2005-06 WIAC Men's Swimming & Diving Headlines

2005-06 WIAC Men's Swimming & Diving Headlines

Three Claim Academic All-America At-Large Status

RELEASED: Wednesday, June 14, 2006

Madison, Wis.--Three Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) student-athletes have been named to the 2006 CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America College Division Men's At-Large Team. UW-Stevens Point's Mike Hayes and Garth Newport were second team picks, while UW-Oshkosh's Aaron Burg was a third team selection.

The team is comprised of all NCAA Division II, Division III and NAIA student-athletes from around the country and is voted on by members of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). It includes the sports of fencing, golf, ice hockey, lacrosse, swimming and diving, tennis, volleyball, water polo and wrestling.

Burg, a senior swimmer from New London, Wis., boasts a 4.00 grade point average and is majoring in secondary education with a minor in biology. He finished seventh in the 50-yard freestyle and eighth in both the 100-yard breaststroke and 100-yard freestyle at the 2006 WIAC championships.

Hayes, a senior wrestler from Beaver Dam, Wis., claimed the WIAC Max Sparger Wrestling Scholar-Athlete honor earlier this year. He is majoring in biology with a pre-med emphasis and a minor in chemistry. Hayes completed the 2006 season with a 28-4 overall record in the 285-pound division and finished third at the NCAA Division III championships.

Newport, a senior swimmer from Berlin, Wis., carries a 3.94 grade point average and is majoring in economics and business administration. He was named the conference's swimming and diving scholar-athlete this season. Newport is a four-time individual conference champion and member of six conference champion relays. He has secured All-America status three times and All-America honorable mention recognition on seven occasions.

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Six Named to Academic All-District At-Large Men's Team

RELEASED: Wednesday, May 31, 2006

Madison, Wis.--Six Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) student-athletes have been named to the 2006 CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District Five College Division Men's At-Large Team. UW-Oshkosh's Aaron Burg, UW-River Falls' Mike Salmela and UW-Stevens Point's Mike Hayes and Garth Newport were first team selections, while UW-La Crosse's Jason Lulloff and UW-Whitewater's Jordan Shilts claimed second team recognition.

The team is comprised of all NCAA Division II, Division III and NAIA student-athletes from Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana and Minnesota and is voted on by members of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). It includes the sports of golf, ice hockey, rifle, swimming and diving, tennis, volleyball and wrestling.

Salmela, a senior ice hockey player from Duluth, Minn., is majoring in biology with a minor in chemistry and maintains a 3.72 grade point average. He was named the WIAC Max Sparger Men's Ice Hockey Scholar-Athlete earlier this year. Salmela secured all-WIAC first team honors this season after compiling three goals and 13 assists for 16 points.

Newport, a senior swimmer from Berlin, Wis., carries a 3.94 grade point average and is majoring in economics and business administration. He was named the conference's swimming and diving scholar-athlete this season. Newport is a four-time individual conference champion and member of six conference champion relays. He had secured All-America status three times and All-America honorable mention recognition on seven occasions.

Burg, Salmela, Hayes and Newport are now eligible for the Academic All-America team, which will be announced on June 13.

Lulloff, a junior wrestler from Kiel, Wis., is an exercise and sports science major with a 3.78 grade point average. He finished third at the national championships in the 184-pound division and compiled a 40-6 overall record during the 2006 campaign.

Shilts, a senior tennis player from Janesville, Wis. (Craig H.S.), is majoring in management computer systems and carries a 3.63 grade point average. He has compiled a 19-13 record at No. 1 singles and 24-6 mark at No. 1 doubles this season.

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UW-Stevens Point Finishes Ninth at NCAA Men's Swimming and Diving Championships

RELEASED: Saturday, March 18, 2006

Minneapolis, Minn.--University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point finished ninth at the 2006 NCAA Division III Men's Swimming and Diving Championships which were held at the University of Minnesota Aquatic Center March 16-18.

