Men's Swimming and Diving

UW-Eau Claire Wins Second Straight Men’s Swimming & Diving Title

BROWN DEER, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire won its second straight title at the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Men’s Swimming & Diving Championship (presented by Culver’s) at Walter Schroeder Aquatic Center on Feb. 22.
 
The Blugolds secured the conference-best 27th championship in program history after compiling with 848.50 points during the four-day event. UW-La Crosse placed second with 752 points, UW-Stevens Point third with 710, UW-Whitewater fourth with 487.50 and UW-Oshkosh fifth with 282.
 
UW-Eau Claire won five titles during the fourth day of competition. Kadin Denner secured the 1,650-yard freestyle for the third consecutive year with a time of 15:49.21, while Zhander Rowley was victorious in the 200-yard breaststroke for the second straight season with a time of 2:01.40, and Adam Kamel claimed the 200-yard backstroke with a time of 1:51.79.
 
Ben Keller won the 200-yard butterfly with a time of 1:52.99 and was tabbed the Kwik Trip Swimmer of the Meet, while Blake Wallen secured the three-meter diving crown with 495.50 points. Wallen shared Kwik Trip Diver of the Meet recognition with UW-Stevens Point’s Declan Trant.
 
UW-La Crosse’s Blake Nelson was victorious in the 100-yard freestyle for the second straight year with a time of 45.08 seconds, and was a member of the first-place 400-yard freestyle relay that had a time of 3:04.68. He was joined on the relay by Alex Starr, Jesse Hammes and Tyler Hartmann.
 
UW-Stevens Point’s Wyatt Gross received Kwik Trip Newcomer of the Year honors. A newcomer is defined as a student-athlete who used his first season of participation in men's swimming & diving this season. Transfers are not eligible unless they didn’t participate in men’s swimming & diving at their previous institution.
 
UW-Eau Claire’s Annie Ryder received Kwik Trip Coach of the Year recognition.
 
Day Four Champions
1,650-Yard Freestyle:  Kadin Denner (UW-Eau Claire), 15:49.21
200-Yard Backstroke:  Adam Kamel (UW-Eau Claire), 1:51.79
100-Yard Freestyle:  Blake Nelson (UW-La Crosse), 45.08 seconds
200-Yard Breaststroke:  Zhander Rowley (UW-Eau Claire), 2:01.40
200-Yard Butterfly:  Ben Keller (UW-Eau Claire), 1:52.99
Three-Meter Diving:  Blake Wallen (UW-Eau Claire), 495.90 points

400-Yard Freestyle Relay:  UW-La Crosse (Blake Nelson, Alex Starr, Jesse Hammes, Tyler Hartmann), 3:04.68
 
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