Women's Swimming & Diving October 14, 2016

Women’s Swimming & Diving Cruises To Season-Opening Win

Panthers win nine of 13 events on the day

ALLENDALE, Mich. – The Milwaukee women's swimming & diving team kicked off the 2016-17 season with nine wins in 13 events to take down D-II powerhouse Grand Valley State Friday afternoon from the GVSU Fieldhouse Pool.

"Today's overall result is what we have come to expect from our ladies," Milwaukee head coach Kyle Clements said. "They are a team that has good swimmers in every event, and during the course of a dual meet you really get to witness how strong this roster can be. We didn't win every event, but we had people finishing in at least the top two of every event except the thousand.

"What's even more exciting is that we didn't even have our full roster with us. We are looking forward to next week when every Panther gets involved."

UWM started the season with a win, taking first place in the season-opening 200 medley relay. Sara Bentley, Jenn Kordik, Cecilia Ostergren and Shelby Rozeboom combined for a winning time of 1:47.43 – a full second ahead of the next relay.

It didn't take long for Milwaukee's next win, coming in the 50 free. Rozeboom just edged out teammate Mandie Siehs in an incredibly close race between the two teammates, with Rozeboom clocking in at 24.34 and Siehs second at 24.56.

Siehs then turned around to lead the Panthers to a sweep of the 100 free. The senior cruised to a win in an impressive 52.54. Emma Helgeson was second in 54.11, just ahead of teammate Danielle Kudis at 54.20 for third.

It was another sweep for the Black & Gold in the 200 breaststroke. Adrienne DiFoggio took the top spot at 2:22.52, with Natalie O'Connell second in 2:23.19 and Jenn Kordik third in 2:29.54.

Milwaukee also went 1-2 in the 200 backstroke. Bentley touched the wall first in 2:06.53, while Maddy Nelson successfully returned from last year's injury plagued campaign by taking second in 2:07.67.

UWM swept both diving events on the afternoon. Sophomore Cassidy Pilo got things going with a win on one meter with a score of 249.89. Then, on three meter, classmate Carley Thomas grabbed the win with 249.75 points, just edging out Pilo in second at 249.22.

The Panthers closed out the first match of the year with yet another win. The foursome of Siehs, Kudis, Arica Smith and Helgeson were too much for the Lakers, touching the wall first in 3:34.17 – over three seconds ahead of the next finishers.

Milwaukee now returns home for the annual All Wisconsin Showcase next Saturday just up the road from campus at the Walter Schroeder Aquatic Center in Brown Deer, Wis.

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