The Pointers totaled 132 team points enroute to their best finish since 2001 when they placed sixth. It also marked the ninth top 10 finish in school history.

UW-Stevens Point was the only conference school to record points at the national meet. The last time the league had one institution represented in the final standings was 1990 when UW-Whitewater tied for 25th with 27 points.

Kenyon College (Ohio) claimed an unprecedented 27th consecutive national championship with 498 team points. Denison University (Ohio) finished second with 345 points, followed by Emory University (Ga.) with 310 points, Johns Hopkins University (Md.) with 303 points and Williams College (Mass.) with 295 points.

UW-Stevens Point was led by Alex Anderson who recorded second-place finishes in the 100-yard breaststroke and 200-yard breaststroke with times of 56.31 and 2:02.61, respectively. He also placed 11th in the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 20.81.

Ben Gensler finished fourth in the 200-yard breaststroke with a time of 2:03.29 and Chase Gross placed 10th in the 200-yard freestyle with a performance of 1:40.79.

All five of the Pointers' relay teams secured All-America accolades at the national meet. The 200-yard medley relay team of Willie Clapp, Garth Newport, Anderson and Gross finished seventh with a time of 1:33.59, while the 400-yard medley relay squad of Tyler Eloranta, Clapp, Anderson and Newport placed 10th with a time of 3:27.64.

The 200-yard freestyle relay quartet of Anderson, Newport, Eloranta and Gross also finished 10th with a performance of 1:23.71. Matt Grunwald, Anderson, Eloranta and Gross placed 12th in the 400-yard freestyle relay with a time of 3:06.30 and Gross, Grunwald, Gensler and Eloranta teamed to finish 13th in the 800-yard freestyle relay with a performance of 6:55.84.

The top eight finishers in each event at the national championship claimed All-America honors, while places 9-16 earned honorable mention All-America status.

WIAC All-Americans:
50-Yard Freestyle--Alex Anderson (UW-Stevens Point-11th)
200-Yard Freestyle--Chase Gross (UW-Stevens Point-10th)
100-Yard Breaststroke--Alex Anderson (UW-Stevens Point-2nd)
200-Yard Breaststroke--Alex Anderson (UW-Stevens Point-2nd), Ben Gensler (UW-Stevens Point-4th)

200-Yard Freestyle Relay--UW-Stevens Point (Alex Anderson, Garth Newport, Tyler Eloranta, Chase Gross-10th)
400-Yard Freestyle Relay--UW-Stevens Point (Alex Anderson, Matt Grunwald, Tyler Eloranta, Chase Gross-12th)
800-Yard Freestyle Relay--UW-Stevens Point (Chase Gross, Matt Grunwald, Ben Gensler, Tyler Eloranta-13th)
200-Yard Medley Relay--UW-Stevens Point (Willie Clapp, Alex Anderson, Garth Newport, Chase Gross-7th)
400-Yard Medley Relay--UW-Stevens Point (Willie Clapp, Alex Anderson, Garth Newport, Tyler Eloranta-10th)

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UW-Stevens Point's Newport Named Men's Swimming and Diving Scholar-Athlete

RELEASED: Monday, February 13, 2006

Madison, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point's Garth Newport has been named the recipient of the 2006 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Max Sparger Men's Swimming and Diving Scholar-Athlete Award.

Newport, a senior from Berlin, Wis., maintains a 3.94 grade point average while double-majoring in economics and business administration. He was named to the 2005 CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District Five College Division Men's At-Large Second Team. Newport is a three-time member of the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll and has earned highest honors from UW-Stevens Point six semesters. He has also been awarded the Seramor Scholarship from the Division of Business and Economics, along with the Sentry Insurance Leadership Scholarship at his institution.

