UWM Women Open 2008-09 Season On Road Against Wisconsin
Oct. 8, 2008
Oct. 10 • at Wisconsin Badgers The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's swimming & diving team begins the 2008-09 season with a non-conference dual against Big Ten competition this weekend. The Panthers and Wisconsin Badgers will hit the pool Friday, starting at 5 p.m. in Madison. LAST YEAR Jess Kelly (100 freestyle), Kate Riebe (100 backstroke), Kerry Rossow (100 breaststroke) and Amanda Nelson (100 butterfly) each placed second on the night. The Panthers went up against some stiff competition. The win over UWM was the third-straight for Wisconsin to start last season. In fact, the Badgers won 38 of the 42 events in its 3-0 start. Friday marks the season opener for the UW as well. ON TAP 2008-09 UWM Women's Season Preview The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's swimming & diving team will be out to prove itself in the 2008-09 season. After being in contention until the final relay of the league championships two seasons ago, the Panthers finished a surprising third after running into a red-hot Green Bay team.
After losing just four seniors from last year's squad, including none of the seven student-athletes that won all-conference honors a season ago, the team is set to challenge for its first title since 2001. The Panthers will be young as well, with 17 freshmen and sophomores among the 27 on the roster. But, they will know how to deal with the championship pressure after second and third place finishes of the past two years. "Green Bay just could not do anything wrong those four days," UWM head coach Erica Janssen said. "We had a good meet. Our times were good and our freshmen did well but we just need to build off that. It is all part of the process of changing some things in the program and bringing in the type of athletes we want to bring in." One of the graduated seniors will be tough to replace, as Jess Kelly was not only the team captain, but a big piece of the sprint events and a main cog in the relays - at one point she was a member of all five record-holding relay squads. "Filling in the holes will fall on everybody," Janssen said. "We didn't lose a whole lot. We brought in a strong class that will need to develop. You can just see the potential of the kids we brought in the past two years and it is very exciting to be a part of it." The team has made its mark in the past two seasons - school records have been set 22 times in that span. "Our goal is to always win championships, but it's nice when you take over a program to feel like it's yours - and one of those feelings is breaking all of the old records," Janssen said. Sprints "Sarah Wardecke will do a little of everything for us, while Danielle Chapman was brought in solely for sprinting," Janssen said. "Along with Elle, those are our sprinters ... it was a bit weak last year. Losing Jess is tough - her leadership was outstanding and an important piece of what we did. Now we have the talent, it just needs to come out." Middle Distance/Distance "Danielle Wenger was one of those kids that came in under the radar and just needed to develop more," Janssen said. "Our program really helped her reach more of her potential and she just took off. Heidi (Niespodzany) is going to be very good. She only swam two years in high school but is an outstanding kid and will be one to watch out for. Kelsey Ogle is back and coming off shoulder surgery, but will be ready to go." Butterfly "Molly (Finn) is a great leader," Janssen said. "The kids respect her; she works hard every single day and never complains. She is just the ideal athlete you want to coach and has always been that way." McDonough, junior Bailey Nennig and sophomore Katelyn Brittain will also fill large roles, but after that Janssen will be looking for people that will step up and show they want those spots. Backstroke "The two things we will be counting on in the backstroke events this year are for Tina (Kristina Hansen) to have a great senior season and for our freshmen to come into their own," Janssen said. Breaststroke This will be another area where freshmen have been brought in: Wardecke was probably the best out of the state in the event in high school last year. Schober will contribute and all-state swimmer Taylor Jozwiak was brought in solely for the discipline. "Kerry Rossow will definitely be leading that group," Janssen said. "She has the potential to make an NCAA cut and will continue to develop. She needs to be the leader for the newcomers. She has never been in that role [has been behind Berndt], so hopefully she will flourish." Individual Medley Diving "No one expects Ashley (Hall) to have anything to prove after last season, but she feels she has something to prove to the rest of the Horizon League that she is that good," Janssen said. Despite the great depth, Milwaukee went out and got state champion diver Morgan Hearn, the WIAA Division II Diver of the Year. "Morgan and Ashley can lead that group," Janssen said. "Rachel Grimm has been here two years, knows how it runs, has been working with [UWM diving coach] Todd Hill in club season, so it is time for her to shine as well." The Panthers have one other thing going for them: hosting the Horizon League Championships in February. The last time the team played host in 2001, UWM brought home the league crown. "We are really looking forward to the meet," Janssen said. "Wright State will be good and UIC too, after bringing in some solid recruiting classes. Green Bay will be there as well but it will be great to have the home crowd there for us when going for the championship." |
