Badgers set to open season against Milwaukee
October 08, 2009 | Women's Swimming & Diving
Oct. 8, 2009
MADISON, Wis. -- The Wisconsin men’s and women's swimming and diving teams open the 2009-2010 season Friday looking to score dual-meet wins over in-state rival Milwaukee for the 18th-consecutive season.
The Badgers and Panthers open the season in a head-to-head matchup at the UW Natatorium for the second straight year. On the men's side, Wisconsin will look to replicate the sweep of all 12 events it scored against Milwaukee last season en route to a 156-70 win. The Badgers also won all 12 events in women's competition last season on the way to a 147-74 victory.
The Badgers are unbeaten against Milwaukee since the teams renewed their annual rivalry in the 1992-93 season
| Milwaukee (0-0) vs. Wisconsin (0-0) | |
| Date | Friday, Oct. 9 |
| Schedule | Diving: 3:30 p.m. | Swimming: 5 p.m. |
| Location | Madison, Wis. | UW Natatorium |
| Admission | Free |
| UWBadgers.com | Complete results |
| Meet Notes | |
Men's Preview
This year’s Badgers men's squad features a talented cast of 16 returners from last season’s squad that finished sixth at the Big Ten championships, while also welcoming 11 newcomers to the fold.
The Badgers will have the opportunity to compete at home in their first three dual meets, but they certainly won’t be afforded the chance to ease into the season. Following their opener against Milwaukee, the Badgers welcome their border rivals in the Natatorium for a pair of Big Ten Conference duals.
First up is Iowa, to whom the Badgers lost by a narrow margin of 32 points last year, on Oct. 16, followed by Minnesota, who took 3rd in the 2009 Big Ten Championships, on Oct. 30.
The Badgers’ biggest challenge will be replacing graduate Scott Rice, who earned All-America honors after finishing 14th in the 200-yard butterfly at the NCAA championships and set three school records last season.
Despite the loss, the UW men return two seniors who each set records in the pool last season, including the 100 freestyle record of 43.50 set by Phil Davies and Derrick O’Donnell’s record 200 breaststroke time of 1:58.30.
In total, the squad set six school records last year, and three of those record-setters return to the team this season.
In his 11th season, head coach Eric Hansen has a 59-37 record in men’s dual meets, including an impressive 41-11 record in non-conference dual s. Hansen says the Badgers will be coming off of a very strong summer season, which will be essential for success in the coming winter and spring months.
A few summer successes include performances from the 2009 U.S. Open this August. Senior Phil Davies took 12th in the 100-meter freestyle, while sophomore Brett Nagle took 14th in the 400 freestyle and 16th in the 200 freestyle.
Hansen admits swimming can be “somewhat relentless in that it’s ongoing,” and these Badgers won’t have many breaks on the road to the NCAA championships.
“On the men’s side, we’re a half-step behind (the women’s team), but we’ve got the right people in the right places this year,” Hansen said.
Women's Preview
Junior Maggie Meyer and sophomore Ashley Wanland have been named to the USA Swimming National Team for 2009-10, and both played key roles in the Badgers' 14th-place finish at the 2009 NCAA Championships
Wisconsin was fifth last year at the Big Ten championships, with Wanland taking home Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors. According to Hansen, both can credit a tremendous work ethic for their success in the collegiate season and beyond.
Also returning after an epic freshman season is sophomore Beckie Thompson, who has swam four of the five fastest 50 freestyle times ever recorded by a Big Ten swimmer.
Hansen and the Badgers are looking forward to the addition of talent from 10 freshmen, while also welcoming back 23 letterwinners from last season. A top-10 finish at this year's NCAA championships isn’t just a goal, Hansen says, it’s an expectation.
Hansen, who owns a 91-12 dual-meet record in his first 10 seasons at UW, says the Badger women will continue to strive for excellence this year.
“In order to be the best, you have to make yourself the best," he said. "We offer them every possible option to be the best.”
