2006-07 WIAC Women's Swimming & Diving Headlines

2006-07 WIAC Women's Swimming & Diving Headlines

Three Named to Academic All-America Women’s At-Large Team

RELEASED: Monday, June 18, 2007

Madison, Wis.--Three Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) individuals have been named to the 2007 CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America College Division Women’s At-Large Team.

UW-Stevens Point’s Beth Bard was a first team choice, while UW-Whitewater’s Alison Lewis was a second team selection and UW-La Crosse’s Katie Krenz a third team pick.

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

A native of Alexandria, Minn., Bard is majoring in biology (pre-med) and boasts a 4.00 grade point average. She earned the WIAC Judy Kruckman Women’s Swimming and Diving Scholar-Athlete award this season and claimed All-America honors in four relay events at the national championship. Bard was also a member of the winning 400-yard freestyle relay team at the conference meet and holds the league record in the 200-yard medley and 200-yard freestyle relays.

Lewis, a junior from Racine, Wis. (Horlick H.S.), is a member of the gymnastics team and is majoring in biological sciences, while maintaining a 4.00 grade point average. She has received numerous academic scholarships from her institution and owns the 11th, 13th and 24th highest individual floor exercise scores in the Warhawk record book.

Krenz, a senior from Plano, Texas (West H.S.), carries a 3.91 grade point average and is majoring in sociology. She was named the WIAC Judy Kruckman Women’s Gymnastics Scholar-Athlete this year and finished second on the uneven bars at the conference championship.

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Four Named to Women’s Academic All-District At-Large Team

RELEASED: Thursday, May 24, 2007

Madison, Wis.--Four Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) student-athletes have been named to the 2007 CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District Five College Division Women’s At-Large First Team. UW-La Crosse’s Katie Krenz, UW-Stevens Point’s Beth Bard, UW-Whitewater’s Alison Lewis and Gustavus Adolphus' Nicole Gergen were recognized for their achievements.

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 bowling, crew, fencing, field hockey, golf, gymnastics, ice hockey, lacrosse, rifle, skiing, swimming and diving, tennis and water polo.

Lewis, a junior from Racine, Wis. (Horlick H.S.), is a member of the gymnastics team and is majoring in biological sciences and maintains a 4.00 grade point average. She has received numerous scholarships from her institution and owns the 11th, 13th and 24th highest individual floor exercise scores in the Warhawk record book.

Gergen, a senior from Hastings, Minn., boasts a 3.81 grade point average and is majoring in chemistry (pre-med). She finished 11th on the balance beam at the national championship this year after placing eighth in the floor exercise in 2005.

All four individuals are eligible for the Academic All-America team, which will be announced on June 14.

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UW-Stevens Point Finishes 17th, UW-La Crosse 24th at NCAA Women’s Swimming and Diving Championship

RELEASED: Saturday, March 10, 2007

Houston, Texas--University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point finished 17th and UW-La Crosse placed 24th at the 2007 NCAA Division III Women’s Swimming and Diving Championship, which was held at the University of Houston’s Campus Recreation and Wellness Center Natatorium on March 8-10. The event was hosted by the University of Houston and the Harris County-Houston Sports Authority.

The Pointers tallied 59 points, while the Eagles registered 42 points during the three-day competition.

Kenyon College (Ohio) won its 21st national championship after totaling 538 points. Amherst College (Mass.) placed second with 320 points, followed by Emory University (Ga.) in third with 295 points, Calvin College (Mich.) in fourth with 283 points and Denison University (Ohio) in fifth with 267 points.

UW-Stevens Point’s Abby Strobel had the best individual finish for the team after placing 12th in the 200-yard backstroke with a time of 2:07.29.

The Pointers had five relay teams perform well at the national meet, highlighted by an eighth-place finish from the 200-yard freestyle relay quartet of Jerica Crook, Kelsey Crunstedt, Beth Bard and Caitlin Hake in a time of 1:36.96.

