Dec. 10, 2003

MILWAUKEE - After nearly a three week layoff and then returning to take meet victories for men and women for the first time in school history at the Wheaton Invitational, one would think that there were many solid performances throughout the day. One would be right. Senior captain Josh Baseheart helped lead the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee men's swim team to a come-from-behind victory and Julie Olson swam to five school records (three individual and two relay) to lead the Panther women to their first Wheaton Invitational victory since the 1996-97 season. With performances like that, league recognition is sure to follow. It has followed as Josh Baseheart has been named co-Performer of the Week with Warren Vickers of Cleveland State. Julie Olson has garnered the award for the women for the week of December 8, 2003.

Josh Baseheart led the Panthers to four top finishes and two second-place finishes at the Wheaton invitational. The Senior captain sparked a come-from-behind meet victory for UWM, who found itself in second-place after the first day of the Wheaton Invite. Baseheart cut through the depths to a first-place finish and season best time of 45.25 in the 100 freestyle. The Milwaukee-native kept up the pace by finishing first in the 200 yard freestyle with another season-best time of 1:40.95. Needing teamwork and strong, consistent efforts to come back and win the meet, Baseheart joined in on the 400 and 800 freestyle relay teams. The results came in positive as he and other teammates combined to total season-best times of 3:05.90 (400 freestyle relay) and 6:58.71 (800 freestyle relay) to score first-place finishes in both events. He scored second-place finishes in the 50 freestyle and the 200 medley relay.

For Baseheart, this is the second time this season he has won the award and the fifth time in his swimming career as a Panther.

"Josh is one of the swimmers that goes all out during the meets," Panther coach Dave Clark said. "He works extremely hard and is a great leader for us. He did a great job in leading the guys to a big team win."

Julie Olson should put "record-breaker" as her middle name after her performances at the Wheaton Invitational. The junior backstroker was a part of three individual record-breaking performances throughout the two-day event. After having teammate Emily Holcomb break the school record in the 200 backstroke during the prelimary round, Olson geared up in the finals to set a new school in the 200 backstroke by swimming a time of 2:05.95, finishing first. The Hastings, Minn. native was also the Panthers record-holder in the 100 backstroke of 58.29, set in the 2001-02 season. Olson, who did not compete throughout last season, went on to break her old record, swimming a time of 57.81. Her time was also a pool and meet record for Wheaton. Rounding out her individual performances, Olson stayed the course of record-breaking and swam to a new record in the 100 butterfly (58.49), breaking the old record of 58.59 set in 1985 by Connie Wright. Olson didn't stop there. Teaming up with other Panthers, Olson was also a member of UWM's record-setting 400 freestyle team, helping the team to a first-place finish with a time of 3:33.83. The time was also good for a meet and pool record at Wheaton. Olson was also a member of the school record-setting 200 freestyle realy team (1:38.74). Finishing off her weekend, the junior helped was a member of the first-place 400 medley relay team and the of the 200 medley relay team, which finished second.

The award marks the first time that Olson has won it in her time as a Panther.

"Being able to break as many records as Julie Olson did is great," Clark said. "She's a good swimmer and we honestly felt she could be make an impact this year and she's showing it."

The Panthers will return to action on December 31, 2003. The men and women will head to Fort Lauderdale, Fla. to compete in the Ed Kennedy Relays.