Newport, a two-time team captain, helped UW-Stevens Point to its seventh straight league title last weekend at the conference championships in Minneapolis, Minn., after winning the 100-yard butterfly and 100-yard backstroke titles. He is a four-time individual conference champion and has been a member of six winning relay squads. Newport is a two-time All-American and five-time All-America Honorable Mention performer.

Newport has been a member of UW-Stevens Point's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee for three years and is a member of the Phi Kappa Phi and Phi Eta Sigma honor societies.

Also nominated for this year's scholar-athlete award were: UW-La Crosse's Matthew Spurr and UW-Oshkosh's Aaron Burg.

The WIAC Scholar-Athlete Award is named after Max Sparger, who served as commissioner of the Wisconsin State University Conference from July, 1971 - July, 1993.

In order to be nominated for the scholar-athlete award, a student-athlete must have a minimum 3.25 grade point average, be in their last year of competition, or on schedule to graduate this academic year, and have competed for a minimum of two years.

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UW-Stevens Point Captures Men's and Women's Swimming and Diving Championships

RELEASED: Saturday, February 11, 2006

Minneapolis, Minn.--University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point captured the 2006 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Men's and Women's Swimming and Diving Championships following conclusion of the three-day league meet, which was held at the University of Minnesota Aquatic Center on February 9-11.

The Pointers secured their seventh straight men's title and 10th in school history (2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1998, 1997, 1977). The seven consecutive championships is the longest streak in the conference since UW-Eau Claire won 19 straight from 1978-96.

UW-Stevens Point won the men's crown with 1,017.50 team points, followed by UW-La Crosse (781.50), UW-Eau Claire (526), UW-Whitewater (368), UW-Oshkosh (284) and UW-River Falls (185).

The women's championship for UW-Stevens Point is the third in school history (2006, 2001, 2000) and snapped UW-La Crosse's string of four straight titles.

The Pointers secured the women's championship with 985 team points, followed by UW-La Crosse (938.50), UW-Eau Claire (545), UW-Whitewater (321.50), UW-Oshkosh (261) and UW-River Falls (201).

UW-Stevens Point captured three individual men's titles during the third day of competition. Chase Gross secured his third individual crown at the meet after winning the 100-yard freestyle with a NCAA "B" qualifying performance and conference record time of 45.98.

Ben Gensler won the 200-yard breaststroke with a conference record and NCAA "B" qualifying time of 2:03.97, while Rob Donisch claimed the 200-yard butterfly with a NCAA "B" qualifying mark of 1:53.41.

UW-Stevens Point also was victorious in the 400-yard freestyle relay as Alex Anderson, Matt Grunwald, Tyler Eloranta and Gross combined for a NCAA "B" qualifying performance and conference record time of 3:04.98.

UW-La Crosse's Anthony Schmidt claimed his second title in as many days after winning the 200-yard backstroke with a time of 1:54.90, while Karl Richters won the 1,650-yard freestyle with a mark of 16:48.27. It was Richters' second title of the championship.

UW-Eau Claire' Scott Heatwole captured the three-meter diving title for the second straight year with a score of 466.55. He shared the Diver of the Meet award with UW-Oshkosh's Jacob Chadderdon. It marked the second consecutive season Heatwole has won the honor.

UW-Stevens Point's Anderson was voted the Swimmer of the Meet.

UW-Stevens Point's women's team captured three individual titles during the final day of competition. Megan Walsh won her second crown at the championship in the 200-yard butterfly with a time of 2:11.70, while Abby Strobel also claimed her second title with a NCAA "B" qualifying time of 2:09.06 in the 200-yard backstroke.

Jennie Roskopf won the 200-yard breaststroke for the third consecutive year with a NCAA "B" qualifying time of 2:24.69. It was her second title at this year's league meet.

The Pointers also won the 400-yard freestyle relay as Caitlin Hake, Beth Bard, Jerica Crook and Kelsey Crunstedt combined for a NCAA "B" qualifying mark of 3:33.04.