UW-Stevens Point received an 11th-place standing from the 200-yard medley relay team, 12th-place finish from the 400-yard freestyle relay team, 14th-place performance from the 800-yard freestyle relay team and a 15th-place finish from the 400-yard medley relay team.

UW-La Crosse’s Amanda Medendorp registered a fourth-place standing the one-meter diving competition with 416.15 points and also finished ninth in the three-meter event with a mark of 395.30. The Eagles’ Angela Cascio placed 10th on the three-meter board with 394.75 points.

Also securing All-America status for UW-La Crosse was Kristi Parker who placed eighth in the 100-yard backstroke with a time of 1:00.09.

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

WIAC All-Americans:

100-Yard Backstroke: Kristi Parker (UW-La Crosse-8th)

200-Yard Backstroke: Abby Strobel (UW-Stevens Point-12th)

One-Meter Diving: Amanda Medendorp (UW-La Crosse-4th)

Three-Meter Diving: Amanda Medendorp (UW-La Crosse-9th), Angela Cascio (UW-La Crosse-10th)

200-Yard Freestyle Relay: UW-Stevens Point (Jerica Crook, Kelsey Crunstedt, Beth Bard, Caitlin Hake-8th)

400-Yard Freestyle Relay: UW-Stevens Point (Kelsey Crunstedt, Jerica Crook, Beth Bard, Abby Strobel-12th)

800-Yard Freestyle Relay: UW-Stevens Point (Jerica Crook, Beth Bard, Abby Strobel, Kristen Bennett-14th)

200-Yard Medley Relay: UW-Stevens Point (Kelsey Crunstedt, Trish Nye, Beth Bard, Caitlin Hake-11th)

400-Yard Medley Relay: UW-Stevens Point (Kelsey Crunstedt, Trish Nye, Beth Bard, Jerica Crook-15th)

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UW-Stevens Point’s Bard Claims Women’s Swimming & Diving Scholar-Athlete Award

RELEASED: Tuesday, February 20, 2007

Madison, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point’s Beth Bard has been named the 2007 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Judy Kruckman Women’s Swimming & Diving Scholar-Athlete.

Bard, a senior from Alexandria, Minn., boasts a 4.00 grade point average and is majoring in biology and English (pre-med) with a minor in chemistry. She is a three-time All-Academic honoree and a three-time selection to the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll. Bard has been named to UW-Stevens Point’s Dean’s List every semester and has received Highest Honors on numerous occasions. In 2006, she received the Distinguished Achievement Award for the Academy of Letters & Science.

Bard helped the Pointers to their second straight WIAC championship this season by placing third in the 100-yard butterfly and sixth in the 50-yard freestyle and 100-yard freestyle. She was also a member of the winning 400-yard freestyle relay team for the second consecutive year.

A year ago, Bard helped UW-Stevens Point establish conference records in the 200-yard freestyle relay and 200-yard medley relay and was a member of three relay teams that secured All-America honors, including a fourth-place finish in the 200-yard freestyle relay.

Serving as a team captain this year, Bard received UW-Stevens Point’s Most Improved and Hardest Worker awards for the 2006 season.

She becomes the ninth women’s swimming and diving student-athlete from UW-Stevens Point to earn the league’s scholar-athlete award. Bard is a member of the Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society and Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society and has served as a volunteer for hospice care and a tutor in biology, chemistry and mathematics.

Additional nominees for this year’s scholar-athlete award included: UW-Eau Claire’s Alissa Condra (Sr., Rhinelander, Wis.), UW-La Crosse’s Kelly Hackbarth (Sr., Stillwater, Minn.) and Devyne Strand (Sr., Mequon, Wis./Cedarburg), UW-Stevens Point’s Alissa Colbert (Sr., Woodbury, Minn.), Kelsey Crunstedt (Sr., Savage, Minn./Burnsville), Patricia Nye (Sr., Superior, Wis.) and Nikki Slagle (Sr., Plymouth, Wis.) and UW-Whitewater’s Eva Miller (Sr., Milwaukee, Wis./Riverside) and Stephanie Pamperin (Sr., Oak Creek, Wis.).

