INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Makaila Scheiblein claimed the individual title in the 200 breaststroke to lead the way for the Milwaukee swimming & diving teams on the final day of the 2023 Horizon League Championships Saturday from IUPUI Natatorium.
In addition to Scheiblein's thrilling win, the Panthers got podium finishes from
Julie Rebek in 3-meter diving and the women's 400 freestyle relay team. Milwaukee also saw consolation championships claimed by
Lucy Borlase in the 200 breaststroke, and both
Bri Zablocki and
Zach McClellan in the 200 butterfly.
"It was an emotional night to end our championship season," head coach
Kyle Clements said. "On the last and hardest session of the meet, we really hit our peak. We were winning heats, setting lifetime bests, and putting people on the podium."
At the conclusion of the meet, the MKE women earned a third-place showing, finishing with 606.5 points, trailing IUPUI (636.5) in second and Oakland, which claimed the team titles on both sides for the 10
th consecutive season. On the men's side, the Panthers placed fifth with 342 points, seeing the Golden Grizzlies (852 points) claiming the final relay of the night to edge the championship from IUPUI (841).
"At the same time, we were watching all of our seniors last swims," Clements said. "This group of men and women have been amazing to work with, pillars of our programs, and the embodiment of what being a Panther means."
Scheiblein put together an impressive performance to claim her first Horizon League crown, out-swimming two-time defending champion Taylor Bailey from Oakland in the final 50 to edge out the victory, 2:14.56 to 2:15.15.
That bookended a win in the consolation finals as well, seeing
Lucy Borlase put together a season-best 2:22.98 to win the heat.
Rebek capped her regular season with the bronze in the 3-meter competition, placing third with a point total of 256.80.
Therese Missiaen added a ninth-place showing with 245.95 points.
The 400 freestyle relay team of
Kelen McDaniels,
Grace Mayes,
Erika Thomas, and
Bella Passamani cranked out a season-best clocking of 3:27.25 to earn a spot on the podium in third, missing out on second place by just 1.03 seconds.
The 1650 freestyle was a bright spot for the men's side, with three swimmers earning points for the Panthers, all in season-best times:
Jay Jensen (6
th place/15:43.27),
Jack Garcia (7
th/15:47.51), and
Vince Chiappetta (13
th/16:02.60).
Jackson Hodek was 18
th in 16:24.38.
Zach McClellan highlighted the efforts of the squad in the 200 butterfly, winning the B finals in a season-best time of 1:50.51.
Jacob Weber was right behind, placing 11
th in a time of 1:50.91.
The women's team got an impressive performance from six A & B finalists in the 200 backstroke, led by a 4-5-6 showing in the championship heat.
Skylar Ruggles was fourth (2:01.84),
Mara Freeman fifth (2:04.02), and
Giulia Guerra-Montes sixth (2:04.16). It wasn't done there, placing three in B finals as well:
Riley Melendy ninth (2:05.76),
Katherine Hackett 12
th (2:08.47), and
Antoni Haupt ws 15
th (2:10.10).
Haupt also led the way for the women in the 1650 free, placing fourth in a season-best 17:01.57.
The men had a strong showing in the 200 back as well, seeing
Jackson Ahrens 11
th (1:50.90),
Hayden Christiansen 14
th (1:52.85), and
Mason Schoof 15
th (1:53.08).
One last solid effort for the women came in the 200 fly. Thomas led the charge in sixth in a clocking of 2:06.02, with Passamani just behind in 2:08.39. Zablocki picked up the B finals victory in 2:05.73, while
Brianna Homontowski was 11
th in 2:07.86.
2023 #HLSD Championships Specialty Awards
Women's Freshman of the Year – Gabby Puryear-Lynch, IUPUI
Men's Freshman of the Year – Sebastian Otero, IUPUI
Women's Diver of the Meet – Elleanna Chalifoux, OAK
Men's Diver of the Meet – Sebastian Otero, IUPUI
Co-Women's Swimmers of the Meet – Emmaleigh Zietlow, IUPUI & Susan LaGrand, OAK
Men's Swimmer of the Meet – Marko Khotynetski, OAK
Women's Diving Coach of the Year – Larry Albright, OAK
Men's Diving Coach of the Year – Eric Barnes, IUPUI
Women's Swimming Coach of the Year – Pete Hovland, OAK
Men's Swimming Coach of the Year – Damion Dennis, IUPUI
TEAM SCORES
Women
1 – Oakland (983)
2 - IUPUI (636.5)
3 - Milwaukee (606.5)
4 – Youngstown State (431)
5 – Cleveland State (382)
6 – Green Bay (210)
Men
1 – Oakland (852)
2 – IUPUI (841)
3 – Cleveland State (504)
4 – Youngstown State (426)
5 – Milwaukee (342)
6 – Green Bay (310)
