Paula Struwing has resigned as head coach of the UW-Oshkosh men's and women's swimming and diving teams to accept a teaching and coaching position at Lyons Township High School in La Grange, Ill. She will teach classes in health and alternative education as well as coach boys' and girls' swimming and diving.

During her four-year tenure at UW-Oshkosh, Struwing coached one NCAA Division III champion, four athletes to a total of seven NCAA Division III All-America awards and five athletes to a combined 11 WIAC titles. Her teams also established 10 school records, including seven during the 2004-05 season.

Struwing guided the UW-Oshkosh men's swimming and diving team to four fifth-place finishes at the six-team WIAC Championship. Her 2004 squad, led by two-time All-American Yusuke Iimori, also placed 18th at the NCAA Division III Championship.

Struwing coached the UW-Oshkosh women's swimming and diving team to two fourth and two fifth-place finishes at the six-team WIAC Championship. Her 2004 group, led by two-time diving champion Rachel Heitkamp, also finished 25th at the NCAA Division III Championship. Struwing's 2005 squad, paced by two-time All-American Renee Porter, also ranked 30th at the NCAA Division III Championship.

Before arriving at UW-Oshkosh, Struwing spent five years (1999-2003) as the head girls' swimming and diving coach at Bartlett High School in Bartlett, Ill. She was an assistant men's and women's swimming and diving coach at UW-La Crosse during the 1997 and 1998 seasons.

Struwing received a pair of degrees from UW-La Crosse, a bachelor's in 1994 and a master's in 1998. The Elgin, Ill., native earned a total of five NCAA Division III All-America awards as a member of the UW-La Crosse women's swimming and diving team from 1990-94.

Struwing was just the third swimming and diving coach at UW-Oshkosh since 1979. She followed Jan Moldenhauer (1979-93) and Andy Salm (1994-2003).

UW-Stevens Point repeated its feat of a year ago as both its men's and women's teams captured titles at the three-day WIAC Swimming and Diving Championships that concluded on Saturday (Feb. 17) in Stevens Point.

UW-Stevens Point's men’s team won the league crown for the eighth consecutive season and 11th time in school history, while the UW-Stevens Point women secured the WIAC trophy for the second straight year and fourth time in program history.

In the men’s competition, the Pointers totaled 914 points during the three-day meet to outdistance UW-La Crosse for the seventh straight year.  The Eagles finished with 882 points, followed by UW-Eau Claire in third with 507 points, UW-Whitewater in fourth with 457 points, UW-Oshkosh in third with 310 points and UW-River Falls in sixth with 175 points.

In the women’s division, UW-Stevens Point compiled 993.5 points to surpass UW-La Crosse’s second-place total of 900.5 points.   UW-Eau Claire finished third with 460.5 points, followed by UW-Whitewater in fourth with 365 points, UW-Oshkosh in fifth with 244 points and UW-River Falls in sixth with 199.5 points.

UW-Stevens Point secured three individual titles during the final day of competition.  Chase Gross captured the 100-yard freestyle for the second straight year with a NCAA “B” qualifying time of 46.47 to earn his second title of the meet.  He won the 200-yard freestyle yesterday.

The Pointers’ Ben Gensler established a pool record and NCAA “B” qualifying mark in the 200-yard breaststroke with a time of 2:04.90.  It marked the second consecutive year he has won the event and his second title of the championship after winning the 100-yard breaststroke a day ago.

Rob Donisch also earned his second title in as many days, winning the 200-yard butterfly with a clocking of 1:55.72.

UW-La Crosse’s Anthony Schmidt defended his title in the 200-yard backstroke with a mark of 1:55.73.  It was his third trophy during the championship after he won the 200-yard individual medley and 400-yard individual medley. Schmidt was named the Swimmer of the Meet for his performances.

The Eagles’ Karl Richters claimed the 1,650-yard freestyle for the third consecutive season with a time of 16:44.83.  He becomes just the second individual to win the event three straight years, joining UW-Whitewater’s Mike Foss (1983-85).

UW-La Crosse also won their fourth relay title at the league competition when the 400-yard freestyle relay team of Matthew Diehl, Christopher Boyle, Michael Beilman and Anthony Wolff established a pool record and NCAA “B” qualifying time of 3:05.78.

UW-Oshkosh’s Jacob Chadderdon won the three-meter diving competition with a score of 510.45 and was voted the Diver of the Meet for the second straight year.

UW-Stevens Point’s women’s squad captured all five individual titles and the relay crown during the third day of events.  Abby Strobel won the 200-yard backstroke for the second consecutive season with a NCAA “B” qualifying time of 2:08.16.  She was voted the Swimmer of the Meet after earning her third individual title of the championship.

Kristen Bennett claimed the 200-yard breaststroke with a NCAA “B” qualifying mark of 2:24.74.  She also won the 100-yard breaststroke yesterday.

Caitlin Hake captured her second title of the championship, winning the 100-yard freestyle with a time of 52.59 and establishing a NCAA “B” performance, while Kari Slawson also earned her second crown of the meet after finishing first in the 1,650-yard freestyle with a clocking of 18:00.09.

Amy Bennett placed first in the 200-yard butterfly with a time of 2:11.71.

The Pointers’ 400-yard freestyle relay quartet of Kesley Crunstedt, Jerica Crook, Beth Bard and Hake surpassed the NCAA “B” qualifying mark with a time of 3:33.70.  It was UW-Stevens Point’s third relay title at the championship.

