Women's Swimming and Diving

UW-La Crosse Wins Second Straight Women’s Swimming & Diving Championship

BROWN DEER, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-La Crosse won its second straight Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Women’s Swimming & Diving Championship (presented by Culver’s) following four days of competition at the Walter Schroeder Aquatic Center on Feb. 21.
 
It is the 23rd overall championship for UW-La Crosse. The Eagles compiled 994 points to surpass the 894.50 points by UW-Eau Claire. UW-Oshkosh took third with 467 points, UW-Stevens Point fourth with 411 and UW-Whitewater fifth with 368.50. UW-Oshkosh’s point total is its highest since the 2002 championship when the Titans had 616.
 
UW-La Crosse collected two individual titles and one relay crown during day four of the championship. Zoey Rank was victorious in the 200-yard breaststroke with a time of 2:24.19, while Hannah Martini won the three-meter diving competition with a score of 444.00. Martini was tabbed the Diver of the Meet.
 
Rank was a member of the first place 400-yard freestyle team that had a time of 3:29.17. She was joined by Ava Pulvermacher, Greta Wiskus and Libby Cleveland. Martini
 
UW-Eau Claire’s Elaina Plonis won the 200-yard butterfly for the fourth consecutive year with a time of 2:05.75. She is the third swimmer in WIAC history to win the event four straight times, joining UW-Stevens Point’s Nan Werdin (1991-94) and UW-La Crosse’s Elizabeth Miles (2002-05).
 
The Blugolds also received first-place performances from Molly Hosack in the 1,650-yard freestyle (17:20.68), Erika Schroeder in the 200-yard backstroke (2:04.14) and Anwen Smith in the 100-yard freestyle (51.67 seconds). Hosack was named the Swimmer of the Year, while Smith collected Newcomer of the Year accolades. A newcomer is defined as a student-athlete who used her first season of participation in women's swimming & diving this season. Transfers are not eligible unless they didn’t participate in women’s swimming & diving at their previous institution.
 
UW-Oshkosh head coach Christopher Culp received Coach of the Year honors.
 
Day Four Champions
1,650-Yard Freestyle:   Molly Hosack (UW-Eau Claire), 17:20.68
200-Yard Backstroke:  Erika Schroeder (UW-Eau Claire), 2:04.14
100-Yard Freestyle:  Anwen Smith (UW-Eau Claire), 51.67 seconds
200-Yard Breaststroke:  Zoey Rank (UW-La Crosse), 2:24.19
200-Yard Butterfly:  Elaina Plonis (UW-Eau Claire), 2:05.75
Three-Meter Diving:  Hannah Martini (UW-La Crosse), 444.00
 
400-Yard Freestyle Relay:  UW-La Crosse (Ava Pulvermacher, Zoey Rank, Greta Wiskus, Libby Cleveland), 3:29.17
 
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