LA CROSSE, Wis. (blugolds.com) — The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire men's and women's swim and dive teams earned a sweep of UW-La Crosse in a Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) dual on Saturday. The men won 188.5-111.5, while the women prevailed 156-144.
"Today's meet was once again a true team effort," Blugolds head coach
Annie Ryder said. "Every swim, every dive matters. In a meet where it comes down to a handful of points, every single person on the team played a role in today's win. From the dives they dive, their swims and the energy they bring on deck, every swimmer and diver had a positive impact on the outcome of this meet. The great thing about this team is their passion for the team being successful, their willingness to do the work to be better and the support they show for their teammates. I was very pleased with how they swam and dove and that we were able to come away with the win."
Both teams remained unbeaten in duals this season with their victories.
The performance of
Blake Wallen (Fr. - Savage, Minn./Prior Lake) was one of the highlights of the men's performance. He swept both diving events, scoring a 268.25 on the three-meter and 282.30 on the one-meter, making an NCAA zone cut on the one-meter board.
The Blugold men won all but three of the swimming events. The Blugolds had a few multi-event winners in
Zhander Rowley (So. - Janesville, Wis./Parker),
Sam Ryf (Sr. - Berlin, Wis.) and
Kadin Denner (Jr. - Aurora, Colo.). Denner won three individual events, prevailing in the 100-yard backstroke, 500-yard freestyle and 200-yard IM. He was also part of the victorious 200-yard medley relay team. Rowley swept the 100- and 200-yard breastroke. Ryf won the 200-yard butterfly and 200-yard backstroke.
The Blugold women had a big day in the swimming events too, picking up eight victories.
Elaina Plonis (Jr. - Macomb, Mich./Eisenhower) swept the 100- and 200-yard butterfly.
Kiara Bissen (Jr. - Madison, Wis./Memorial) won both the 100-yard freestyle and the 200-yard IM, and
Ella Weaver (Sr. - McFarland, Wis.) won the 100- and 200-yard breaststroke. Their event wins plus a few others helped the Blugolds hold off a strong Eagles squad.
UW-Eau Claire will be back in the pool on Saturday, Nov. 11. The men will visit St. John's (Minn.) at 1 p.m., while the women will compete in a triangular with St. Catherine and Saint Benedict at 1 p.m. in St. Paul, Minn.
