Titans To Splash At WIAC Championships
The UW-Oshkosh men's and women's swimming & diving teams will compete at the WIAC Championships from Thursday through Saturday (Feb. 19-21) at the Walter Schroeder Aquatic Center in Brown Deer.
Action begins at 10 a.m. on each of the three days of competition. This is the 53rd championship for the men and the 44th for the women. Participating along with UW-Oshkosh in the five-team meet are UW-Eau Claire, UW-La Crosse, UW-Stevens Point and UW-Whitewater.
Last year, the UW-Stevens Point men captured their 15th consecutive title and 18th overall with 863 points. UW-La Crosse finished second with 765.5 points while UW-Whitewater placed third with 702.5, UW-Eau Claire fourth with 526, UW-Oshkosh fifth with 192 and UW-River Falls sixth with 191.
This year's men's championship features 15 student-athletes who have combined to win 15 individual and 19 relay first-place medals. UW-La Crosse's Justin Bublitz, who has claimed the Diver of the Meet honor the past two seasons, and UW-Stevens Point's Sam Jekel, who won both the 50- and 100-yard freestyle races at last year's championship, headline the list of returnees.
UW-Oshkosh competitors looking to finish in the top 12 of their event are Grady Hilgendorf in the 1,650-yard freestyle, Zach Hogan in the 100- and 200-yard backstrokes, Tyler Shircel in the 200-yard freestyle and 400-yard individual medley, and Myles Taylor in the 500-yard freestyle.
Last year, Hogan placed 13th in the 100-yard backstroke and 14th in the 200-yard backstroke. His time of 2:01.97 in the 200-yard backstroke established a school record.
UW-Eau Claire has won a WIAC-leading 25 men's titles, including 19 consecutive from 1978-96. UW-La Crosse has claimed four crowns, including three straight from 1969-71. UW-Oshkosh and UW-Whitewater are seeking their first championships.
In the women's division, UW-La Crosse will strive for a fourth straight title and 15th overall. Last season, the Eagles secured the conference championship with 893 points to top UW-Eau Claire's second-place total of 687. UW-Whitewater finished third with 665 points, UW-Stevens Point fourth with 632, UW-Oshkosh fifth with 253 and UW-River Falls sixth with 144.
This year's women's championship features 20 student-athletes who have combined to win 26 individual and 29 relay first-place medals. The meet's top returning performers are UW-La Crosse's Brooke Reynolds, who claimed Swimmer of the Meet honors a season ago, and UW-Stevens Point's Amanda Walker, who won last year's 200-, 500- and 1,650-yard freestyle races.
Katie Challoner leads UW-Oshkosh's returners after setting school records and placing second in both the 100- and 200-yard breaststroke events at last year's championship.
UW-Oshkosh's Britney Hilgendorf and Sally Hesby also finished in the top 10 at last year's meet. Hilgendorf placed ninth in the 1,650-yard freestyle while Hesby ranked ninth in the 3-meter diving and 10th in the 1-meter diving.
Hilgendorf swam to three school records at last year's meet while placing 11th in the 400-yard individual medley and 12th in the 500-yard freestyle.
UW-Oshkosh returns three other competitors who registered two top-16 finishes at last year's meet.
Katie Kubisiak placed 11th in the 100-yard breaststroke and 12th in the 200-yard breaststroke while Casey Houts finished 12th in the 1,650-yard freestyle and 14th in the 200-yard backstroke. Colleen Barnstable was 13th in the 3-meter diving and 16th in the 1-meter diving.
UW-Oshkosh participants looking to finish in the top 12 of their event are Challoner in the 200-yard individual medley, Hesby in both the 1- and 3-meter divings, Hilgendorf in the 100- and 200-yard breaststrokes, 500-yard freestyle, 400-yard individual medley and 1,650-yard freestyle, and Taylor Teske in the 100-yard backstroke.
UW-Eau Claire owns a league-best 19 women's team titles, including 18 consecutive from 1980-97. UW-Stevens Point has claimed six championships, all since 2000. UW-Oshkosh and UW-Whitewater are seeking their first crowns.