Jan. 29, 2005

Results

MILWAUKEE, Wis. - The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's swimming and diving team won nine of the first 10 events, before exhibitioning the final three, to roll to a dual meet win over Western Illinois University, 145-82, Saturday afternoon at the Klotsche Center. The Panthers celebrated senior day, sending off seniors Cathy Honeyager and Kim Bach in dominating fashion.

"The flu hit us hard this week," head coach Dave Clark said, "yet we got some excellent swims from other people and managed to pull out the victory."

Honeyager swept the distance events and was one of two swimmers to win two events to lead the way. In the 1000 free, she topped the field in 10:52.59, while sophomore Susan Harmsen finished second in 10:57.94. The duo led the 500 free event as well, with Honeyager touching the wall first in 5:21.32 and Harmsen close behind in second at 5:22.29.

"Cathy was one of those people who really stepped up for us today," Clark said. "She put it on the line today and swam faster then I have ever seen her swim."

Sophomore Heather Sawatzki was Milwaukee's other two-time winner, leading Panthers in the top four places in the 100 butterfly and three more atop the 400 individual medley. In the 100 fly, she completed the distance in 1:00.65, ahead of freshmen Emma McKeith (1:02.58) and Briana Fergusson (1:02.64), with sophomore Breanna Ballweg taking fourth. Sawatzki won the 400 IM with her time of 4:44.92, as juniors Julie Olson (4:47.40) and Patricia Frank (4:51.41) finished second and third.

"People just stepped up and not in their best events," Clark said. "In the 400 IM Heather (Sawatzki) and Julie (Olson) were not in their normal event. But, they both swam very well."

UWM opened the meet with a win in the 200 medley relay, as Olson, Fergusson, sophomore Bridget Fargen and freshman Jessica Kelly finished in 1:54.49. Olson also picked up an individual win, lead three Panthers in the 100 back. After Olson finished in 1:00.65, junior Emily Holcomb took second in 1:02.38 and sophomore Katie Green was third in 1:03.48. Kelly also won an event, this time in the 100 free. Her time of 55.33 was just ahead of Fargen in second in 55.96.

Fargen added a win of her own in the 200 free, touching the wall in 2:00.72, ahead of McKeith in second in 2:01.81. Junior Erin Blemberg rounded out the Milwaukee winners, notching a first-place finish in one-meter diving. She tallied 269.85 points to edge sophomore Crystal Szymanski, who placed second with 263.93.

Freshman Heidi Goetsch was the top UWM finisher in the 50 free, where she took second in 26.02. She held the slight advantage over Holcomb, who was third in 26.03.

Milwaukee returns to action on the road, but will not have to travel far, heading to Green Bay, Wis., next Saturday (Feb. 5) for a dual meet with in-state and league rival UW-Green Bay.