2015 WIAC Men's Swimming & Diving Championship Preview University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point will look for a 16th consecutive first-place finish at the 2015 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Men’s Swimming & Diving Championship that will be held at Walter Schroeder Aquatic Center in Brown Deer, Wis., Feb. 19-21. UW-Whitewater is serving as the host institution for the 53rd version of the men’s championship that will be held in unison with the 44th annual women’s event. The Pointers earned the 18th first-place plaque in program history a year ago with 863 points to surpass UW-La Crosse's second-place total of 765.50 points. UW-Whitewater placed third with 702.50 points, UW-Eau Claire fourth with 526, UW-Oshkosh fifth with 192 and UW-River Falls sixth with 191. This year’s championship features 15 student-athletes that have combined to win 15 individual and 19 relay first-place medals. UW-Stevens Point sophomore Sam Jekel is the defending champion in the 50-yard freestyle and 100-yard freestyle. He also contributed to the first-place 200-yard freestyle relay, 400-yard freestyle relay and 200-yard medley relay teams a season ago. Sophomores Andrew King and Zach Ogurek joined Jekel on the 200-yard yard freestyle relay and 200-yard medley relay squads. Senior Hans Peters was a member of the victorious 200-yard freestyle relay and 400-yard freestyle relay teams. He was joined on the 400-yard freestyle relay unit by junior Kyle McNair, who added a 200-yard medley relay title. Sophomore Evan Catani captured the 1,650-yard freestyle at last year’s championship. UW-La Crosse senior Garrett Runing will aim for his third career first-place finish in the 200-yard freestyle. He won the event in 2012 and 2013. Runing was also a member of the triumphant 800-yard freestyle relay a year ago and was joined by junior Charleton Skinner and sophomore Jackson Uselman, while Uselman and senior Stephen Hanko helped the 400-yard medley relay squad to victory. In 2013, Skinner and Hanko were members of the 800-yard freestyle relay team. Senior Justin Bublitz has claimed the Diver of the Meet honor the past two seasons and posted consecutive first-place finishes in one-meter diving. He is also the defending champion on the three-meter board. UW-Whitewater senior Joe Devroy claimed the 100-yard backstroke in 2014 and is the three-time defending champion in the 200-yard backstroke. With a victory this year, he would join UW-Stevens Point’s Nino Pisciotta (1987-88, 90-91) as the only four-time winners in the event. In 2013, Devroy was also a member of the first-place 400-yard medley relay squad. Sophomore Josh Kanute was victorious in the 500-yard freestyle a season ago, while junior Derek Schieble claimed the 1,650-yard freestyle in 2013. UW-Eau Claire senior Jake McDade won the 1,650-yard freestyle in 2012. # # # # #