University of Wisconsin-La Crosse will aim for a third consecutive first-place finish at the 2014 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Women’s Swimming & Diving Championship that will be held at Walter Schroeder Aquatic Center in Brown Deer, Wis., Feb. 20-22.  UW-Eau Claire is serving as the host institution for the 43rd edition of the women’s championship and 52nd annual men’s competition.

The Eagles secured the 13th championship in program archives a season ago with 910.50 points to top UW-Stevens Point’s second-place sum of 695 points.  UW-Whitewater took third with 652 points, UW-Eau Claire fourth with 641.50, UW-Oshkosh fifth with 199 and UW-River Falls sixth with 149.

This year’s championship features 19 student-athletes that have combined to win 17 individual and 23 relay first-place medals.

UW-La Crosse junior Brooke Reynolds is the most decorated returnee with three individual and four relay first-place finishes to her credit.  She is the defending champion in the 200-yard backstroke and has secured consecutive titles in the 100-yard backstroke.  Reynolds was also on the winning 800-yard freestyle relay and 400-yard medley relay teams a season ago.  In 2012, Reynolds contributed to the victorious 200-yard medley relay and 400-yard medley relay squads.

Sophomore Sara Zemanovic won three individual titles and three relay crowns a year ago.  She claimed the 100-yard freestyle, 200-yard freestyle and 500-yard freestyle, while also contributing to the triumphant 400-yard freestyle relay, 800-yard freestyle relay and 400-yard medley relay teams.

Senior Erica O’Neill is the defending champion in the 50-yard freestyle.  She also won the 100-yard backstroke in 2011.  In relay competition, O’Neill has also participated on the winning 400-yard freestyle relay teams in 2011, 2012 and 2013, along with the 200-yard medley relay unit in 2012.  In the 400-yard freestyle relay, she was joined on last year’s squad by sophomore Elise O’Neill and senior Shannon Miller in 2011.

Senior Allison Yemm will strike for consecutive first-place finishes in the 200-yard individual medley, while senior Grace Jarzemsky has contributed to the triumphant 800-yard freestyle relay squads the past two seasons.

Senior Taylor Smith captured the 200-yard medley relay in 2010 and the 400-yard medley relay in 2011.  Junior Leanna Schwartzlow was a member of the last year’s victorious 400-yard medley relay team.

Sophomore Jordan Anderson earned the three-meter diving championship a season ago, while senior Tessa Kahring captured the one-meter diving title in 2012.

UW-Whitewater junior Amy Spaay claimed Swimmer of the Meet honors at last year’s championship after winning the 100-yard breaststroke and 200-yard breaststroke.  Sophomore Sierra Becker captured the one-meter diving crown a year ago enroute to claiming Diver of the Meet honors.  Senior Lauren Lanphere is the defending champion in the 400-yard individual medley.

UW-Stevens Point senior Amy Boritzke has contributed to consecutive 200-yard freestyle relay first-place teams and was a member of last year’s victorious 200-yard medley relay squad.  She was joined on the 200-yard medley relay foursome by junior Cassie Matthys and sophomore Alexa Pronga.  Senior Lauren Alexander claimed the 1,650-yard freestyle in 2011.

UW-Eau Claire junior Lisa Reed will strive for consecutive first-place finishes in the 1,650-yard freestyle.