MILWAUKEE – The Milwaukee women's swim and dive team improved to 6-0 on the season, defeating St. Thomas 168-72 in a dual Friday evening inside the Klotsche Natatorium.
The Panthers tallied nine individual victories against the Tommies, adding seven runner-up finishes in the meet.
The team showed well in the freestyle events, winning all five.
Nhia Caras continued to add to her impressive freshman campaign, earning her ninth individual win of the season and fourth in the 100 free, touching the wall at 52.01.
Kelen McDaniels finished second in the event, posting a time of 54.08.
Natalie Hey recorded her top time on the season in the 50 free, placing first at 24.38.
Angela Kordik and
Paige Murphy tied for second in the event with each finishing at 25.29. Kordik earned a win in the 100 breaststroke, swimming to a time of 1:06.03.
"It was great to get our last weekend of dual meets off to such a great start," head coach
Kyle Clements said. "As our season starts to come to an end our team members are in a lot of different places in their training. The group that is finishing their season this weekend turned in multiple lifetime bests, season bests, and won multiple events for us today. They are offering the rest of the roster a glimpse of great swims to come."
Allie Buytendrop collected her fourth individual win of the season and second in the 200 free with a time of 1:58.82.
Cassandra Hutchins followed close behind for second at 1:57.43. In the 500 free,
Antoni Haupt (5:16.23) and
Sydney Dahl (5:17.72) took home to top two spots.
Three other Panthers earned individual victories, including
Sasha Gesner (17:52.77) in the 1650 free,
Megan Greenley (59.02) in the 100 butterfly, and
Amber Secrist (59.73) in the 100 backstroke.
McKenzie Sanchez paced the diving efforts for Milwaukee, placing first on the one-meter board with a season-best score of 280.35. She also placed second on the three-meter board with a score of 230.70.
Milwaukee saw success in the relay events as well, including the top time this season in the 200 free relay. The team of
Bella Passamani,
Molly Meland, Caras, and Hutchins touched the wall at 1:38.53 to finish first.
Skylar Ruggles, Kordik, Passamani, and McDaniels also picked up a win in the 200 medley with a time of 1:48.28.
The Panthers will close the regular season tomorrow, as divers will compete at the UIC Diving Invitational at 11 a.m. while the rest of the team hosts UW-Stevens Point at 3:30 p.m. inside the Klotsche Natatorium.
"We are looking forward to finishing out the dual meet season tomorrow," Clements said. "We also get to recognize our seniors who will be swimming their last meet here in Milwaukee."
