UW-L Continues to Lead After Second Day of WIAC Championships; Eagles Win Six Events

For Immediate Release: Friday, Feb. 20, 2009

Brown Deer, Wis. - The UW-La Crosse women's swimming & diving team continues to lead after the second day of competition at the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Championships Friday at the Walter Schroeder Aquatic Center. The Eagles have 661 team points while UW-Stevens Point is second with 527. UW-Eau Claire is in third-place (370) followed by UW-Whitewater (240), UW-Oshkosh (135) and UW-River Falls (79).

UW-L captured six titles Friday, including five individually. Danielle Ellingson captured the 400 I.M. (4:28.26) for the Eagles while Kacie O'Brien took the 100 butterfly (59.04), Brianna Peyer the 100 breaststroke (1:04.19), Chelsea Hoff the 100 backstroke (55.94) and Shannon Doyle the 1-meter diving competition (400.80 points). Ellingson, Peyer and Hoff all met NCAA Division III "A" qualifying times and set WIAC Championship records in their wins.

The Eagles' 200 medley relay also earned an "A" qualifying mark with a first-place and league record time of 1:43.43. UW-L placed second in the 800 freestyle relay. The relay of Ellingson, Katelyn Hartung, Clare Hathaway and Anita Talavera finished with a "B" qualifying time of 7:38.14.

Other top finishers Friday included Jennifer Bryson placing second (58.70) and Elisabeth Misener fifth (1:00.40) in the 100 backstroke while Hartung was second (1:53.33) and Hathaway sixth (1:56.37) in the 200 freestyle. Bryson also finished sixth (4:38.23) in the 400 I.M. while Maria Krisch was eighth (4:41.35). Bryson earned "B" national qualifying times in the 100 backstroke and 400 I.M. while Hartung earned the standard in the 200 freestyle.

UW-L's Danielle Gray finished fourth in the 100 butterfly (59.74) while teammate Colleen Tierney was fifth (59.99). In the 100 breaststroke, O'Brien finished fourth (1:05.54) and Melissa Klotz fifth (1:06.67) as both met "B" qualifying times.

Five of the top-seven finishers in the 1-meter diving competition were Eagles. Along with Doyle winning the title, Rachael LaValley was second (390.35 points), Samantha Koch third (381.15), Kelly Schippers sixth (325.60) and Megan Wheeler seventh (298.25).

For Friday's complete results, click here.

Action continues Saturday, Feb. 21 with the third and final day of competition of the WIAC Championships.