Oct. 19, 2009

The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee men's swimming & diving team gets back in action this week, heading to Iowa City, Iowa for a meet with Big Ten foes Iowa and Michigan State. The three-team clash in the pool gets underway at 4 p.m. this Friday.

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SCOUTING THE MEET:
The Panthers have not taken on either of the teams very often in program history, as they carry an all-time record of 0-2 against Iowa and have never swam against Michigan State.

The Hawkeyes are 2-0, beating Truman State in their opener before topping Wisconsin, 162-138 The men will be led by senior Nick Divan, who leads the team in the 500 free (4:21.25), and 1,650 free (15:14.78) which rank fifth and fourth, on the Iowa's all-time best performers list. The Hawkeye men will also return top swimmers, junior Max Dittmer and junior Sean Hagan. Dittmer is the teams top backstroker, 100 (49.41) in the 200 (1:48.33), ranking seventh and eighth in school history. Hagan is the teams lead breaststroker with his 100 (54.93) and 200 (1:59.89) both ranking fourth in school history.

LAST TIME IN THE POOL:
The University of Wisconsin used a strong effort in diving and victories in nine swimming events to hand UWM a 177.5-64.5 loss Oct. 9, the season opener for both teams.

Junior Dan Heraly led the way for the Panthers with a victory in the 1000 freestyle. Senior Jeremy Waldhart, junior Jake Kalinowski, sophomore Jordan Diel and freshman Nathan Welchlin all added second-place efforts on the night.

Heraly led off the meet with a high note for UWM, going 9:53.81 in the 1000 for the win. Freshman Cris Smith was fourth in the race in 10:09.37. Heraly also took fourth in the 500 free later in the meet.

Waldhart placed second in the 100 backstroke in 52.85, while Kalinowski nearly had the win in the 50 free. His time of 21.75 tied for second, just three-hundredths of a second behind the winning time of 21.72.

LEAGUE NOTICE:
Heraly and sophomore Jake Koll were honored for their efforts against Wisconsin, as they were selected as the Horizon League Diver and Swimmer of the Week.

Heraly led the way against the Badgers, winning the 1000 freestyle in 9:53.81. He also took fourth place in the 500 free in a time of 4:48.95.

Koll was UWM's top finisher in the diving events for the men, placing fifth in the three-meter and sixth on the one-meter, to earn the men's league Diver of Week.

LAST YEAR:
As noted, the Panthers have never swum against MSU and have not competed against Iowa since 2006.

That season, the Panthers were defeated by Hawkeyes, 246-105.

UP NEXT:
Milwaukee will take to the road for a busy weekend, swimming against Wright State Friday. The, it will be off to Michigan for a meet against Eastern Michigan and Toledo.