CHICAGO, Ill. – Makaila Scheiblein and Erika Thomas each won multiple events to highlight the day as the Milwaukee women's swimming & diving team opened the 2022-23 campaign at UIC Saturday afternoon.
 
"It's an early start to our season, we are just getting going in race plans, and race strategies, and race tempos in practice," head coach Kyle Clements said. "So this meet is a couple of weeks earlier than our typical first dual meet, but it was fun to get down to UIC and travel with the team for the first time this season. It's always kind of a 'see where you are at' meet when it's this early. And then you're on the road, you're on the bus early, it's all the first time for the freshmen. So it's always fun, but as the coach you never know quite where you are going to be at. This weekend was our first time this season swimming a lot of events, so it was fun to see where we are starting at. This meet is just the first of the next four weekends of racing, so we will be able to see how we progress over the next month and using this as a jumping-off point. And for that, I can't be happier."
 
In the end, the Flames pulled out the team victory with a 176.5-123.5 decision. Giulia Guerra-Montes and Meghan Jagdfeld also helped out with event victories.
 
"Erika Thomas … first meet in yards in her life and first meet as a freshman and she picks up three wins in three big events so I am really excited to see where the rest of her season goes," Clements said. "On the flipside, our fifth-year senior, Makaila Scheiblein picked up two wins in her main breaststroke events. So those were two that really did well."
 
Scheiblein picked up the victory in the 100 breaststroke, topping the field in a time of 1:05.26. Angela Kordik was this in 1:10.10.
 
Scheiblein was at it again in the 200 breaststroke, winning handily in 2:22.91.
 
Thomas, a freshman from Barrie, Ontario, Canada, made quite the splash in her first collegiate meet.
 
Thomas led the way as the women dominated the 200 butterfly, taking the top three spots: Thomas in 2:09.19, Bri Zablocki second in 2:13.94, and Brianna Homontowski third in a time of 2:14.21.
 
Thomas picked up the double in the 100 butterfly, leading the way in 58.28. Teammates Megan Greenley (third in 1:00.21) and Homontowski (fourth in 1:01.18) were close behind.
 
Thomas continued to pull out the wins, making it 3-for-3 with a victory in the 200 IM. She won in 2:10.29, with Scheiblein third in 2:13.11 and Jagdfeld a touch behind that in 2:13.21.
 
Guerra Montes recorded the win for the Panthers in the 200 backstroke, clocking in at 2:07.85 for the top spot. Mara Freeman was close behind in second in 2:08.38.
 
In the closest finish of the night, Jagdfeld and UIC's Madison Helmick both posted a time of 53.45 to tie for the top spot in the 100 freestyle.
 
"Looking back at our first meet last year, which was also against UIC but on October 30, in comparing some of the top times, we were faster in 16 of the 24 events today – eight on both sides," Clements said. "So I am pleased to see where we are at for such an early start."
 
In yet another photo finish, just .03 separated Kelen McDaniels from a victory, touching the wall in 24.56, just behind the winning 24.53.
 
Antoni Haupt opened the season in second place in the 1000 freestyle, finishing in a time of 10:53.55. The finish of the 100 backstroke was also tight, with Freeman placing second in 58.46, just behind the winning time of 58.09.
 
The 200 medley relay team of Freeman, Scheiblein, Thomas, and Nhia Caras just missed a win, touched-out at the end 1:47.62 to 1:47.32.
 
Up next, Milwaukee hosts the Wisconsin Showcase at Schroeder Aquatic Center on October 22.