The WIAC Scholar-Athlete Award is named after Judy Kruckman and sponsored by Hewlett-Packard. Kruckman served as Assistant Commissioner for the WIAC from 1996-98. Prior to this appointment, she functioned as Commissioner of the Wisconsin Women's Intercollegiate Athletic Conference from October, 1984 - September, 1996.

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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Boelk Claims Coach of the Year Honor

RELEASED: Tuesday, February 20, 2007

Madison, Wis.--For the third straight season, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point’s women’s swimming and diving head coach Al Boelk has been named the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Coach of the Year, which was determined by voting among the league coaches.

Boelk earned the award after leading the Pointers to their second consecutive WIAC title and the fourth title during his tenure. This season’s 93-point win was the largest margin of victory by any school since the Pointers’ 2001 championship team.

Boelk also claimed the coach of the year honor during the 2000 and 2003 seasons.

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

RELEASED: Saturday, February 17, 2007

Stevens Point, Wis.--For the second straight year, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point captured both the men’s and women’s titles at the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) swimming and diving championships, which were held at UW-Stevens Point’s Health Enhancement Center.

The men’s team won the league crown for the eighth consecutive season and 11th time in school history, while the women secured the WIAC trophy for the second straight year and fourth time in program history.

In the men’s competition, the Pointers totaled 914 points during the three-day meet to outdistance UW-La Crosse for the seventh straight year. The Eagles finished with 882 points, followed by UW-Eau Claire in third with 507 points, UW-Whitewater in fourth with 457 points, UW-Oshkosh in fifth with 310 points and UW-River Falls in sixth with 175 points.

In the women’s race, UW-Stevens Point compiled 993.50 points to surpass UW-La Crosse’s second-place total of 900.50 points. UW-Eau Claire finished third with 460.50 points, followed by UW-Whitewater in fourth with 365 points, UW-Oshkosh in fifth with 244 points and UW-River Falls in sixth with 199.50 points.

UW-Stevens Point’s men’s team secured three individual titles during the final day of competition. Chase Gross captured the 100-yard freestyle for the second straight year with a NCAA “B” qualifying time of 46.47 to earn his second title of the meet. He won the 200-yard freestyle yesterday.

The Pointers’ Ben Gensler established a pool record and NCAA “B” qualifying mark in the 200-yard breaststroke with a time of 2:04.90. It marked the second consecutive year he has won the event and his second title of the championship after winning the 100-yard breaststroke a day ago.

Rob Donisch also earned his second title in as many days, winning the 200-yard butterfly with a clocking of 1:55.72.

UW-La Crosse’s Anthony Schmidt defended his title in the 200-yard backstroke with a mark of 1:55.73. It was his third trophy during the championship after he won the 200-yard individual medley and 400-yard individual medley. Schmidt was named the Swimmer of the Meet for his performances.

The Eagles’ Karl Richters claimed the 1,650-yard freestyle for the third consecutive season with a time of 16:44.83. He is just the second individual to win the event three straight years, joining UW-Whitewater’s Mike Foss (1983-85).

UW-La Crosse also won their fourth relay title at the league competition when the 400-yard freestyle relay team of Matthew Diehl, Christopher Boyle, Michael Beilman and Anthony Wolff established a pool record and NCAA “B” qualifying time of 3:05.78.

UW-Oshkosh’s Jacob Chadderdon won the three-meter diving competition with a score of 510.45 and was voted the Diver of the Meet for the second straight year.

UW-Stevens Point’s women’s squad captured all five individual titles and the relay crown during the third day of events. Abby Strobel won the 200-yard backstroke for the second consecutive season with a NCAA “B” qualifying time of 2:08.16. She was voted the Swimmer of the Meet after earning her third individual title of the championship. Strobel also captured the 200-yard individual medley and 400-yard individual medley trophies.

Kristen Bennett claimed the 200-yard breaststroke with a NCAA “B” qualifying mark of 2:24.74. She also won the 100-yard breaststroke yesterday.

