UWM Heads To Green Bay For Horizon League Championships
MILWAUKEE, Wis. (Oct. 30, 2008) - The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee men's and women's cross country teams head to Green Bay, Wis., Saturday for the 2008 Horizon League Championships, hosted by Green Bay. The meet gets underway at 11 a.m. with the men's race. The women will then run at noon. The last time the Horizon League Championships were in Wisconsin was 2004 when UWM hosted in Kenosha. Both teams finished third at that meet. And, the last time GB was the host school, the women took third and the men fourth. The Panther women finished second at the meet last season for the first time as a member of the Horizon League. Four runners earned all-league status for Milwaukee, including a pair of all-league second-team performers that return this season in junior Abbie Zaspel and senior Erin Magargee. The duo have finished first and second at every meet for UWM this season, while an experienced set has filled out the scoring five. Seniors Danielle Magargee and Elizabeth Brothen have competed for third scoring honors throughout the season, while the depth also extends to junior Laura Ring and sophomore Tanaiya Fisher. Each has been consistently scoring, while getting better as the season progresses. On the men's side, the team is looking to rebound from an uncharacteristic eighth-place finish. A returning class of all juniors, combined with a talented group of freshman, has head coach Pete Corfeld confident that the team can rebound in 2008.
This season, junior Ryan Mleziva and freshman Dan Uphoff have been the team's top two runners each time out. At each of the first three meets this season, Mleziva was the first Panther finisher and Uphoff was within six seconds behind. Then, two weeks ago at the Bradley Classic, Uphoff took top honors for the first time in his career. The remainder of the squad has been consistent throughout the season. Freshman Ryan Baumgartner has established himself as the team's third runner, while another freshman, Chris Schuenke, has finished fourth on the team at the last three meets. A number of runners have scored in the fifth spot and that competition can only help the Panthers this weekend. Both teams are coming off top-half finishes at the Bradley Classic Oct. 17 in Peoria, Ill. The Panther women were seventh in a 15-team field, while the men were sixth out of 12. Milwaukee's season does not end with the league championships. The Panthers will be in action next at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional, Nov. 15, in Lafayette, Ind. |
