Panther Women Defeat Air Force, 135-102Jan. 13, 2006
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Junior Lindsay Caldwell won three events, freshman Molly Finn won twice and senior Erin Blemberg led a dominating effort in the diving events with a sweep as the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's swimming & diving team recorded a 135-102 victory over Air Force on Friday evening. "It was good to get back to the action of a real meet," head coach Dave Clark said, as the Panthers have been off over the semester and holiday break since Dec. 3. "Everyone contributed and held us in there tonight. It was a great team effort." Caldwell posted victories in the 50 freestyle (24.18), the 100 freestyle (53.33) and the 100 breaststroke (1:06.69) to pace the defeat of the Falcons and extended her winning streak in individual races to 21-straight on the season. She has not lost a race since Oct. 21. Finn picked up right where she left off in December, winning the 200 IM in a time of 2:12.52 and the 100 butterfly in a time of 59.00. When adjusted for altitude, her time in the 100 fly of 58.85 breaks the UWM freshman record in the event, held by Crystal Varadi (59.23). Blemberg won both the one-meter (275.92 points) and the three-meter (297.38) diving events at the meet, highlighting a dominating effort by the UWM divers. Milwaukee earned the top four spots, and five of the top six, in both events. Juniors Crystal Szymanski (second on the one-meter board, third on the three) and Emily Duesler (third on the one-meter board, second on the three with a season-high 281.40 points), and sophomores Megan McLoone (fourth 1-m/sixth 3-m) and Jenna Kotlarz (sixth 1-m/fourth 3-m) all contributed to the effort.
"Out diving effort was solid, as usual," Clark said. "Our sprints were also outstanding tonight ... we swam well." Other highlights for Milwaukee included senior Julie Olson, who claimed a victory in the 100 backstroke, touching the wall in a time of 1:00.25. Olson also placed third in the 200 IM in a time of 2:15.57. Sophomore Emma McKeith swam her way to second place in two events, with times of 2:00.98 in the 200 freestyle and 5:24.67 in the 500 free. Classmate Jess Kelly also earned a second-place finish for UWM in the 100 free with a time of 55.34. The Panthers wrapped up their training trip with the meet against Air Force. It ends the 10 day trip, one that Milwaukee left for on Jan. 4. "It was a great training trip," Clark said. "We got treated like Olympians. We had fun and trained very well." The team returns to action next Friday and Saturday (Jan. 20-21), hosting the Bill Ritter Invitational at the Klotsche Center. Action gets underway Friday at 4:30 p.m. |
