Oct. 28, 2009

The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee men's swimming & diving team opens Horizon League action this Friday, swimming at Wright State in a meet set to start at 5 p.m. CST. The weekend will not end there, as it's off to Michigan Saturday for a non-conference dual against Eastern Michigan. That meet is scheduled to begin at 12 p.m. CST.

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SCOUTING THE MEET:
Despite competing in the same league, the Panthers and Raiders have swum against each other in dual meets just three times in program history, starting with each season in 2006. WSU leads 3-0 after winning, 168-132, a year ago.

The men have competed against Eastern Michigan just once, getting knocked off by EMU, 147-88, in October of 2007.

The Raiders are off to a perfect start, having beaten league opponents Green Bay, UIC and Valparaiso on its way to a 5-0 record. Eastern Michigan has not yet opened the campaign, as it welcomes Bowling Green for its season opener Friday night before hosting UWM.

LAST TIME IN THE POOL:
The Panthers competed against Iowa and Michigan State Friday night at the Irving Weber meet, falling short on the scoreboard against both Big Ten opponents despite numerous quality performances from both the men's and women's sides.

Overall, UWM posted 12 individual victories against Michigan State. Team scores saw the women falling to Iowa, 198.5-100.5, and to Michigan State, 198-102. For the men, the Panthers lost to the Hawkeyes, 198-94, and to the Spartans, 161-137.

Junior Dan Heraly had a nice day - getting touched out of a victory in addition to earning a third-place finish. His time of 4:42.31 in the 500 free was edged by the winning time of 4:42.05, while he beat the Spartans in the 1000 free, taking third in 9:49.61.

Sophomore Jordan Diel took second place in two events, falling only to Iowa in the 200 butterfly in 1:56.14 and in the 100 fly in 50.85. Sophomore Sky Boggio was third in the 100 fly in 52.72.

Freshman Nathan Welchlin took third in the 200 free in 1:43.12, while Justin Hastings was second in the 200 backstroke (1:54.74) and third in the 200 IM (1:58.38).

Other top finishers for Milwaukee included sophomore Kyle Trelka in the 50 freestyle (topping MSU with a third-place time of 21.70).

LEAGUE NOTICE:
Heraly and sophomore Jake Koll were honored for their efforts against Wisconsin Oct. 9, as they were selected as the Horizon League Diver and Swimmer of the Week.

Heraly led the way against the Badgers, winning the 1000 freestyle in 9:53.81. He also took fourth place in the 500 free in a time of 4:48.95.

Koll was UWM's top finisher in the diving events for the men, placing fifth in the three-meter and sixth on the one-meter, to earn the men's league Diver of Week.

LAST YEAR:
Jeremy Waldhart and Dan Heraly each won two events to highlight the home opener for the team. The Panthers also received a first-place swim from freshman Jordan Diel, but fell to Wright State University, 168-132, at the Klotsche Natatorium.

Waldhart swept the backstroke events, topping the field in the 100 in 53.56 and in the 200 in a time of 1:54.03. He also came in second in the 200 IM in a time of 1:59.22.

Heraly won both the 500 and 1000 freestyle, touching the wall in 9:44.96 in a convincing victory in the 1000 and in a time of 4:43.45 in the 500. Diel earned the victory in the 200 butterfly in a time of 1:57.20 while also contributing with a second-place showing in the 100 fly in 51.81.

UP NEXT:
It will be another meet-filled weekend for Milwaukee, as it hits the road for meets against Wheaton College Friday and then a three-team meet in Chicago Saturday, taking on UIC and North Dakota.