UWM Women Drop South Dakota State In Home Opener, 161-73
Dec. 7, 2007
MILWAUKEE - Senior Jess Kelly, juniors Molly Finn and Ashley Hall and freshman Danielle Wenger each won twice to lead the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's swimming & diving team to a 161-73 victory Friday at the Klotsche Natatorium. The victory came in the home opener and extended the Panthers dual winning streak to four. Overall, UWM won 12 of 13 events to win going away. In addition to the 10 individual victories, the team claimed wins in both relays as well. Besides the multiple-event winners, sophomore Kerry Rossow and freshman Ellie Gross also chipped in with wins. "Overall, we just came together for the first time and swam great," UWM head coach Dave Griffore said. "I just feel like our women have not clicked yet as a group and tonight was the first time this year and it was great to see. You don't want to be great at the beginning of the year. You want to start getting good at the midpoint and improve from there and that is what we have done. It's a great sign to see and I am excited for them." Kelly made her mark in the sprints, winning the 50 freestyle in a season-best 24.66 and the 100 free in 53.60. She led a one-two-three UWM finish in the 50, with senior Heidi Goetsch second at 25.11 and freshman Kelly Jarvis third at 25.68.
Finn won two of her specialties, claiming the crown in the 200 butterfly in 2:06.47 and the 200 IM in 2:10.28. Sophomore Shannon Berndt took second in the IM in 2:13.25. Hall continues her fine season on the diving boards, sweeping both for her ninth and 10th wins of the season in 14 tries. Her score on the one-meter was 248.55 and on the three was 286.88. Wenger continues to make her mark as a freshman. Less than a week removed from setting the freshman record in the 1650 free, she set a new school and freshman record in the 1000 free in a time of 10:26.62. That cut nearly five seconds off the old standard of 10:31.47, set by Emma McKeith in 2005. Wenger also won the 500 free in 5:10.34. "Anytime a freshman breaks a school record in a dual meet midseason, it is exciting," Griffore said. "She has a bright future." Rossow claimed her win in the 200 breaststroke in 2:26.38 and Gross led a UWM contingent in the 200 free. She won in 1:56.95, with Ogle second at 1:57.68 and junior Kristina Hansen third in 1:59.11. Hansen was also the top finisher for Milwaukee in the 200 backstroke, taking second in 2:13.32. The 400 medley relay team of Hansen, Rossow, Finn and sophomore Bailey Nennig won in 4:00.29 and the 400 free relay squad of Gross, Goetsch, Ogle and Kelly closed out the night with a win in a time of 3:36.20. The Panthers are right back at it tomorrow, hosting Valparaiso at the Klotsche Natatorium, starting at 1 p.m. |