Caitlin Hake captured her second title of the championship, winning the 100-yard freestyle with a time of 52.59 and establishing a NCAA “B” performance, while Kari Slawson also earned her second crown of the meet after finishing first in the 1,650-yard freestyle with a clocking of 18:00.09. On Thursday, Hake won the 50-yard freestyle and Slawson earned the 500-yard freestyle title.

Amy Bennett placed first in the 200-yard butterfly with a time of 2:11.71.

The Pointers’ 400-yard freestyle relay quartet of Kesley Crunstedt, Jerica Crook, Beth Bard and Hake surpassed the NCAA “B” qualifying mark with a time of 3:33.70. It was UW-Stevens Point’s third relay title at the championship.

UW-La Crosse’s Amanda Medendorp earned the Diver of the Meet award for the second straight season after winning both diving events during the first two days of the meet.

UW-Stevens Point head coach Al Boelk was voted the league’s women’s coach of the year for the third straight season and fifth time in his career. He also won the award 2000 and 2003.

UW-La Crosse head coach Rich Pein was named the WIAC men’s coach of the year for the fourth time in his career. He also claimed the honor in 1992, 1995 and 2001.

UW-Eau Claire’s Nick Peterson was selected the conference’s Max Sparger Scholar-Athlete, while UW-Stevens Point’s Beth Bard earned the Judy Kruckman Scholar-Athlete award.

Men’s Swimmer of the Meet: Anthony Schmidt of UW-La Crosse
Men’s Diver of the Meet: Jacob Chadderdon of UW-Oshkosh
Men’s Coach of the Year: Rich Pein of UW-La Crosse
Max Sparger Scholar-Athlete: Nick Peterson of UW-Eau Claire

Women’s Swimmer of the Meet: Abby Strobel of UW-Stevens Point
Women’s Diver of the Meet: Amanda Medendorp of UW-La Crosse
Women’s Coach of the Year: Al Boelk of UW-Stevens Point
Judy Kruckman Scholar-Athlete: Beth Bard of UW-Stevens Point

Final Team Scores
Men
1. UW-Stevens Point 993.50
2. UW-La Crosse 900.50
3. UW-Eau Claire 460.50
4. UW-Whitewater 365
5. UW-Oshkosh 244
6. UW-River Falls 199.50

Women
1. UW-Stevens Point 914
2. UW-La Crosse 882
3. UW-Eau Claire 507
4. UW-Whitewater 457
5. UW-Oshkosh 310
6. UW-River Falls 175

Day Three Champions
Men
100-Yard Freestyle: Chase Gross (UW-Stevens Point), 46.47
1,650-Yard Freestyle: Karl Richters (UW-La Crosse), 16:44.83
200-Yard Butterfly: Rob Donisch (UW-Stevens Point), 1:55.72
200-Yard Backstroke: Anthony Schmidt (UW-La Crosse), 1:55.73
200-Yard Breaststroke: Ben Gensler (UW-Stevens Point), 2:04.90
Three-Meter Diving: Jacob Chadderdon (UW-Oshkosh), 510.45

400-Yard Freestyle Relay: UW-La Crosse (Matthew Diehl, Christopher Boyle, Michael Beilman, Anthony Wolff), 3:05.78

Women
100-Yard Freestyle: Caitlin Hake (UW-Stevens Point), 52.59
1,650-Yard Freestyle: Kari Slawson (UW-Stevens Point), 18:00.09
200-Yard Butterfly: Amy Bennett (UW-Stevens Point), 2:11.71
200-Yard Backstroke: Abby Strobel (UW-Stevens Point), 2:08.16
200-Yard Breaststroke: Kristen Bennett (UW-Stevens Point), 2:24.74

400-Yard Freestyle Relay: UW-Stevens Point (Kelsey Crunstedt, Jerica Crook, Beth Bard, Caitlin Hake), 3:33.70

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UW-La Crosse Men, UW-Stevens Point Women Hold Slim Leads at Swimming & Diving Championships

RELEASED: Friday, February 16, 2007

Stevens Point, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-La Crosse’s men’s team and UW-Stevens Point’s women’s team hold slim leads following the second of three days of competition at the 2007 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) swimming and diving championships at UW-Stevens Point.