UW-La Crosse's Carlene Empanger was voted the Swimmer of the Meet for the second time in her career after winning the 1,650-yard freestyle with a time of 17:48.69 and claiming her third individual title at this year's championship. She also received the swimmer of the meet honor during the 2004 championship.

The Eagles' Amanda Medendorp received the Diver of the Meet award after claiming the one-meter and three-meter competitions during the first two days of the championship.

UW-Eau Claire's Cori Severson claimed the 100-yard freestyle with a NCAA "B" qualifying performance and conference record mark of 51.74.

UW-Stevens Point head coach Al Boelk was voted the men's coach of the year by the league coaches for the fourth consecutive season and seventh time in his career (2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2001, 2000, 1998). He also received the women's prize for the second straight year and fourth time during his tenure (2006, 2005, 2003, 2000).

UW-Stevens Point's Garth Newport received the Max Sparger Scholar-Athlete Award, while UW-La Crosse's Carlene Empanger and UW-Stevens Point's Jennie Roskopf shared the Judy Kruckman Scholar-Athlete Award.

Day Three Champions
Men
100-Yard Freestyle: Chase Gross (UW-Stevens Point), 45.98*
1,650-Yard Freestyle: Karl Richters (UW-La Crosse), 16:48.27
200-Yard Butterfly: Rob Donisch (UW-Stevens Point), 1:53.41
200-Yard Backstroke: Anthony Schmidt (UW-La Crosse), 1:54.90
200-Yard Breaststroke: Ben Gensler (UW-Stevens Point), 2:03.97*
Three-Meter Diving: Scott Heatwole (UW-Eau Claire), 466.55

400-Yard Freestyle Relay: UW-Stevens Point (Alex Anderson, Matt Grunwald, Tyler Eloranta, Chase Gross), 3:04.98*

Women
100-Yard Freestyle: Cori Severson (UW-Eau Claire), 51.74*
1,650-Yard Freestyle: Carlene Empanger (UW-La Crosse), 17:48.69
200-Yard Butterfly: Meghan Walsh (UW-Stevens Point), 2:11.70
200-Yard Backstroke: Abby Strobel (UW-Stevens Point), 2:09.06
200-Yard Breaststroke: Jennie Roskopf (UW-Stevens Point), 2:24.69

400-Yard Freestyle Relay: UW-Stevens Point (Caitlin Hake, Beth Bard, Jerica Crook, Kelsey Crunstedt), 3:33.04

*Conference Record

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UW-La Crosse and UW-Stevens Point Lead Men's and Women's Swimming and Diving Championships

RELEASED: Friday, February 10, 2006

Minneapolis, Minn.--University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and UW-Stevens Point lead the 2006 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Men's and Women's Swimming and Diving Championships following the conclusion of the second day of competition at the three-day league meet at the University of Minnesota Aquatic Center.

UW-La Crosse leads the women's championship with 693.50 team points, followed by UW-Stevens Point (665), UW-Eau Claire (374), UW-Whitewater (228.50), UW-Oshkosh (182) and UW-River Falls (144). The Eagles have won four consecutive women's titles.

UW-Stevens Point tops the men's meet with 675.50 team points, followed by UW-La Crosse (523.50), UW-Eau Claire (325), UW-Whitewater (247), UW-Oshkosh (185) and UW-River Falls (130). The Pointers have secured six straight men's championships.

In the women's meet, UW-La Crosse and UW-Stevens Point both claimed three individual titles and one relay crown during Friday's competition. The Eagles' Carlene Empanger won her second individual crown in as many days, claiming the 200-yard freestyle for the second straight season with a NCAA "B" qualifying performance and conference meet record time of 1:54.39.

Amanda Medendorp also captured her second title at the league meet, winning the one-meter diving event with a score of 418.40.

The Eagles' Stephanie Grieger secured the 400-yard individual medley with a NCAA "B" qualifying time of 4:38.05.

