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Panthers Open Home Schedule Against League Champion Wright State

UWM also swims against Wheaton Saturday

Oct. 28, 2008

The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee men's swimming & diving team gets the home season underway Friday by hosting Wright State University, the two-time defending Horizon League champion. The action continues Saturday, as the Panthers welcome Wheaton College to conclude a busy weekend. The action gets underway in the pool Friday at 5 p.m., while Saturday will be an 11 a.m. start.

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SCOUTING THE MEETS:
The all-time series consists of just two meets, with Wright State winning in 2007 (152-88) and in 2006 (151-86). Led by Horizon League Co-Swimmer of the Meet and Co-Swimming & Diving Athlete of the Year Nathan Demchuk, the Raiders won their second straight league crown in 2008, winning by 119 points over runner-up Cleveland State. WSU has now won five of the last six Horizon League championships and has claimed nine conference championships in the history of the program. The Raiders won nine of 21 events at the league meet and set two new conference and school records in the process (200 fly and 800 free relay). Overall, the men's squad set five school and four pool records in finishing with a dual meet mark of 7-3.

Although UWM leads the all-time series with Wheaton by a 17-1 count (losing only in 2001), the Thunder present a very challenging NCAA D-III opponent. Over the course of 33 years, coach Jon Lederhouse has overseen great accomplishments by his men's and women's swim teams, including 45 CCIW and 70 All-Americans. The Wheaton men are a youthful team of 21 featuring nine freshmen, six sophomores, one junior and five seniors. Last year, the Thunder took second place at the CCIW conference championships behind Carthage College. Top performers such as Tim Linn and James Verner are gone from last year's squad, which means the younger swimmers will have to step up and fill the void. The nine incoming freshmen will be asked to step up to score high at conference to help win the CCIW team title.

LAST TIME IN THE POOL:
Andrew Belton, Robby Leibold. Jeremy Waldhart, Brady Huemann and Jordan Diel all contributed second-place finishes to lead the men against Wisconsin Oct. 10. The Badgers won each event in topping the Panthers, 156-70, in a meet that was the season opener for both squads.

Belton placed second in the 100 freestyle with a time of 48.65, Leibold second in the 500 freestyle in 4:49.72, Waldhart was second in the 100 backstroke in 53.34, Huemann second in 1:02.11 in the 100 breaststroke and Diel's runner-up time was 52.39 in the 100 butterfly. Waldhart also placed third in the 200 IM in a time of 1:58.47.

LAST YEAR:
WSU: PJ Rongitsch continued his fast start to his season, winning both diving events to pace the men against Wright State. Rongitsch, the reigning Horizon League Diver of the Week at the time, was one of the lone bright spots for the Panthers as the Raiders won each swimming event en route to the 152-88 victory. Robby Leibold added three second-place finishes on the night, while Jeremy Waldhart took second in two events.

After taking second on both boards the previous week against Big Ten foe Wisconsin, Rongitsch bettered that effort with two victories against Wright State. He recorded a 289.35 point total on the one-meter to win by almost 50 points. Then, he added 302.25 points on the three to win by almost 40 and pull off his first career sweep of the boards at a dual meet. Leibold battled Scott Lang, the 2007 swimmer of the meet at the Horizon League Championships, in the 500 and 1,000 freestyles, but came in second in each. He recorded times of 4:45.78 in the 500 and 9:48.76 in the 1,000. He also added a second-place effort in the 200 butterfly in a time of 1:58.51. Waldhart pulled off his two second-place efforts in the 200 backstroke (1:56.50) and the 200 breaststroke (2:18.76).

WHEATON: The men won 10 of 11 events against Wheaton College to record their first victory of the young season, 147-57. Robby Leibold posted three wins and Chase Gravengood and Jeremy Waldhart each had two victories to lead Milwaukee to its sixth-straight victory over the Thunder.

Leibold continued his fast start to the season, adding three more victories at the meet, topping the field in the 500 freestyle, 200 butterfly and 200 IM. He now has seven wins and four second-place finishes in 11 races this year. Gravengood won the 200 free and 200 breaststroke, while Waldhart posted wins in the 1,000 free and 200 backstroke. Leibold's other wins came in the 200 fly in a time of 1:57.38 and in the 200 IM in 1:59.91.

Gravengood earned his first two individual wins of the season, leading a 1-2-3 finish for UWM in the 200 free. His time of 1:46.19 touched out Heraly (1:46.39) for the win, with sophomore Matt Mahoney third in 1:51.38. Gravengood also won the 200 breast in 2:15.11.

UP NEXT:
Milwaukee continues its current homestand next Saturday, as it welcomes UIC and North Dakota back to the Klotsche Natatorium for a meet set for a 1 p.m. start.