UW-La Crosse’s men’s squad has compiled 591 points and holds a two-point lead over seven-time defending champion UW-Stevens Point. The Pointers have totaled 589 points and are followed by UW-Eau Claire (307 points), UW-Whitewater (301 points), UW-Oshkosh (209 points) and UW-River Falls (131 points).

UW-Stevens Point’s women’s team, the defending conference champion, has totaled 661.50 points. The Pointers are followed by UW-La Crosse (649.50 points), UW-Eau Claire (307.50 points), UW-Whitewater (258 points), UW-Oshkosh (189 points) and UW-River Falls (158.50 points).

UW-Stevens Point’s men’s team captured four individual titles during the second day of competition. Chase Gross won the 200-yard freestyle for the second straight year with a NCAA “B” qualifying time of 1:42.83, while Ben Gensler also established a “B”-cut mark in winning the 100-yard breaststroke in 58.33.

The Pointers’ Rob Donisch secured the 100-yard butterfly with a time of 52.15 and Willie Clapp was victorious in the 100-yard backstroke with a mark of 54.05.

UW-La Crosse’s Anthony Schmidt won his second championship in as many days, finishing first in the 400-yard individual medley for the third consecutive season with a NCAA “B” qualifying clocking of 4:10.66. He claimed the 200-yard individual medley title yesterday.

The Eagles also won both relay events during Friday’s competition. The 200-yard medley relay quartet of Adam Carlson, Cole Swanson, Anthony Wolff and Matthew Diehl finished first with a NCAA “B” qualifying performance of 1:34.21.

Diehl, Karl Richters, Joel Coyne and Michael Beilman set a pool record and NCAA “B” qualifying time en route to winning the 800-yard freestyle relay in 6:57.74.

The men’s three-meter diving competition will be completed tomorrow.

In the women’s race, UW-Stevens Point claimed four individual titles and one relay trophy during the second of competition. The Pointers were led by Abby Strobel, who captured her second title in as many days, winning the 400-yard individual medley in 4:40.67. She claimed the 200-yard individual medley crown yesterday.

The Pointers’ Meghan Walsh won the 100-yard butterfly for the third straight season with a clocking of 59.90, while Jerica Crook claimed the 200-yard freestyle in 1:57.83 and Kristen Bennett was victorious in the 100-yard breaststroke with a time of 1:08.28.

Crook, Stephanie Boehme, Bridget Gormley and Alissa Colbert teamed to win the 800-yard freestyle relay with a time of 7:56.70.

UW-La Crosse’s Amanda Medendorp established a conference record in the one-meter diving competition with a score of 453.75, surpassing the previous total of 440.95 set by UW-Eau Claire’s Sara Mulatz in 1996. This marked the second straight year Medendorp has won the one-meter event. She also claimed the three-meter board yesterday.

The Eagles’ Kristi Parker secured the 100-yard backstroke with a NCAA “B” qualifying mark of 59.94. She also teamed with Brianna Peyer, Kelly Hackbarth and Clare Hathaway to set a pool record and establish a NCAA “B” performance with a time of 1:48.50 in the 200-yard medley relay.

Competition at the WIAC championships continues tomorrow with prelims at 10 a.m. and the finals at 6 p.m.

