Nov. 5, 2010
MADISON, Wis. -- The Wisconsin women's swimming and diving team traveled to the west coast for a weekend of competition against numerous national-title contenders, including Arizona, USC, UCLA and California. The swimmers lost in a dual meet against Arizona, 158-104, while the divers completed the first day of the Trojan Diving Invitational, hosted by USC.
The Badgers won five events but scored points from many of their swimmers in their loss to the Wildcats, who came in fourth place at last year's NCAA Championships.
Wisconsin's first win of the day came during the first event of the day, the 400-yard medley relay.
Senior Maggie Meyer, junior Ashley Wanland, freshman Rebecka Palm, and junior Beckie Thompson finished with a time of 3:40.13. This marked the first time the Badgers swam this event in collegiate action this season. The second Wisconsin relay team, led by junior Amie Osten, finished in fifth place with a time of 3:55.40.
Meyer and Wanland won two individual events each on the day.
Meyer remained undefeated on the season by winning the 100-yard backstroke by over a second (54.36) and the 200-yard backstroke by over three seconds (1:58.72).
Wanland picked up her wins after suffering her first two losses of the season at Minnesota last weekend. On Friday she won the 100-yard breaststroke with a time of 1:01.64, beating out Arizona sophomore All-American Ellyn Baumgardner. She also finished first in the 200-yard breaststroke, winning with a time of 2:15.02.
Wisconsin had many second-place finishes in both individual and relay events.
The relay team of Meyer, sophomore Ruby Martin, freshman Trisha Nelson, and Thompson finished the 200-yard freestyle relay in second (1:33.24). This relay was another first for the Badgers this season.
Defending Big Ten Swimmer of the Week Rebecka Palm scored one of Wisconsin's second-place finishes in the 100-yard butterfly, coming in 0.22 behind Arizona senior co-captain Dana Christ.
Junior Beckie Thompson (50-yard and 100-yard freestyle), redshirt sophomore Monika Stitski (400-yard individual medley) and junior Danielle Beckwith (500-yard freestyle) also gave the Badgers points in their respective events and kept the competition close.
Meanwhile in Los Angeles, the divers finished the first day of competition at the Trojan Diving Invitational, held at USC's McDonald's Swim Stadium. On the women's side, the divers competed on the 3-meter and platform boards.
In the 3-meter finals, the Badgers were led by senior Ciara Rinaudo, who placed ninth with her score of 248.15. Sophomore Roxanne Fitter came in two places behind her at 11th with her score of 237.10. UCS junior All-American Victoria Ishimatsu won for the second straight year with her score of 284.85. Wisconsin sophomore Leslie Cannon placed 17th in the preliminaries with her score of 197.35.
Fitter scored 209.05 in the platform finals, good for sixth place behind UCLA's Laura Winn, who came in first with her score of 268.45. Cannon finished ninth with her score of 158.80.
The action continues tomorrow for the divers, who will compete on the 1-meter board.
Meanwhile, the swimmers head home to prepare for their dual meet against Big Ten rival Northwestern on Thursday night. The meet starts at 5 p.m. at the UW Natatorium.
