Titans Ready To Make A Splash At WIAC Championship

UW-Oshkosh looks to ride the momentum of its dual meet sweep when it competes at the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Women’s Swimming & Diving Championship this weekend in Brown Deer. Competition in the three-day meet begins Thursday (Feb. 17) and concludes on Saturday (Feb. 19) at the Schroeder Aquatic Center.

The Titans are coming off a date with Ripon College in which they won all 13 events. UW-Oshkosh has placed fifth at the league championship during each of the past five seasons. UW-Stevens Point won last year’s title with 878.5 points, topping UW-La Crosse’s 792, UW-Eau Claire’s 788.5, UW-Whitewater’s 367, UW-Oshkosh’s 236 and UW-River Falls' 171.

UW-Oshkosh's Melissa Harvey (Jr. • Kingsford, Mich.), Emily Shandley (So. • Oak Creek) and Samantha Sommers (Jr. • Suamico) won two events apiece the last time they hit the water. Harvey and Sommers are expected to shine in the 200-yard individual medley at the WIAC Championship, while Harvey also excels in the shorter backstroke events. Sommers will likely post her best finishes in the butterfly competitions, as Shandley hopes to keep pace in her freestyle races.

UW-La Crosse’s Katelyn Hartung is trying to become the third swimmer in conference history to win the 100-yard freestyle three consecutive years. The Eagles also feature Danielle Ellingson, who owns three titles in the breaststroke and individual medley events.

Rachel LaValley of UW-La Crosse will try to achieve a three-peat in the three-meter diving. She also is the defending one-meter diving champion. There are 16 individuals who own a WIAC title who will compete in this year’s event, the 40th edition.