Milwaukee Takes Down Thunder For First Win Of Young Season

Panthers win six events on the night

CHICAGO – Five different swimmers all recorded wins on the night as the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee men's swimming team notched its first win of the season, a 111-94 victory over Wheaton College Friday afternoon from Chrouser Natatorium.

"I am proud of the effort of the men and women that are here in Chicago with us this weekend," Milwaukee head coach Kyle Clements said. "We are a little short handed on this trip, so it is imperative to our success that we get an overall good team effort. We were getting some big swims from a variety of swimmers and classes. Tomorrow will be a great test, and we will need to be even better as a group.

"We had a number of great swims out of the men tonight. Max Gatzke and Tim Halverson handled their roles well, but it was Nic Halverson that threw down the most impressive time of the night in the four IM. Evan Kuker was an outstanding performer for us tonight, earning his first dual meet win of his career in the one back, and also had the teams fastest flat start 50 free."

Gatzke started the night off with a win for Milwaukee, taking the top spot in the 1000 free in 9:47.88. Freshman Dane Van Allen came in second overall on the night in 10:18.43.

T. Halverson then made it two-for-two for the Panthers with a win in the 200 free. The senior topped the field in 1:45.67, with freshmen Mathew Jensen (1:48.91) and Eli Hoenshel (1:50.04) in third and fourth.

Then it was N. Halverson's turn. The Kiel, Wis. native took down Wheaton's top swimmer in Will McCauly in the 400 IM with an incredible time of 4:05.74 to touch out McCauly by just over one-tenth of a second. That time is also second fastest in the Horizon League thus far this season.

Kuker notched his first win of the season in his very first swim after missing the first few meets with an injury. The junior touched the wall first in 52.88, half a second ahead of the rest of the field.

Freshman Jacob Barson collected the first win of his young collegiate career. The Arlington Heights, Ill. native won the 100 breaststroke in 58.96 – just over two-tenths ahead of the next finisher.

Milwaukee also closed out the meet securing the team win with one more event win. Kyle Gerum, Kuker, Ryan Menninga and Nick Menninga teamed up to win the 200 free relay in 1:25.45 – a full three seconds ahead of Wheaton's top team.

Other impressive performances on the night included freshman Anthony Kolbus taking second in the 100 fly in 52.98 to lead four Panthers in the top-five, Gatzke (4:48.43) taking second in the 500 free, T. Halverson (48.26) taking second in the 100 free and N. Menninga (21.81) finishing runner-up in the 50 free.

Milwaukee is right back at it tomorrow with a showdown with conference foe UIC at noon from the Flames Natatorium.

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Players Mentioned

Max Gatzke: 5' 9"; Senior; Distance

Kyle Gerum: 6' 3"; Sophomore; Backstroke/Free

Nic Halverson: 5' 11"; Senior; Distance

Tim Halverson: 5' 11"; Senior; Distance

Evan Kuker: 6' 3"; Junior; Sprints

Nick Menninga: 6' 4"; Junior; Sprints

Jacob Barson: 6' 4"; Freshman; Breaststroke

Ryan Menninga: 6' 2"; Freshman; Butterfly

Dane Van Allen: 6' 2"; Freshman; Distance

Eli Hoenshel: 6' 2"; Freshman; Mid-Distance/Free

Players Mentioned

Max Gatzke
: 5' 9"; Senior; Distance

Kyle Gerum
: 6' 3"; Sophomore; Backstroke/Free

Nic Halverson
: 5' 11"; Senior; Distance

Tim Halverson
: 5' 11"; Senior; Distance

Evan Kuker
: 6' 3"; Junior; Sprints

Nick Menninga
: 6' 4"; Junior; Sprints

Jacob Barson
: 6' 4"; Freshman; Breaststroke

Ryan Menninga
: 6' 2"; Freshman; Butterfly

Dane Van Allen
: 6' 2"; Freshman; Distance

Eli Hoenshel
: 6' 2"; Freshman; Mid-Distance/Free