Day Two Champions
Men
200-Yard Freestyle: Chase Gross (UW-Stevens Point), 1:42.83
100-Yard Butterfly: Rob Donisch (UW-Stevens Point), 52.15
100-Yard Backstroke: Willie Clapp (UW-Stevens Point), 54.05
100-Yard Breaststroke: Ben Gensler (UW-Stevens Point), 58.33
400-Yard Individual Medley: Anthony Schmidt (UW-La Crosse), 4:10.66

800-Yard Freestyle Relay: UW-La Crosse (Karl Richters, Matthew Diehl, Joel Coyne, Michael Beilman), 6:57.74

200-Yard Medley Relay: UW-La Crosse (Adam Carlson, Cole Swanson, Anthony Wolff, Matthew Diehl), 1:34.21

Women
200-Yard Freestyle: Jerica Crook (UW-Stevens Point), 1:57.83
100-Yard Butterfly: Meghan Walsh (UW-Stevens Point), 59.90
100-Yard Backstroke: Kristi Parker (UW-La Crosse), 59.94
100-Yard Breaststroke: Kristen Bennett (UW-Stevens Point), 1:08.28
400-Yard Individual Medley: Abby Strobel (UW-Stevens Point), 4:40.67
One-Meter Diving: Amanda Medendorp (UW-La Crosse), 453.75*

800-Yard Freestyle Relay: UW-Stevens Point (Jerica Crook, Stephanie Boehme, Bridget Gormley, Alissa Colbert), 7:56.70

200-Yard Medley Relay: UW-La Crosse (Kristi Parker, Brianna Peyer, Kelly Hackbarth, Clare Hathaway), 1:48.50

*Conference Record

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UW-Stevens Point Holds First Day Lead at Swimming and Diving Championships

RELEASED: Thursday, February 15, 2007

Stevens Point, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point’s men’s and women’s teams lead the 2007 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) swimming and diving championships following the first of three days of competition at UW-Stevens Point.

The seven-time defending champion men’s squad compiled 261 points to outdistance UW-La Crosse with 260 points. The Eagles are followed by UW-Whitewater (141 points), UW-Eau Claire (139 points), UW-Oshkosh (116 points) and UW-River Falls (56 points).

UW-Stevens Point’s women’s squad, which claimed last year’s championship, totaled 292.50 points. UW-La Crosse is second with 270 points, followed by UW-Eau Claire (120 points), UW-Whitewater (95 points), UW-Oshkosh (86 points) and UW-River Falls (78.50 points).

In the men’s race, UW-La Crosse secured three individual titles and one relay crown. Matthew Diehl captured the 50-yard freestyle with a NCAA “B” qualifying time of 20.80, while Joel Coyne won the 500-yard freestyle with a performance of 4:44.96 and Anthony Schmidt claimed the 200-yard individual medley with a clocking of 1:55.72.

The Eagles’ 200-yard freestyle relay team of Diehl, Christopher Boyle, Adam Carlson and Anthony Wolff established a NCAA “B” qualifying time of 1:23.55 en route to winning the event.

UW-Eau Claire’s Bryan Dykstra claimed the one-meter diving competition with 480.10 points.

UW-Stevens Point’s Matt Meyer, Ben Gensler, Rob Donisch and Chase Gross earned a NCAA “B” qualifying time in winning the 400-yard medley relay with a performance of 3:26.86.

In the women’s contest, defending champion UW-Stevens Point claimed three individual titles and one relay crown during the opening day of events. Caitlin Hake defended her title in the 50-yard freestyle with a NCAA “B” qualifying time of 24.14, while Abby Strobel protected her crown in the 200-yard individual medley with a performance of 2:12.15 and Kari Slawson claimed the 500-yard freestyle with a time of 5:12.49.

UW-Stevens Point’s 400-yard medley relay team of Strobel, Trish Nye, Meghan Walsh and Hake finished first, posting a NCAA “B” qualifying performance of 3:57.97.

UW-La Crosse’s Amanda Medendorp won the three-meter diving competition for the second straight year with a score of 480.25, while Clare Hathaway, Brianna Peyer, Danielle Rux and Heather Vogts teamed to win the 200-yard freestyle relay in 1:38.46.

