Men's Swimming & Diving January 13, 2017

Panthers Return To Action With Senior Day Meet Saturday

11 seniors close out home career against Chicago

MILWAUKEE – The Milwaukee swimming & diving teams officially kick off the 2017 portion of their schedules this Saturday by hosting the University of Chicago to the Klotsche Natatorium at 1 pm.

UWM just returned from its annual training trip to Florida and is back in the pool for a scored meet for the first time since early December.

Saturday's meet is also the final home action for Milwaukee's 11 seniors, with a short recognition of this year's senior class scheduled prior to Saturday's meet.

Scouting The Meet
Milwaukee kicks off the second half of its season Saturday against Chicago in its final home action of the season. The Panthers swept the Maroons a year ago and are a perfect 8-0 on both sides against the Division III swimming powerhouse.

Milwaukee enters the meet a perfect 4-0 on the women's side, while the young UWM men are 1-3 thus far.

League Notice
Just starting the second half of the season, Milwaukee has already made its presence known with some of the top performances in the Horizon League this season, with the league office taking note. Five Panthers have already earned athlete of the week awards a total of eight times. Here is the complete list so far this season:

Oct. 18 – Dakota Skenandore
Oct. 25 – Sara Bentley, Jacob Fase
Nov. 8 – Carley Thomas
Nov. 15 – Cassidy Pilo, Dakota Skenandore, Sara Bentley
Dec. 6 – Cassidy Pilo

History Of Success
Milwaukee just missed another Horizon League Championship last February at the league meet, taking second on the women's side for the third-straight year.

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 17 team trophies (first or second) at the league meet since the move to Division I in 1990, with 13 of those trophies coming in the last eight years.

Back For More
Milwaukee had loads of success during last season and a majority of the team returns for the 2016-17 campaign.

In fact, Milwaukee broke eight school records a year ago, with six of those record breakers back for more this season. Jacob Barson (100 & 200 breast), Sara Bentley (100 back), Mandie Siehs (50 & 100 free) and Addison Skogman (400 IM) all return in pursuit of more top times this season.

A Look Back At Last Year
The 2015-16 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 a runner-up trophy on the women's side. That marks the eighth-straight year the Milwaukee women have brought home a league trophy and the 13^th overall in the last eight years – the amount of time head coach Kyle Clements has been on the coaching staff with the Black & Gold.

Individually, the Panthers broke another eight school records last season and an additional six freshman records. Quite a few of those records were broken at the league meet, where Milwaukee won five league titles.

Up Next
The Panthers will get a preview of this year's conference championship pool with a trip to UIC for the Flames Invite, starting Friday afternoon and wrapping up Saturday starting at 10 am.

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Players Mentioned

Jacob Barson: 6' 4"; Sophomore; Breaststroke

Sara Bentley: 5' 5"; Junior; Backstroke

Cassidy Pilo: 5' 4"; Sophomore; Diving

Mandie Siehs: 5' 9"; Senior; Middle Distance

Addison Skogman: 5' 11"; Sophomore; Distance/IM

Carley Thomas: 5' 1"; Sophomore; Diving

Jacob Fase: 6' 4"; Freshman; Mid-Distance

Dakota Skenandore: 5' 10"; Freshman; Diving

Players Mentioned

Jacob Barson
: 6' 4"; Sophomore; Breaststroke

Sara Bentley
: 5' 5"; Junior; Backstroke

Cassidy Pilo
: 5' 4"; Sophomore; Diving

Mandie Siehs
: 5' 9"; Senior; Middle Distance

Addison Skogman
: 5' 11"; Sophomore; Distance/IM

Carley Thomas
: 5' 1"; Sophomore; Diving

Jacob Fase
: 6' 4"; Freshman; Mid-Distance

Dakota Skenandore
: 5' 10"; Freshman; Diving