UW-La Crosse's 800-yard freestyle relay team of Clare Hathaway, Kelly Hackbarth, Sarah Russart and Empanger posted a NCAA "B" qualifying performance and conference meet record time of 7:46.66.

UW-Stevens Point's Jennie Roskopf won the 100-yard breaststroke title for the third consecutive year with a NCAA "B" qualifying performance and conference meet record time of 1:06.40.

Meghan Walsh secured the 100-yard butterfly title with a time of 59.20, while Liz Herder was victorious in the 100-yard backstroke with a NCAA "B" qualifying time of 59.05.

The Pointers' 200-yard medley relay team of Beth Bard, Kelsey Crunstedt, Roskopf and Herder established a conference meet record time of 1:46.85. Their performance also automatically qualified them for the NCAA Division III Championships.

In the men's gathering, UW-Stevens Point was led by Garth Newport, who captured a pair of individual titles. He won the 100-yard butterfly championship for the third straight year with a NCAA "B" qualifying time of 50.92 and the 100-yard backstroke with a time of 54.22.

The Pointers' Alex Anderson claimed his second individual crown in as many days, winning the 100-yard breaststroke for the second consecutive year with a conference meet record time of 56.10. His time also automatically qualified him for the NCAA Division III Championships.

UW-Stevens Point's Chase Gross claimed the team's final individual title in the 200-yard freestyle with a NCAA "B" qualifying time of 1:42.63.

UW-La Crosse's Anthony Schmidt won the 400-yard individual medley with a NCAA "B" qualifying time of 4:08.97.

UW-Stevens Point also secured both relay titles during the second day of competition after Matt Grunwald, Ben Gensler, Tyler Eloranta and Gross teamed to win the 800-yard freestyle relay with a NCAA "B" qualifying performance and conference meet record time of 6:54.18.

Willie Clapp, Anderson, Newport and Gross captured the 200-yard medley relay with a NCAA "B" qualifying time of 1:33.75.

Day Two Champions
Men
200-Yard Freestyle: Chase Gross (UW-Stevens Point), 1:42.63
100-Yard Butterfly: Garth Newport (UW-Stevens Point), 50.92
100-Yard Backstroke: Garth Newport (UW-Stevens Point), 54.22
100-Yard Breaststroke: Alex Anderson (UW-Stevens Point), 56.10*
400-Yard Individual Medley: Anthony Schmidt (UW-La Crosse), 4:08.97

800-Yard Freestyle Relay: UW-Stevens Point (Chase Gross, Matt Grunwald, Ben Gensler, Tyler Eloranta), 6:54.18*
200-Yard Medley Relay: UW-Stevens Point (Willie Clapp, Alex Anderson, Garth Newport, Chase Gross), 1:33.75

Women
200-Yard Freestyle: Carlene Empanger (UW-La Crosse), 1:54.39*
100-Yard Butterfly: Meghan Walsh (UW-Stevens Point), 59.20
100-Yard Backstroke: Liz Herder (UW-Stevens Point), 59.05
100-Yard Breaststroke: Jennie Roskopf (UW-Stevens Point), 1:06.40*
400-Yard Individual Medley: Stephanie Grieger (UW-La Crosse), 4:38.05
One-Meter Diving: Amanda Medendorp (UW-La Crosse), 418.40

800-Yard Freestyle Relay: UW-La Crosse (Clare Hathaway, Kelly Hackbarth, Sarah Russart, Carlene Empanger), 7:46.66*
200-Yard Medley Relay: UW-Stevens Point (Liz Herder, Jennie Roskopf, Beth Bard, Kelsey Crunstedt), 1:46.85*

*Conference Record

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UW-Stevens Point Leads After Day One of Men's and Women's Swimming and Diving Championships

RELEASED: Thursday, February 9, 2006

Minneapolis, Minn.--University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point leads the 2006 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Men's and Women's Swimming and Diving Championships following the first of three days of competition at the University of Minnesota Aquatic Center.

