Panthers Earn Season-Opening Win

Bentley, Margis each win two events

MILWAUKEE – The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's swimming and diving team won nine events en route to a season-opening win over Grand Valley State University, 154-146, Saturday afternoon from the Klotsche Natatorium.

Sara Bentley won two events, Rachel Margis won both boards in diving and the Panthers swept the relays for a well-deserved win against the D-II power Lakers.

"This was a good win," Milwaukee head coach Kyle Clements said. "We got wins in events that we haven't always gotten wins in. We found some new people in new events early in the year and it's working for us. We're really happy with the way the women competed all day long."

Milwaukee opened the meet up with a big win in the 200 medley relay. Bentley, Jenn Kordik, Kady Ruemmele and Mandie Siehs combined to win Saturday's opening event in 1:47.93, half a second ahead of the next team.

Bentley went on to win two more individual events on the day. The sophomore picked up right where she left off in sweeping the backstroke events. She claimed the 100 back in 57.91 – within one second of the pool record. Bentley also showed her early dominance in the 200 back with a winning time of 2:05.77, over two seconds ahead of the next finisher.

The Panthers also swept the butterfly events on the day. In the 100 fly, it was Ruemmele. A backstroke specialist as a freshman, Ruemmele won the 100 fly in 58.96, over half a second ahead of GVSU's top swimmer.

Then, in the 200 fly, junior Natalie Johnson took the top spot with a winning time of 2:12.10, just ahead of teammate Maggie Burns at 2:13.28 for second.

Milwaukee went 1-2-3 in the 50 free, with a freshmen taking the top spot in her first ever individual event. Newcomer Shelby Rozeboom touched the wall first in 24.25, just ahead of Siehs (24:33) and Arica Smith (24.40). Hannah Lucas also did well, taking fifth in 25.11 as UWM loaded up the points in the sprint event.

Rachel Margis kicked off her senior season by continuing her run of dominance by sweeping both boards. Margis first won the three-meter board with an opening score of 265.35. Then, in the one-meter competition, the Racine native posted an NCAA Zone-qualifying score of 287.70 to once again cruise to victory.

The Panthers took spots 2-3-4 in the 1000 free. Johnson led the way, claiming second in 10:37.40, just ahead of newcomer Addison Skogman at 10:39.95 and sophomore Alena Bodnaruk at 10:41.33.

Milwaukee also had a host of other solid finishes on the day, including runner-up showings by Danielle Kudis (200 free), Siehs (100 free), Kordik (200 breast) and Skogman (400 IM).

UWM closed out the day by sealing the win with yet another first-place finish, this time in the 200 free relay. Rozeboom, Smith, Danielle Kudis and Siehs teamed up to take first in 1:36.27, well over a full second ahead of second place.

Next up for Milwaukee is the All Wisconsin Invite scheduled for next Saturday, Oct. 24 at 1 p.m. from the Walter Schroder Aquatic Center just up the road in Brown Deer.

Print Friendly Version