Dec. 4, 2009

Results

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's swimming team opened competition Friday at the Falcon Invitational with several season-best performances. The non-scoring meet has Milwaukee competing in the same division as St. Cloud State, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, MSU Mankato, Minnesota, MSU Moorhead and the University of South Dakota.

Top finishers included sophomore Heidi Niespodzany, freshman Parker Watson and the 200 freestyle relay team.

"We had a very solid meet from top to bottom today," UWM assistant coach Kyle Clements said. "We had a lot of season-bests and some lifetime bests and really put together some great relays. The team was prepared to swim today and it showed."

Niespodzany established a season-best in the 500 freestyle, taking third in 5:06.20. Watson's season-best came in the 100 butterfly, where she touched the wall in 59.44 to take third. Freshman teammate Randee Cardinal was right behind in that race, taking fourth in 59.64.

The 200 free relay team of Cardinal, sophomore Danielle Chapman, junior Ellie Gross and Watson opened the meet with a second-place showing, coming in with a time of 1:37.91.

Gross contributed in the 500 free and 200 freestyle as well, taking fifth in the 500 (5:11.15) and fourth in the 200 free in a season-best 1:56.32.

Watson was the top finisher for UWM in the 50 free, taking fifth in a season-best 24.54. Sophomore Maggie Pease established a career-best in the 100 backstroke, placing sixth in a time of 1:00.85.

The Panthers top finisher in the 200 IM was freshman Maggi Beck (2:11.66) and in the 100 breaststroke was senior Kerry Rossow (1:06.37).