INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – The Panther men's swimming & diving team opened its season against a trio of conference foes at IU Indy Friday and Saturday.
The team walked away with a 1-2 record, defeating conference opponent Green Bay 188-107 for its first win of the season. Milwaukee fell to IU Indy (248-89) and Cleveland State (223-114) over the two-day meet.
"We have never started our season this early, and this was a fun way to kick it off," Head coach
Kyle Clements noted. "This meet provided us so much, it provided us a chance to get to know our new team members, it provided us insight of where our fitness level is, and it provides us with goals moving forward."
The Panthers saw newcomer
Sam Lorenz shine in his Milwaukee debut, posting a school record in the 100 backstroke (46.15) and finishing first in the event. The previous record (49.24) was set last season by
Victor Kostov on Feb. 21. Lorenz broke a second school record at the meet, clocking a time of 19.72 from the lead off in the 200 freestyle relay. Lorenz took home the crown in the 50 freestyle as well with a time of 20.07.
Last year's Horizon League Newcomer of the Year
Gunnar Seversen picked up right where he left off a season ago, capturing second-place finishes in the 200 freestyle (1:38.44) and the 500 freestyle (4:30.64).
The men's relay teams also saw success at the Horizon League quad meet with the group of Lorenz,
Aleksander Piljevic, Seversen, and
Charlie House taking first in the 400 freestyle relay with a time of 3:00.19.
The unit of Lorenz,
Alvin Valkki, Seversen, and House recorded a second-place finish in the 200 medley relay (1:29.40). The Panther relay team of Lorenz, Seversen, Piljevic, and House touched the wall second in the 200 freestyle relay (1:21.69) as well.
"Moving forward there is a lot of work to be done both in the pool and in the weight room, but was fun to see our full team together and racing," Clements concluded.
UP NEXT
The Panthers will be back in the Klotsche Natatorium on Saturday, Oct. 4 at 12 p.m. at the Alumni & Intersquad meet.
