The UW-Eau Claire men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams knocked UW-Oshkosh out of the water Saturday at McPhee. The men’s team defeated Oshkosh 167-68, while the women were victorious, 133-109.
The women won six out of the 15 events held in the McPhee pool on Saturday, with many of the swimmers taking double-wins.
Junior Kristjana Marston was a double winner for the ‘Golds, placing first in both the 200-yard individual medley and the 200 breaststroke. Marston swam the individual medley in two minutes, 16.82 seconds and the breaststroke in 2:34.00.
Sophomore Jill Wendorff took first in the 200 freestyle with a time of 2:07.12. The women had two other first-place finishes in the 200 backstroke and 500 freestyle. Senior Brianna Crowley swam a 2:15.49 in the 200 back, while senior Jasmine Longhenry swam a 5:34.48 in the 500 free.
The women’s 400 free relay took a top finish with junior Liz Halbur, Longhenry and freshmen Krista DeJarlais and Meghan McDonald. The relay team finished with a time of 3:48.51.
“We’re getting down to the end of the season,” DeJarlais said. “Everybody’s looking to better the times, and we did it.”
Senior diver Amber Perry took first places in both the 3M and 1M dives. Meghan McDonald in the 100 free, and sophomore Jill Wendorff in the 500 free.
The men were able to take first place in all but two events.
Junior Matt Oglesby placed first in the 200 freestyle and the 200 butterfly. He finished the freestyle in 1:49.68 and finished the butterfly in 2:00.15.
Senior Derek Wallen took firsts in the 200 individual medley and in the 200 backstroke. He swam the individual medley in 2:04.84 and the backstroke in 2:08.38. Troy Altobell in the 100 back in 59.61.
Freshman Mike Carroll took first in the 100 fly with a time of 56.82, and Senior Sam Welch took first in the 1650 free with a time of 18.32.01.
Junior Brent Witt swam the 50 freestyle in 23.44, and freshman Nick Robertson swam the 100 freestyle in 52.55.
Sophomore Casey Christy finished the 200 breaststroke in 2:18.90, also placing first.
The men divers took third place in the 3M diving event and second place in the 1M diving event. Sophomore Dan VonFeldt dove a 160.20 in the 3M, and a 218.80 in the 1M.
Competing in the 400 freestyle relay were Brent Witt, Matt Schuebel, P.J. O’Brien, and Matt Oglesby. They finished the relay in 3:23.93. The team also improved in this event since Whitewater.
Sophomore Kyle Gulbrandson was positive going into the meet.
“As a team we were excited to swim well,” Gulbrandson said. “We knew we had it in hand.”
Coach Rob Welcher was pleased with the team’s performance.
“There are many members of the team who did exceptionally well,” Welcher said. “Many had outstanding improvements.”
The men’s and women’s swim team will compete at the WIAC conference meet in Oshkosh, February 15-17.