Panthers Remain Perfect After Win Over UIC

Bentley tops pool record in team win

MILWAUKEE – Sara Bentley broke a pool record to headline an outstanding day in the pool for the Milwaukee women's swimming & diving team Saturday with a 186-111 win over conference rival UIC from the Klotsche Natatorium.

The Panthers won 12 of the 16 events overall Saturday and remain perfect on the season at 4-0, including back-to-back wins over conference opponents.

"Coming into the year, we lost a number of very good seniors that were big contributors to the program from last year's team. What's exciting is that, right now, we're swimming better than we ever have," Milwaukee head coach Kyle Clements said. "This team is faster and better than last year. This is a real testament to the upperclassmen, and to our recruiting with the right additions to the team.

"This was a very good meet for us today. It's exciting to think we're a better team now than we were last year at this point, and hopefully that means at the end of the year we're a better team then, as well."

Bentley set the tone early for Milwaukee in record-breaking fashion. The junior posted a convincing win in the 100 back in 56.22 – breaking her own pool record by over half a second. Maddy Nelson also did well, taking second in 57.71, while Kady Ruemmele placed fourth in 59.49 and Gabby Sanchez fifth in 1:00.55 to load up the podium for UWM.

Bentley kept things rolling just a little while later with another sizable win, this time in the 200 back, touching the wall in 2:04.36 – well over a second ahead of second place. She made it a perfect 3-for-3 with a win in the 200 IM, touching the wall first in 2:07.85 – three seconds ahead of second place.

The Panthers continued the winning ways by sweeping the diving events Saturday. Defending league diver of the week Carley Thomas led the way on the one-meter board with a winning score of 244.65, with Cassidy Pilo right behind in second at 244.05. The duo then switched roles on three-meter, with Pilo taking first at 242.92 and Thomas second at 242.85.

Natalie O'Connell had a strong showing with a pair of wins of her own in this one. The junior first took down the field in the 100 breast with a winning time of 1:04.74 before widening the margin in the 200 breast at 2:19.29 – over five seconds ahead of second place.

Sophomore Shelby Rozeboom led a pack of Panthers in the sprint freestyle events. In the 50 free, Rozeboom came in first in 23.81, just edging out teammates Mandie Siehs (24.26) and Arica Smith (24.46). Then, in the 200 free, the Mount Horeb, Wis. native again touched first in 52.61 with Siehs right behind at 52.86 for second.

Maggie Burns also notched a win for the Black & Gold. The junior put together a great swim in the 200 fly, clocking in at 2:08.83 for first – nearly two seconds ahead of the next swimmer.

Milwaukee also swept both relay events on the day. Bentley, Jenn Kordik, Rozeboom and Siehs teamed up to win the opening 200 medley relay in 1:46.28, while the 400 free relay squad of Rozeboom, Smith, Emma Helgeson and Siehs closed things out in style with a win in 3:31.41.

The Panthers are now off until their taper meet Dec. 1-3 in Oxford, Ohio hosted by Miami (Ohio).

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