CHICAGO, Ill. – The Milwaukee women's swimming & diving team claimed victory in seven individual events and one relay on the afternoon, but came up short against UIC in falling, 159-135, Saturday at the Flames Natatorium.
 
"Today was an important day for our program," head coach Kyle Clements said. "As we round out this season, there was still a lot of boxes we needed to check. We needed to finalize our Horizon League roster, we needed to see one last swim to help us decide final events, and we needed to celebrate those that were finishing their season."
 
Meghan Jagdfeld led the way individually with a pair of victories, claiming top honors in both the 100 freestyle in 52.79 and in the 200 IM in a time of 2:07.96. Both times checked in as season-bests for Milwaukee.
 
Other individual event winners included Cassandra Hutchins, Riley Melendy, Kelen McDaniels, Mia Piljevic, and Makaila Scheiblein, as well as the 200 freestyle relay team.
 
"We checked all the boxes," Clements continued. "Tomorrow we will turn all the attention to Horizon League, but today is all about those that finished their seasons. I am so proud of everyone one of them. They have persevered through so much this year and have handled themselves so well. I am so thankful to be able to get to work with them on a daily basis."
 
Hutchins led the way in the 200 freestyle, topping the field in a season-best 1:55.72. She also came in third in a highly-competitive 100 free sprint, with her time of 53.50 less than a second behind Jagdfeld's winning 52.79.
 
Melendy claimed victory in the 100 backstroke in 59.25, edging UIC out at the wall. McDaniels won the 50 free in 24.46, while Piljevic took the 200 back in a showing of 2:07.55.
 
Scheiblein led a one-two punch for MKE in the 200 breaststroke, claiming top honors in 2:25.55, with Lucy Borlase just behind in a season-best 2:29.02.
 
McKenzie Sanchez paced the Panther diving efforts, taking second on both the 1-meter (259.20) and 3-meter (265.23) boards.
 
The 200 free relay team of Paige Murphy, Bella Passamani, Scheiblein, and McDaniels closed out the meet with a win in 1:38.20, touching out the Flames at 1:38.49.
 
Up next, the team will head to Indianapolis for the Horizon league Championships April 5-10.