ST. PAUL, Minn. – With the Horizon League Championships on top of mind, the Milwaukee men's & women's swimming teams started to round into postseason form with a portion of the full roster taking on St. Thomas Friday evening at Anderson Pool.
 
"We had a great start to our weekend," head coach Kyle Clements said. "This time of the year, we have athletes in all different phases of their training. We have athletes that are rested and those that are just about to start. Those that were rested, had a great start to their weekend and we are looking forward to seeing what they can do tomorrow with a little less travel on their legs."
 
With a unique roster makeup, including no divers participating in the action, the MKE women topped the Tommies, 127-121, while the men dropped a very close decision, 131-118, to the home team.
 
"We love seeing hard work pay off," Clements said. "These athletes demand so much from themselves, and with every yard of hard work they put in, they earn results. It might not always be a time result, but after watching young men and women grow through the years in this program, I know they will look back and feel nothing but compete accomplishment."
 
Reigning Horizon League Swimmer of the Week Antoni Haupt had another big night, claiming wins in both the 1,000 freestyle (10:41.33) and 500 freestyle (5:13.34) to help lead the women.
 
In addition, Brianna Vanden Burgt also came through with a pair of victories, claiming the 200 freestyle (1:55.31) and the 100 backstroke (59.05).
 
On the men's side, Emery Reszka paced the squad, claiming individual titles in the 200 freestyle (1:43.75) and the 500 freestyle (4:45.41).
 
For the women, other winners included a tie in the 100 free between Sasha Gesner and Jenna Van Hoogstraten at 53.98, and Bri Zablocki in the 100 IM in a time of 1:01.80, touching out a win in beating the runner-up time of 1:01.87.
 
For the men, three other Panthers claimed events, seeing Griffin Hawley earning the honors in the 50 freestyle in 21.33, Brady Cawthon the 400 IM in 4:18.29, and Hayden Christiansen the 100 butterfly in 54.18.
 
"This group gave us season-bests, event wins, and what we are all trying to achieve – lifetime-bests," Clements said. "Brianna Vanden Burgt, Emery Reszka, Griffin Hawley, Brady Cawthon, Sasha Gesner, Jenna Van Hoogstraten … they all gave us wins out of this group, with Bree V. and Emery R. giving us more than one. We are proud of everything they do, and the staff and I cannot wait to see what they do tomorrow, and every day after."
 
Gesner added another strong swim for the women, taking second in the 1,000 free in 10:50.27. Megan Greenley gave MKE a 1-2-3 finish in the closely-contested 100 free in 54.17 (just 0.21 off the winning time), and the Panthers also dominated in the 100 back – Vanden Burgt the win, Kylee Radigan runner-up (59.66), and Amber Secrist third (59.66) – all within 0.61 of each other.
 
Jay Jensen had one of the top swims of the winter in the 100 IM, getting touched out in a photo finish at 52.80 to 52.76.
 
Mason Schoof grabbed second in the 500 freestyle in a clocking of 4:54.63 and Nik Wheeler was runner-up in the 400 IM in 4:20.51. Other highlights include Jack Garcia in the 200 free (second in 1:44.77) and Jensen in the 50 free (second in 21.47).
 
Both 200 freestyle relay teams closed out the night with victories.
 
The Panthers have a very quick turnaround, battling Stevens Point at 1 p.m. tomorrow.