WIAC Swimming & Diving Championships

UW-Stevens Point Holds First Day Leads at WIAC Championships

Stevens Point, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point�s men�s and women�s teams lead the 2007 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) swimming and diving championships following the first of three days of competition at UW-Stevens Point.

The seven-time defending champion men�s squad compiled 261 points to outdistance UW-La Crosse with 260 points.  The Eagles are followed by UW-Whitewater (141 points), UW-Eau Claire (139 points), UW-Oshkosh (116 points) and UW-River Falls (56 points). 

UW-Stevens Point�s women�s squad, which claimed last year�s  championship, totaled 292.50 points.   UW-La Crosse is second with 270 points, followed by UW-Eau Claire (120 points), UW-Whitewater (95 points), UW-Oshkosh (86 points) and UW-River Falls (78.50 points).

In the men�s race, UW-La Crosse secured three individual titles and one relay crown.  Matthew Diehl captured the 50-yard freestyle with a NCAA �B� qualifying time of 20.80, while Joel Coyne won the 500-yard freestyle with a performance of 4:44.96 and Anthony Schmidt claimed the 200-yard individual medley with a clocking of 1:55.72.

The Eagles� 200-yard freestyle relay team of Diehl, Christopher Boyle, Adam Carlson and Anthony Wolff established a NCAA �B� qualifying time of 1:23.55 en route to winning the event.

UW-Eau Claire�s Bryan Dykstra claimed the one-meter diving competition with 480.10 points.

UW-Stevens Point�s Matt Meyer, Ben Gensler, Rob Donisch and Chase Gross earned a NCAA �B� qualifying time in winning the 400-yard medley relay with a performance of 3:26.86.

In the women�s contest, defending champion UW-Stevens Point claimed three individual titles and one relay crown during the opening day of events.  Caitlin Hake defended her title in the 50-yard freestyle with a NCAA �B� qualifying time of 24.14, while Abby Strobel protected her crown in the 200-yard individual medley with a performance of 2:12.15 and Kari Slawson claimed the 500-yard freestyle with a time of 5:12.49.

UW-Stevens Point�s 400-yard medley relay team of Strobel, Trish Nye, Meghan Walsh and Hake finished first, posting a NCAA �B� qualifying performance of 3:57.97.

UW-La Crosse�s Amanda Medendorp won the three-meter diving competition for the second straight year with a score of 480.25, while Clare Hathaway, Brianna Peyer, Danielle Rux and Heather Vogts teamed to win the 200-yard freestyle relay in 1:38.46.

Day One Champions
Men
50-Yard Freestyle
--Matthew Diehl (UW-La Crosse), 20.80 500-Yard Freestyle--Joel Coyne (UW-La Crosse), 4:44.96 200-Yard Individual Medley--Anthony Schmidt (UW-La Crosse), 1:55.72 One-Meter Diving--Bryan Dykstra (UW-Eau Claire), 480.10 200-Yard Freestyle Relay--UW-La Crosse (Matthew Diehl, Christopher Boyle, Adam Carlson, Anthony Wolff), 1:23.55 400-Yard Medley Relay--UW-Stevens Point (Matt Meyer, Ben Gensler, Rob Donisch, Chase Gross), 3:26.86 

Women
50-Yard Freestyle--Caitlin Hake (UW-Stevens Point), 24.14 500-Yard Freestyle--Kari Slawson (UW-Stevens Point), 5:12.49 200-Yard Individual Medley--Abby Strobel (UW-Stevens Point), 2:12.15 Three-Meter Diving--Amanda Medendorp (UW-La Crosse), 480.25 200-Yard Freestyle Relay--UW-La Crosse (Clare Hathaway, Brianna Peyer, Danielle Rux, Heather Vogts), 1:38.46 400-Yard Medley Relay--UW-Stevens Point (Abby Strobel, Trish Nye, Meghan Walsh, Caitlin Hake), 3:57.97