UW-L in Second-Place After First Day of WIAC Championships; Dembski Wins 500 Freestyle

For Immediate Release: Thursday, Feb. 19, 2009

Brown Deer, Wis. - The UW-La Crosse men's swimming & diving team is in second-place after the first day of competition at the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Championships Thursday at the Walter Schroeder Aquatic Center. The Eagles have 247.5 points while UW-Stevens Point leads with 285.0. UW-Eau Claire is in third-place (156.5) followed by UW-Whitewater (155.0), UW-Oshkosh (73.0) and UW-River Falls (57.0).

UW-L's Justin Dembski captured the 500 freestyle title Thursday night with an NCAA Division III "B" qualifying time of 4:36.47. The Eagles' Colin Schmidt was fifth in the 500 freestyle (4:45.67).

The Eagles' 200 freestyle relay (1:23.06) and 400 medley relay (3:27.82) both placed second Thursday. Both finished with national "B" qualifying times.

Matt Diehl led four swimmers in the top-eight in the 200 I.M. for UW-L with a second-place finish (1:53.62). The time is also a "B" qualifying mark. Teammates Michael Beilman was fifth (1:57.23) in the 200 I.M. while Chad Martin finished seventh (2:00.63) and Casey Borden eighth (2:02.45).

UW-L's Spencer Loch earned an NCAA III "B" qualifying time with a third-place finish in the 50 freestyle (21.12). Joel Knuesel was seventh (21.64) and Ben Knutson eighth (21.67).

In diving competition Thursday, the Eagles' Trey Edgerle placed sixth in the 1-meter (365.10 points) while Casey Chamberlain was seventh (342.55), Tannor Classon ninth (371.90) and Patrick Schulze tied for 11th (341.85).

For complete results, click here.

Action continues Friday, Feb. 20 with the second day of competition of the WIAC Championships.