Jan. 12, 2005

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After two weeks in Florida, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's swimming and diving team returns to action in the frosty north. The Panthers travel to Valparaiso, Ind. Sunday, Jan. 16, for a dual meet With Valparaiso University. UWM and Valpo hit the pool at 2 p.m.

Sunday, Sunday, Sunday

Milwaukee will be competing in just its fourth dual meet of the season, including a quadrangular meet on Oct. 30. The Panthers have amassed a 3-4 mark against other teams, including decisive wins over Wheaton (10/29), Wayne State (10/30) and league-foe UIC (11/6).

Valparaiso enters the meet with a 2-3 dual meet record including a 1-2 mark against Horizon League foes. The Crusaders are also a month removed from a third-place finish at the Mid-Continent Conference Championships.

Familiar Foe

The Panthers and Crusaders had met in dual meets each year between 1991 and 2001, and renew the rivalry after a three-year hiatus. That is news to UWM's ears, as it has won the last nine times these teams have met, following a loss in the series' first installment.

Last Time Out

UWM competed at a pair of meets over its two-week trip to Florida, picking up a first-place finish at the Ed Kennedy Relays and taking second at the Bob Mowerson Meet. At the Kennedy Relays, Milwaukee won five of the the meet's six events for the win.

Junior Julie Olson won the 200-meter individual medley, while three more Panthers took second in events, to lead the team at the Mowerson Meet. UWM finished with 255 points and was edged out by Central Connecticut State for first.

Welcome Back

Julie Olson made a splash in her first meet of the season. At the Bob Mowerson Meet, Olson returned to the pool and topped the field in the 200-meter IM. She edged sophomore teammate Heather Sawatzki for top honors and helped the Panthers to a second-place showing.

Ed Kennedy Queens

At the Ed Kennedy Relays Milwaukee topped the field in dominating fashion. The Panthers not only won five-of-six events to distance themselves from the field, they also combined with the men's team to win 10-of-12 events at the meet.

Swimmer Recognition

After helping the Panthers to a convincing win at the Ed Kennedy Relays, sophomore Lindsay Caldwell was honored as the Horizon League Female Swimmer of the Week. She swam with a pair of first-place relays for UWM, and was honored with the second award of her season, and third of her career.

2005 Horizon League Championships

For the second time in four years Milwaukee will play host to the Horizon League Championships at the Schroeder YMCA in Brown Deer, Wis. The last time UWM played host to the league meet was 2001, also at the Schroeder YMCA. UWM hopes history can repeat itself, as it won its only league title in 2001.

Up Next

The Panthers are afforded the luxury of a "homestand" as they host back-to-back meets. The Bill Ritter Invitational runs Jan. 21-22, while Western Illinois University visits Jan. 29 for a dual meet.