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.