UW Leads Iowa, UWM on Day 1
October 13, 2006 | Women's Swimming & Diving
The University of Wisconsin men's and women's swimming and diving teams cruised to victories in all but five events on the first day of competition of a triangular against Iowa and UW-Milwaukee Friday night at the UI Fieldhouse. The UW women lead the Hawkeyes 159.5-44.5 and UWM 176-29, while the UW men are leading 134-69 and 173.5-30.5, respectively.
'The team came together as I had hoped,' head coach Eric Hansen said. 'A lot of growth was evident, especially for our young team. It was our first away meet, and I think we performed very well.'
On the women's side, both Badger relay teams won'the 200-yard medley relay team of Susan Johnson, Yi Ting Siow, Christine Zwiegers and Jackie Vavrek took the title in a time of 1:45.15, while the 400-yard freestyle relay team of Hannah McClurg, Johnson, Vavrek and Zwiegers was victorious in a time of 3:31.03.
Sophomore Jen Illescas added to UW's dominance with victories in the 200-yard freestyle (1:52.87) and the 200-yard butterfly (2:03.63).
In other triumphs, Gabby Maddalena won the 1000-yard freestyle (10:05.24), Johnson won the 100-yard backstroke (57.32), Siow won the 100-yard breaststroke (1:03.35), Vavrek won the 50-yard freestyle (23.87) and Andrea Wiesner won the 200-yard IM (2:06.17).
Both of the Wisconsin men's relay teams also were victorious, as the 200-yard medley relay team of Tommy Gregory, Eric Johnson, Scott Rice and Kyle Sorensen came in first at 1:34.30, and the 400-yard freestyle relay team of Mike Desautels, Tom Molzahn, Sorensen and Phil Davies posted a winning time of 3:07.70.
Rice took home the title in two other events, the 200-yard butterfly (1:52.25) and the 200-yard IM (1:55.22). Meanwhile, Molzahn won the 200-yard freestyle (1:42.05), Mike Hopkins won the 100-yard backstroke (52.75) and Sorensen won the 50-yard freestyle (21.29).
In diving, freshman Jenny Hawkins won the 3-meter board with a score of 235.6, plus she took second on the 1-meter board with a score of 217.4. Sophomore Kelly Todd headed the men 's effort with third-place finishes on the 1-meter board (252.4) and the 3-meter board (217.8).
'I think it's a step up from the last meet,' diving coach Tom Michael said. 'We're moving in the right direction. The divers are doing everything I've asked of them.'
The Badgers resume competition at 10 a.m. Saturday.