Day One Champions
Men
50-Yard Freestyle--Matthew Diehl (UW-La Crosse), 20.80
500-Yard Freestyle--Joel Coyne (UW-La Crosse), 4:44.96
200-Yard Individual Medley--Anthony Schmidt (UW-La Crosse), 1:55.72
One-Meter Diving--Bryan Dykstra (UW-Eau Claire), 480.10

200-Yard Freestyle Relay--UW-La Crosse (Matthew Diehl, Christopher Boyle, Adam Carlson, Anthony Wolff), 1:23.55

400-Yard Medley Relay--UW-Stevens Point (Matt Meyer, Ben Gensler, Rob Donisch, Chase Gross), 3:26.86

Women
50-Yard Freestyle--Caitlin Hake (UW-Stevens Point), 24.14
500-Yard Freestyle--Kari Slawson (UW-Stevens Point), 5:12.49
200-Yard Individual Medley--Abby Strobel (UW-Stevens Point), 2:12.15
Three-Meter Diving--Amanda Medendorp (UW-La Crosse), 480.25

200-Yard Freestyle Relay--UW-La Crosse (Clare Hathaway, Brianna Peyer, Danielle Rux, Heather Vogts), 1:38.46

400-Yard Medley Relay--UW-Stevens Point (Abby Strobel, Trish Nye, Meghan Walsh, Caitlin Hake), 3:57.97

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UW-Oshkosh's Schettle Wins NCAA Sportsmanship Award

RELEASED: Tuesday, September 19, 2006

Oshkosh, Wis.--Sarah Schettle, a top student, outstanding athlete and a campus leader at UW-Oshkosh - can add the 2006 NCAA Division III Sportsmanship Award to her list of accomplishments.

The Oshkosh senior, who carries a 3.90 grade-point average with majors in chemistry and Spanish, was one of two nationwide - one man and one woman - to win the sportsmanship honor from the NCAA Committee on Sportsmanship and Ethical Conduct.

The award is for sportsmanship that "characterizes the highest level of respect, caring, fairness, civility, honesty, integrity and responsibility during competition."

The top award recipients are chosen from athletes in NCAA Division I, II and III schools. Separate awards go to a man and woman student athlete from each of the three divisions.

It's just the latest award for Schettle.

This summer, she also was selected for the Ronald Reagan College Leaders Scholarship for the second straight year.

In 2005, she was one of 100 nationwide to receive a $5,000 Reagan scholarship. This year, she was one of only 26 to receive a $1,000 renewable Reagan award.

A student leader since her freshman year, Schettle has been a volunteer with Student Legal Services and many student organizations, Reichenberger said.

Schettle attributes her success to the opportunities she has been given by UW-Oshkosh faculty and coaches and the support of her family. Home-schooled until sixth grade, she said that instilled in her a love of learning.

Schettle has been active in such campus organizations as No Limits Support Association; Student Alumni Ambassadors, of which she is vice president; University Honors Program; Athletes in Action; Biology Club (president) and the Optimist Club.

She is a leader of the New Voters Project, volunteers with the Winnebago County Republican Party and is a leader of College Republicans at UW-Oshkosh.

In the community, she volunteers in blood drives and for Special Olympics.

Schettle was selected to present her research at the UW System Symposium for Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity in 2005. She is a research assistant for UW-Oshkosh microbiology professor Toivo Kallas, who has been awarded several major National Science Foundation grants for research involving photosynthesis.

She has excelled in both swimming and track at UW-Oshkosh.

Schettle was one of four members of the national champion 2006 UW-Oshkosh women's track and field team to be named to the NCAA Division III Women's Indoor Track and Field All-Academic Team by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). She was a member of the 1,600-meter relay team that placed fifth at the 2006 NCAA Division III Indoor Championship.

Schettle is one of nine UW-Oshkosh student-athletes on the USTFCCCA's 2006 NCAA Division III Women's Outdoor Track and Field All-Academic Team.

Other scholarships Schettle has received include the Kimberly Clark Bright Future Scholarship, the UW-Oshkosh Foundation Scholarship and John E. Kerrigan Scholarship.

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Blugold Swim Program Makes Coaching Change

RELEASED: Monday, September 11, 2006

Eau Claire, Wis.--Rob Welcher has stepped down as the UW-Eau Claire head men's and women's swim coach and Director of Athletics Scott Kilgallon has named Jerry Kollross to take his place for the 2006-07 academic year.

