UWM Women Claim Bill Ritter Invitational ChampionshipJan. 21, 2006
MILWAUKEE - The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's swimming & diving team ended the day where it started on Saturday, claiming the championship in the 15th Annual Bill Ritter Invitational at the Klotsche Center. They scored 985.5 points to edge UW-Green Bay's total of 971.5. Illinois State placed third (878) and UIC fourth (620) to round out the field. The Panthers took a slim 14-point lead into the final event of the day, the 1650 freestyle. With senior Emily Holcomb placing third (18:00.92) and four others in the top 12, UWM held on to claim their 10th title in the 15 years of the event. "The 1650 free is a really good event for us," head coach Dave Clark said. "We train hard and I knew we would do well." After losing almost 100 points to their competitors in the first session of the day, the team came from behind to earn the title. "To come back like that means a lot," Clark said. "The women have been tough all year." That was just one of the highlights for the Panthers on the day, as they claimed victories in five other races and the 400 freestyle relay to earn the championship. Junior Lindsay Caldwell and freshman Molly Finn came through with two victories each, while senior Julie Olson also had a first-place effort. Caldwell won both the 100 freestyle (52.05) and the 200 freestyle (1:54.84), extending her winning streak on the season to 24-straight races. She has not lost an individual race since Oct. 21, a span of three months. "She's tough," Clark said. "We've got a shot at making the NCAA Championships this season and we are hoping we can do that." Finn won the 400 IM and the 200 fly, continuing a solid freshman campaign. In the 400 IM, she lowered her own pool record with a time of 4:34.63 after first setting the mark with a time of 4:38.05 earlier this season. Her win in the 200 fly capped a solid team effort, as UWM had four of the top five finishers in the event with freshman Kelsey McDonough taking third, junior Heather Sawatzki fourth and sophomore Briana Fergusson fifth.
Olson chipped in with a win on the 200 backstroke in a time of 2:07.62 and second place showings in both the 100 butterfly and the 100 back. The relays also did well, topped by the victory in the 400 free relay. Caldwell, sophomore Kristin Skiba, Finn and sophomore Jess Kelly touched the wall in a time of 3:34.49. "Our relay teams were big," Clark said. "It was swimmers like Skiba and Kelly who had great relay legs to put us in position to have that 14-point lead at the end." The women will be back on the road next weekend, taking on Western Illinois in non-conference action Jan. 28. The meet with the Westerwinds is scheduled for a 2 p.m. start. |
