Men's Swimming & Diving January 13, 2016

Swimming & Diving Returns To Action Saturday

Milwaukee heads to Chicago for first meet of 2016

MILWAUKEE – After over a month since its last official meet, the Milwaukee swimming and diving teams will return to the pool this weekend with a trip to Illinois to take on the University of Chicago.

Scouting The Meet
Milwaukee is a combined 14-0 against Chicago all time. The two schools started competing against each other in dual meets in 2009 and have faced each other once a year since then. Last year, the UWM women claimed a 200-98 win over the Maroon, while the men also won, 183-113.

Last Time In The Pool
UWM racked up an incredible 217 season-best times at the Iowa Hawkeye Invitational. Competing in its first taper meet of the year, the Panthers responded in fine fashion, breaking a total of eight school or freshman records over the three-day meet.

League Notice
Midway through the season, the Panthers have already posted some of the top results in the Horizon League and the league office taking notice. In fact, after just five weeks in the pool, Milwaukee has already garnered eight athlete of the week honors. Here is the complete list so far this season:

Oct. 20 – Sara Bentley, Rachel Margis
Oct. 27 – Sara Bentley, Rachel Margis, Nic Halverson
Nov. 10 – Rachel Margis
Dec. 8 – Mandie Siehs, Rachel Margis

Top Times
UWM has been one of the top teams in the Horizon League since Kyle Clements was named the team's head coach. This year is no different, with the Panthers already boasting an impressive 52 top-eight times – including the fastest time in three events – with still plenty of time left in the season.

All She Does Is Win, Win, Win…
Sophomore Sara Bentley has been on a tear to start the 2015 season. The Ames, Iowa native won all nine individual events through the first three meets this season before putting on a show at the Iowa Hawkeye Invitational. Competing in her home state, the sophomore finished sixth in the 200 backstroke, seventh in the 100 back, 13^th in the 200 IM and 19^th in the 100 butterfly. She also competed in the 50 free, with her time of 23.86 currently ranking seventh in the Horizon League.

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.

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
Milwaukee has one more dual meet on the schedule this year – a Saturday, Jan. 30 meet against Green Bay. That meet will wrap up the regular season for UWM and will serve as senior day.

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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

Sara Bentley: 5' 5"; Sophomore; Backstroke

Rachel Margis: 5' 7"; 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

Sara Bentley
: 5' 5"; Sophomore; Backstroke

Rachel Margis
: 5' 7"; Senior; Diving