Printer-friendly format Email this article Senior Kristina Hansen

Panthers Look To Keep Things Rolling In Home Meet Saturday

UWM welcomes UIC, North Dakota and Butler to Klotsche

Nov. 5, 2008

The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's swimming & diving team remains at home this week, as it welcomes UIC, North Dakota and Butler to the Klotsche Natatorium Saturday. The Panthers, fresh off their first victory of the season and a tough loss to Wright State last weekend, look to keep the momentum going in a meet that is scheduled for a 1 p.m. start.

Complete Release in PDF Format

SCOUTING THE MEET:
The Flames are coming off a strong performance against Eastern Illinois Nov. 1, winning each event in a 162-74 victory. Brooke Sawyer (100 back/100 fly) and Kelly Hashoian (200 free/500 free) each won twice to lead the way. The team also dropped a 135-102 decision to Wright State in its season opener, with Hashoian taking victories in the 500 and 1000 freestyle. The Panthers hold a 13-4 lead in the all-time series with UIC and carry a nine-meet win streak into action Saturday, not having lost to the Flames since the 1998 season.

North Dakota begins its first season of full NCAA D-I competition after moving up from D-II. A year ago, the team finished third at the NCAA meet, with current junior Carissa Gormally earning All-American honors when she placed first at the meet in both the 50 free and 100 free. In the only other meeting between the two schools, UWM posted a 124-116 victory in November of 2005.

The Butler swimming program is in a rebuilding phase but moving forward despite a small squad size, with seven returning swimmers and three newcomers for the 2008-09 season. The team will be anchored by a pair of seniors in Sarah Lynne Gates and Katie Krueger that will provide leadership in both in the classroom and pool. The team is currently 0-8 in dual action this season, but is coming off a 144-87 loss to Youngstown State Nov. 1 where it posted four wins and 10 season-best marks. UWM holds a perfect 8-0 mark all-time against the Bulldogs.

LAST TIME IN THE POOL:
The women recorded victories in all 11 events Nov. 1 in claiming a 126-70 win over Wheaton College at the Klotsche Natatorium. With the victory, the Panthers improved to 15-3 all-time against the Thunder and extended their win streak to seven-straight in the series.

Sophomore Ellie Gross recorded two individual wins and freshmen Sarah Wardecke and Danielle Chapman each won their only individual event and also swam with both winning relay teams to lead the way. In addition, Milwaukee received first-place finishes from seniors Kelsey McDonough and Kristina Hansen, juniors Kerry Rossow, Alex Nelson and Bailey Nennig and both relay teams. Gross showed off her versatility, winning the 50 freestyle and the 500 freestyle. She topped the field in the sprint in a time of 25.53 and in the 500 in 5:17.00, winning by over four seconds. Also, the team dropped a close 156-142 decision to Wright State Friday, with senior Molly Finn and freshman Sarah Wardecke each winning twice, with Wardecke setting a new freshman record in the 100 free.

LAST YEAR:
Molly Finn and Ashley Hall each won twice to lead the team to victories over the UIC and Butler a year ago. Shannon Berndt, Kerry Rossow and Danielle Wenger also added individual wins as the Panthers downed the Flames, 195-104, and the Bulldogs, 246-45. Finn won the 200 butterfly and 400 IM, while also taking second in the 100 fly. Hall won both diving events, marking the third time this season she has accomplished the feat. Hall led the way for UWM on the one-meter board, as the Panthers placed four in the top five. She won the three-meter competition with a total of 265.35 points, with Grimm second at 229.85. Other winners for UWM included Berndt in the 200 breaststroke in 2:25.37 and Rossow in the 100 breast in 1:06.54. Wenger won the 500 freestyle in a season-best 5:08.81, knocking over nine seconds off her previous best.

UP NEXT:
Milwaukee hits the road for a busy weekend in Indianapolis, Ind., Nov. 14-15, swimming against IUPUI, Xavier and Saint Louis.