Jan. 22, 2005

Results

MILWAUKEE, Wis. - Junior Julie Olson and sophomore Lindsay Caldwell combined for a pair of pool records to lead the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's swimming and diving team to a third-place finish on the second day of the Bill Riter Invitational, Saturday at the Klotsche Center. The Panthers finished with 822 points, just back of Illinois State University with 889 and UW-Green Bay, which took first with 1028.50.

"We had some real highlights and good showings this weekend," head coach Dave Clark said. "Our second session today showed a lot of promise. Earlier, we looked tight and tired."

Olson was victorious in both the 100 and 200 backstroke, setting a pool mark in the 200. After winning the 100 back in 59.65, her time of 2:08.18 in the 200 back gave her the victory, while senior Patricia Frank was fifth in the event in 2:13.15. Olson was edged for second place in the 100 butterfly, taking third in 1:00.60, just behind sophomore Heather Sawatzki in 1:00.51. In the 200 fly event, Sawatzki was once again UWM's top finisher, taking fourth in 2:14.10, with freshman Briana Fergusson in eighth (2:18.82).

"It's nice to have Julie (Olson) back in the lineup," Clark said. "She works hard day in and day out. Towards the end of the season, she will be a contender in this league, like she has been."

The Klotsche Center Pool record holder in the 50 freestyle as of Friday, Caldwell set another pool mark on day two of the event, this time in the 100 breaststroke. She paced the field with a time 1:06.35, before narrowly missing the top spot in the 200 breast. She took second in the longer event in 2:24.88, just 0.18 seconds off the lead.

"Lindsay swam much differently in the 200 breast," Clark said. "She tried something different, and darn near won the event. It takes a lot of talent to do that."

Sawatzki, Caldwell and Olson also swam with both the 200 medley and 400 free relays, taking second place in each. In the 200 medley, the trio was joined by sophomore Bridget Fargen in finishing in 1:51.26. Fergusson swam with the 400 free, as the quartet completed the distance in 3:39.59.

Sophomore Susan Harmsen took fourth in the 1650 free and 200 free for UWM. In the mile, she finished in 18:08.43, as senior Cathy Honeyager took sixth in 18:18.97. Harmsen completed the 200 free in 2:00.28, just 0.03 seconds ahead of freshman Heidi Goetsch, who tied for seventh in 2:00.31.

"Our milers did very well today," Clark said. "Susan Harmsen and Cathy Honeyager's times were just off their lifetime-best times. For this time of year, that's good.

Freshman Kristin Skiba also posted a top-five finish, touching the wall in 55.48 for fourth place in the 100 free.

In the team standings, the University of Illinois at Chicago followed UWM in fourth with 693.50 points. Butler University scored 140 points and Marquette University's club team tallied 30 to complete the field.

Milwaukee continues its mini-homestand, hosting Western Illinois University next Saturday (Jan. 29) in dual meet action. The Panthers and Westerwinds hit the pool at 2 p.m.