In the women's meet, the Pointers have compiled 301 team points, followed by UW-La Crosse (273.50), UW-Eau Claire (171), UW-Whitewater (99.50), UW-Oshkosh (76) and UW-River Falls (69). UW-La Crosse has won four straight women's titles.

On the men's side, UW-Stevens Point has totaled 273 team points, followed by UW-La Crosse (224), UW-Eau Claire (199), UW-Whitewater (100), UW-Oshkosh (73) and UW-River Falls (56). The Pointers have claimed the last six men's conference crowns.

UW-Stevens Point claimed two individual and two relay titles during the first day of the women's meet. Abby Strobel claimed the 200-yard individual medley title with a conference meet record time of 2:10.09. Her time was also a NCAA "B" qualifying performance. Caitlin Hake secured the 50-yard freestyle with a NCAA "B" qualifying time of 24.21.

The 200-yard freestyle relay team of Jerica Crook, Beth Bard, Kelsey Crunstedt and Hake posted a NCAA "B" qualifying performance and conference meet record time of 1:36.43. The 400-yard medley relay quartet of Liz Herder, Jennie Roskopf, Meghan Walsh and Hake finished with a NCAA "B" qualifying time of 3:55.65.

UW-La Crosse's Carlene Empanger became the first individual in league history to win four straight 500-yard freestyle titles with a NCAA "B" qualifying time of 5:06.17.

The Eagles' Amanda Medendorp captured the three-meter diving crown with a score of 453.25.

UW-Stevens Point also secured a pair of individual and relay titles in the men's race. Alex Anderson became the first person in meet history to win four consecutive 200-yard individual medley titles, posting a NCAA "B" qualifying time of 1:54.10, while Chase Gross claimed the 50-yard freestyle championship with a NCAA "B" qualifying time of 21.28.

The Pointers' Kyle Hartl, Tyler Eloranta, Anderson and Gross won the 200-yard freestyle relay with a NCAA "B" qualifying time of 1:23.74, while Willie Clapp, Garth Newport, Tyler Eloranta and Anderson secured the 400-yard medley relay crown with a NCAA "B" qualifying time of 3:26.49.

UW-La Crosse's Karl Richters claimed the 500-yard freestyle for the second straight year with a NCAA "B" qualifying time of 4:39.35.

UW-Oshkosh's Jacob Chadderdon won the one-meter diving competition with a score of 444.60.

Day One Champions
Men
50-Yard Freestyle--Chase Gross (UW-Stevens Point), 21.28
500-Yard Freestyle--Karl Richters (UW-La Crosse), 4:39.35
200-Yard Individual Medley--Alex Anderson (UW-Stevens Point), 1:54.10
One-Meter Diving--Jacob Chadderdon (UW-Oshkosh), 444.60

200-Yard Freestyle Relay--UW-Stevens Point (Alex Anderson, Kyle Hartl, Tyler Eloranta, Chase Gross), 1:23.74
400-Yard Medley Relay--UW-Stevens Point (Willie Clapp, Alex Anderson, Garth Newport, Tyler Eloranta), 3:26.49

Women
50-Yard Freestyle--Caitlin Hake (UW-Stevens Point), 24.21
500-Yard Freestyle--Carlene Empanger (UW-La Crosse), 5:06.17
200-Yard Individual Medley--Abby Strobel (UW-Stevens Point), 2:10.09*
Three-Meter Diving--Amanda Medendorp (UW-La Crosse), 453.25

200-Yard Freestyle Relay--UW-Stevens Point (Jerica Crook, Beth Bard, Kelsey Crunstedt, Caitlin Hake), 1:36.43*
400-Yard Medley Relay--UW-Stevens Point (Liz Herder, Jennie Roskopf, Meghan Walsh, Caitlin Hake), 3:55.65

*Conference Record

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