MILWAUKEE – The Milwaukee men's swimming & diving team put up competitive swims all day but fell to a very good IUPUI team Friday afternoon at the Klotsche Natatorium in the home opener for the 2022-23 campaign.
 
The Jaguars out-touched the Panthers all day and then topped their performance off with pool-record showings in the 100 butterfly and both breaststroke events to record the 213-87 victory and improve to 6-2 on the season.
 
Jay Jensen recorded the only event victory on the afternoon for MKE as part of a strong performance for him. The diving team also had a stellar meet against the Jags.
 
"That's a super-fast IUPUI team that will be at the top of the conference," head coach Kyle Clements said. "On our side, we are seeing the week-to-week improvement and it's not just in one group. You are seeing our distance group -Jay (Jensen), Vince (Chiappetta) and all those guys – getting faster. You see Ben Lorenz throwing down super-fast times in the 50, different people in the 100, and Nik Wheeler doing great things as a freshman."
 
Jensen claimed the 1000 freestyle in a time of 9:52.98, with teammate Vince Chiappetta in second in a time of 9:59.08. Jensen also took third in a super-close 500 free, with his time of 4:24.74 within a split-second of the winning 4:42.19.
 
"You are seeing these times come down as our yardage and intensities come up and as we are battling through fatigue from our daily training and we are getting faster through the stress," Clements said. "We are seeing that training adaptation start to hit and by the time we get to House (House of Champions meet at IUPUI) we will really be flying in all groups."
 
The diving team was solid on both boards. Jared Kleczka led a 2-3-4 showing on the 3-meter, finishing runner-up with 295.35 points. Adam St. John was third (285.45) and Ben Stitgen was fourth (282.83). On the 1-meter, it was Kleczka again in second (300.98) and St. John in third place (283.50).
 
Other top finishers included Jack Garcia (third in the 200 freestyle in a closely-contested 1:44.60), Nathan Rozeboom (third in the 100 breast in 1:00.76), Ben Lorenz in the 50 free (21.06 to a winning time of 20.92), and Mason Schoof (third in the 200 backstroke in 1:57.99).
 
Nik Wheeler also showed well in both butterfly events, taking third in the 100 fly (51.18) and third in the 200 (1:56.10).
 
Up next, the season continues with a road trip to Illinois to battle Wheaton, set for Friday at 4:30 p.m.