Oct. 19, 2000

MILWAUKEE -

The UWM swim teams started out on the right foot Thursday night, despite losing two very close meets to Western Kentucky. The Panther women stepped it up from the start in the 1,000 freestyle, recording three lifetime bests in the event, but fell short, 109-137, after the crucial 400 freestyle relay. The Panther men fought their way past the Hilltoppers in the third event, 200 free, for a one-two finish giving the Panthers an early energy boost. The men fell, 100-133, in their half of the meet.

Early in the meet, the women started out steady, earning a solid second in the 400 medley relay. From there, Jenna Raymond (Shorewood, Wis./Shorewood) and Jen Kedinger (Fond du Lac, Wis./Goodrich) placed one-two for the Panthers in the 1,000 freestyle and junior Leslie Brock (Appleton, Wis./North) finished second in the 200 free. Sophomore Beth Watt (Waukesha, Wis./West) and freshman Kristin Cefalu (Janesville, Wis./Milton) each finished first for the Panthers in swimming events. Senior Amanda Maas (Plymouth, Wis./Plymouth) earned first in 3-meter diving with 254.775 points, thirty points ahead of the second place finisher.

"The 1,000 freestyle really set up the meet," Head Coach Dave Clark remarked about the women's team. "Three lifetime bests out of the four swimmers truely helped to get us up for the rest of the meet."

Other women notables included sophomore Rachel Smith `s (Superior,Wis./Superior) second in the 50 free and third in the 200 breast and freshman Sarah Caldwell's (West Bend, Wis./West) second place 200 IM finish.

On the men's side, sophomores Matt Schmaling (New Berlin, Wis./Eisenhower) and Peter Clark (Whitefish Bay, Wis./Whitefish Bay) finshed in the top two spots, respectively, for the Panthers in the 200 freestyle. UWM junior Nicholas Seider (Mequon, Wis./Homestead) easily grabbed first as he finished nearly ten and twenty points ahead of the second place WKU diver in 1- and 3-meter diving.

"The 200 free was a real boost with the one-two finish, making the meet very interesting," Clark commented.

Clark also highlighted men's performances by freshman Josh Baseheart (Milwaukee, Wis./King), who finished second in the 50 free and third in the 100 free, freshman Justin O'Keefe (Burnsville, Minn./Burnsville ), who finished second in the 200 back, Mike Kurziak (West Allis, Wis./Nathan Hale), who finished second in the 200 breast, and the 400 free relay team of Schmaling, senior Bill Kuri (Wauwatosa, Wis./Marquette), Baseheart, and Peter Clark.

The Panthers host the annual Alumni exhibition meet October 21 at the Klotsche Center and the men return to competition October 27 at Northwestern. Both teams will compete at the Northwestern Relays October 29 in Evanston, Illinois.

Complete Meet Results
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