Kilgallon also announced that assistant coach Art Brandt has been elevated to Associate Head Swim Coach and Debi Beachel will return as the men's and women's diving coach.

Welcher has been the head coach for the past five years and was the WIAC women's co-Coach of the Year in 2004-05. The Blugold men have finished third in the WIAC the past five years and the women third the past four years.

Kollross is a 1984 UW-La Crosse graduate with a bachelor's degree in marketing. He will finish his MBA from UW-Eau Claire in December. While at La Crosse, Kollross was a two-time conference champion in both the 50-yard freestyle and the 100-yard freestyle, setting conference records at the time. He also was an NAIA national champion in the 50 and 100 freestyle in 1984 and still holds the UWL school records in those events. He has since been inducted into the UWL Athletic Wall of Fame.

Last year, Kollross was a volunteer assistant for the Blugold men's and women's programs and also served as a volunteer for the Memorial High School girls' team for two years. He was the head coach at Maple Bluff Country Club in Madison for two years and served two years as a volunteer assistant for the legendary coach Jack Pettinger at UW-Madison.

Kollross qualified and swam in the Olympic Trials in 1988 and in 2000 set a Minnesota Masters swimming state record in the 50 freestyle.

Since his graduation from La Crosse, Kollross has been involved in various business capacities across the country. He is currently president and owner of Top Golf Products L.L.C. in Eau Claire, selling golf event programs and products to corporate customers including Pepsi Cola and American Family Insurance.

He and his wife Linda have three daughters: Katie, Taylor and Alexis, and have resided in Eau Claire for the past eight years.

Brandt, a former Menomonie High School swim coach and teacher, has been a Blugold assistant coach the past three seasons. He also teaches in the university's special education department.

Beachel is entering her 12th season as the head diving coach for the Blugolds. During her tenure, she has qualified a diver for the national championships in all but one season. She was named the Division III Men's Diving Coach of the Year on three occasions. Under her tutelage, John Karpe won NCAA diving championships in 1997, 1998 and 1999.

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Rollings Named UW-Whitewater Swim Coordinator

RELEASED: Thursday, August 31, 2006

Whitewater, Wis.--Joel Rollings has been named swimming and diving coordinator at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.

Rollings swam competitively for the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (1991-1993) and has coached at the high school, club and collegiate level.

"Joel brings a wealth of coaching experience that will aid our student athletes immensely," UW-W director of athletics Dr. Paul Plinske said. "What intrigues me most about Joel is his passion for the student athlete, his level of integrity, and his understanding of building a successful program."

Rollings most recently served as the interim assistant swim coach at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee last fall. Prior to that he was the head coach for the Germantown (WI) Swim Club for four years. From 1998-2000 Rollings was the head age group coach for the highly respected Phillips 66 Splash Club in Oklahoma (1996-98), preceded by a stint as a graduate assistant coach for Texas Christian University (1996-98). His first coaching job, from 1992-96, was as the head boy's and girl's coach at Grafton (WI) High School.

Rollings swam for UW-Milwaukee (1991-93), and graduated from UW-M in 1994 with a bachelor's degree in Kinesiology. While in school he also played fro the Milwaukee Water Polo Club. He received a master's in liberal arts from Texas Christian in 1998.

Rollings is the coaches representative for Wisconsin Master's Swimming, and the Senior Chair for Wisconsin Swimming. He has also served as a USA Swimming Zone Site Selection Committee member, and has attended several age group conferences and workshops. He has certifications in Red Cross First Aid, Red Cross CPR, use of an automated external defibrillator, lifeguard training, coaches safety training, and a holds a certified pool operator's license.

Rollings takes over for Debbie Thompson, who left in June to take a position in Indiana.

"Debbie Thompson was a highly regarded professional on our campus and in the swimming community," Plinske noted. "It was very important for me to build on her establishment with someone of Joel's caliber. We are very excited to move this program forward with Joel Rollings as our next head swimming and diving coach."

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