OSHKOSH, Wis. — The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire men's and women's swimming and diving teams opened the season with dominant performances against UW-Oshkosh on Saturday. The Blugold women won 214-48, while the men earned a 242-19 victory over the Titans.
Women's swimming delivered strong performances across the pool, led by Anwen Smith, who won the 100-yard butterfly in 59.28 seconds and the 100-yard freestyle in 55.35 seconds. Smith also helped the Blugolds win the 200-yard medley relay alongside Claire Lemke, Amber Winter and Abby Voelker in 1:50.47. Faith Oswald won the 50-yard butterfly in 26.82 seconds and placed second in the 100-yard butterfly. Winter captured the 50-yard breaststroke in 30.72 seconds, while Erika Schroeder won the 200-yard freestyle in 2:02.25. Anna Klug added a first-place finish in the 50-yard freestyle in 25.09 seconds.
UW-Eau Claire also had strong performances in distance and relay events. Linnea Brandt won the 1,000-yard freestyle in 10:53.97, followed by Amanda Hyland and Abigail Warnke. The Blugolds claimed the top three finishes in the 200-yard freestyle, with Schroeder, Jayne Satre and Megan Chapman finishing within two-tenths of a second of one another. The team also placed first through fifth in the 50-yard butterfly. The 200-yard freestyle relay team of Oswald, Payton Keezer, Satre and Klug finished first in 1:42.23.
In women's diving, Sierra Jones placed second in the 1-meter event with 180.50 points, while Julia Schluter finished third with 177.80 points. In the 3-meter event, Schluter placed second with 171.25 points, followed by Jones in third with 164.40 points.
The men's team also controlled the meet, winning multiple events and sweeping the top spots across several races. Emmett Botten won the 100-yard butterfly in 51.82 seconds and the 50-yard butterfly in 23.34 seconds. Henry Botten captured the 100-yard individual medley in 55.21 seconds, while Jack Gunderson won the 50-yard breaststroke in 26.96 seconds. Drew Testin took first in the 100-yard backstroke in 55.42 seconds, and Derek Stadheim won the 500-yard freestyle in 4:52.43. Gabe Lenzen added victories in the 200-yard freestyle in 1:45.54 and the 100-yard freestyle in 48.57 seconds.
UW-Eau Claire's depth was on display in the relay events. The team of Everest Hodorowski, Gunderson, Carter Johnson and Testin won the 200-yard medley relay in 1:36.86. The Blugolds then claimed the top four positions in the 200-yard freestyle relay, led by Hodorowski, Gunderson, Carter O'Leary and Winston Walkup, who finished in 1:26.76.
Men's diving also produced two event victories for the Blugolds. Tait Johnson won the 1-meter event with 229.75 points, followed by Charlie Nohner in second with 201.80 points. Nohner claimed first in the 3-meter event with 204.05 points, while Johnson finished second with 188.75 points. Micah Herman placed fourth in both events.
The Blugolds return to action Saturday, Oct. 17, when they compete in the MIAC vs. WIAC meet at 1 p.m. at the Rochester Rec Center in Rochester, Minnesota.
