this season.

Meanwhile, the men's team has also done remarkably well over the years. The Panthers do lose K.J. Heger (three-time league diver of the year, five time league champion, owns all three school records) to graduation, but three returners figure to play key roles in the scoring this season. Andres Villa enters his senior season after earning first-team all-league honors on both boards last year. Draven Feustel and Marcel Harris return after solid freshman campaigns.

Fresh Faces
Milwaukee has another large group of newcomers added to the team this season. Nine men and nine women join the Black & Gold after wrapping up their outstanding high school careers and are set to join the college ranks.

A Look Back At Last Year
The 2014-15 season was another one for the record books for Milwaukee. Both teams capped the season with outstanding finishes at the Horizon League Championships, bringing home both runner-up trophies. That marks the fifth time in the last six years Milwaukee has won league trophies on both sides, including bringing home five league championships in that span.

Individually, the Panthers broke a whopping nine school records last season and an additional two freshman records. Quite a few of those records were broken at the league meet, where Milwaukee won seven league titles.

Up Next
The Panthers will head back to where they hosted last year's league championship, taking part in the All Wisconsin Invite just up the road at Walter Schroeder Aquatic Center in Brown Deer on Saturday.

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Players Mentioned

K.J. Heger: 5' 9"; Senior; Diving

Draven Feustel: 6' 3"; Sophomore; Diving

Max Gatzke: 5' 9"; Senior; Distance

Nic Halverson: 5' 11"; Senior; Distance

Tim Halverson: 5' 11"; Senior; Distance

Marcel Harris: 5' 7"; Sophomore; Diving

Andres Villa: 5' 8"; Senior; Diving

Taylor Wisdorf: 5' 11"; Senior; Breaststroke/IM

Rachel Margis: 5' 7"; Senior; Diving

Anna Percival: 5' 3"; Senior; Diving

Players Mentioned

K.J. Heger
: 5' 9"; Senior; Diving

Draven Feustel
: 6' 3"; Sophomore; Diving

Max Gatzke
: 5' 9"; Senior; Distance

Nic Halverson
: 5' 11"; Senior; Distance

Tim Halverson
: 5' 11"; Senior; Distance

Marcel Harris
: 5' 7"; Sophomore; Diving

Andres Villa
: 5' 8"; Senior; Diving

Taylor Wisdorf
: 5' 11"; Senior; Breaststroke/IM

Rachel Margis
: 5' 7"; Senior; Diving

Anna Percival
: 5' 3"; Senior; Diving