Wisconsin Badgers
Milwaukee
Badgers cruise to season-opening win over UWM
October 10, 2009 | Women's Swimming & Diving
Oct. 10, 2009
Complete Results | Complete Results (PDF) 
| Wanland Interview | Hansen Interview
MADISON, Wis. -- The Wisconsin women's swimming and diving team wasted little time in picking up where it left off after a record-setting 2008-09 season.
The Badgers picked up their first NCAA championships qualifying mark as they opened the 2009-10 campaign Friday at the UW Natatorium, and that performance was one of several bright spots in a 157-85 win over Milwaukee in a non-conference dual meet.
Junior Maggie Meyer, who entered the collegiate season coming off a U.S. Open championship and a berth to the USA Swimming National Team, was part of three event wins for the Badgers and laid down an NCAA consideration time of 55.60 to claim the top spot in the 100-yard backstroke.
Meyer also scored a win in the 200-yard individual medley and was part of the Badgers' winning effort in the 200 medley relay to lead off the night. Freshmen Paulina Gralow and Laura Miller and senior Rosie Morahan combined with Meyer to clock the winning time of 1:46.16.
Meyer's teammate on the U.S. national team, sophomore Ashley Wanland, also was a winner by claiming the 100 breaststroke in a time of 1:03.06.
"We had a very successful summer season ... and because we did so well we came back and had some good motivation," Wanland said. "We know what we want to achieve this year, and I think we all did a pretty good job (tonight)."
In all, the Badgers claimed wins in nine of the 10 contested swimming events and also in the 1-meter diving competition, which Emily Cheffins claimed with a score of 284.63.
The team victory was the Badgers' 18th straight over Milwaukee since the teams renewed their rivalry in the 1992-93 season. Wisconsin leads the all-time series between the teams, 22-0.
"By no means were we fast, but I thought we competed well and did well based on where we're at right now, which is very tired," UW head coach Eric Hansen said. "We ratcheted it up really quickly this year, and you can see that."
Along with her win in the 200 medley relay, Morahan led the way in both the 100 free (51.98) and 200 free (1:52.69) to join Meyer as a three-time winner. Senior Gabby Maddalena won the 500 free and then took third in the 1,000 free, which was won by sophomore teammate Danielle Beckwith in 10:13.25.
The 100 butterfly went to senior Anna Chang, who clocked in at 59.07 to hold off teammate and runner-up Karlyn Hougan in 59.31. Milwaukee scored its lone victory in the pool when Sara Wardecke won the 50 free in 24.53. The Panthers also claimed the win on the 3-meter board with Kelsey George's score of 294.08.
The Badgers jump into Big Ten competition next Friday by playing host to Iowa in a 5 p.m. dual at the Natatorium. Hansen says there is plenty of work to be done for the Badgers in the week to come.
"We're going to have to be substantially better there, but this is a start and kind of our first report card," he said of his team's first performance. "I give them an `A' in terms of how hard they've worked, but in terms of our performance here, we weren't very sharp. "We're just looking to get better every day and at every meet."
Brian Mason
Wisconsin Athletic Communications