UW-La Crosse’s Amanda Medendorp earned the Diver of the Meet award for the second straight season after winning both diving events during the first two days of the meet.

UW-Stevens Point head coach Al Boelk was voted the league’s women’s coach of the year for the third straight season and fifth time in his career.  He also won the award 2000 and 2003.

UW-La Crosse head coach Rich Pein was named the WIAC men’s coach of the year for the fourth time in his career.  He also claimed the honor in 1992, 1995 and 2001.

UW-Eau Claire’s Nick Peterson was selected the conference’s Max Sparger Scholar-Athlete, while UW-Stevens Point’s Beth Bard earned the Judy Kruckman Scholar-Athlete award.

Final Results of the 2007 WIAC Swimming and Diving Championship can be found at http://www.uwsp.edu/athletics/swimming/WIACCHMP.htm

UW-La Crosse’s men’s team and UW-Stevens Point’s women’s team hold slim leads following the second of three days of competition at the 2007 WIAC Swimming and Diving Championships in Stevens Point.
 
UW-La Crosse’s men’s squad has compiled 591 points and holds a two-point lead over seven-time defending champion UW-Stevens Point.  The Pointers have totaled 589 points and are followed by UW-Eau Claire (307 points), UW-Whitewater (301 points), UW-Oshkosh (209 points) and UW-River Falls (131 points).
 
UW-Stevens Point’s women’s team, the defending conference champion, has totaled 661.50 points.   The Pointers are followed by UW-La Crosse (649.50 points), UW-Eau Claire (307.50 points), UW-Whitewater (258 points), UW-Oshkosh (189 points) and UW-River Falls (158.50 points).
 
UW-Stevens Point’s men’s team captured four individual titles during the second day of competition.  Chase Gross won the 200-yard freestyle for the second straight year with a NCAA “B” qualifying time of 1:42.83, while Ben Gensler also established a “B”-cut mark in winning the 100-yard breaststroke in 58.33. The Pointers’ Rob Donisch secured the 100-yard butterfly with a time of 52.15 and Willie Clapp was victorious in the 100-yard backstroke with a mark of 54.05.
 
UW-La Crosse’s Anthony Schmidt won his second championship in as many days, finishing first in the 400-yard individual medley for the third consecutive season with a NCAA “B” qualifying clocking of 4:10.66.  He claimed the 200-yard individual medley title yesterday. The Eagles also won both relay events during Friday’s competition.  The 200-yard medley relay quartet of Adam Carlson, Cole Swanson, Anthony Wolff and Matthew Diehl finished first with a NCAA “B” qualifying performance of 1:34.21. Diehl, Karl Richters, Joel Coyne and Michael Beilman set a pool record and NCAA “B” qualifying time en route to winning the 800-yard freestyle relay in 6:57.74.
 
The men’s three-meter diving competition will be completed on Saturday.
 
In the women’s race, UW-Stevens Point claimed four individual titles and one relay trophy during the second of competition.  The Pointers were led by Abby Strobel, who captured her second title in as many days, winning the 400-yard individual medley in 4:40.67.  She claimed the 200-yard individual medley crown yesterday. The Pointers’ Meghan Walsh won the 100-yard butterfly for the third straight season with a clocking of 59.90, while Jerica Crook claimed the 200-yard freestyle in 1:57.83 and Kristen Bennett was victorious in the 100-yard breaststroke with a time of 1:08.28. Crook, Stephanie Boehme, Bridget Gormley and Alissa Colbert teamed to win the 800-yard freestyle relay with a time of 7:56.70.
 
UW-La Crosse’s Amanda Medendorp established a conference record in the one-meter diving competition with a score of 453.75, surpassing the previous total of 440.95 set by UW-Eau Claire’s Sara Mulatz in 1996.  This marked the second straight year Medendorp has won the one-meter event.  She also claimed the three-meter board yesterday. The Eagles’ Kristi Parker secured the 100-yard backstroke with a NCAA “B” qualifying mark of 59.94.  She also teamed with Brianna Peyer, Kelly Hackbarth and Clare Hathaway to set a pool record and establish a NCAA “B” performance with a time of 1:48.50 in the 200-yard medley relay.
 
Competition at the WIAC championships continues Saturday with preliminaries at 10 a.m. and the finals at 6 p.m.

Results of the 2007 WIAC Swimming and Diving Championship can be found at http://www.uwsp.edu/athletics/swimming/WIACCHMP.htm

UW-Stevens Point’s men’s and women’s teams lead after the first day of competition at the 2007 WIAC Swimming and Diving Championships in Stevens Point.

The seven-time defending champion men’s squad compiled 261 points to outdistance UW-La Crosse with 260 points.  The Eagles are followed by UW-Whitewater (141 points), UW-Eau Claire (139 points), UW-Oshkosh (116 points) and UW-River Falls (56 points).

UW-Stevens Point’s women’s squad, which claimed last year’s championship, totaled 292.50 points.   UW-La Crosse is second with 270 points, followed by UW-Eau Claire (120 points), UW-Whitewater (95 points), UW-Oshkosh (86 points) and UW-River Falls (78.50 points).

In the men’s race, UW-La Crosse secured three individual titles and one relay crown.  Matthew Diehl captured the 50-yard freestyle with a NCAA “B” qualifying time of 20.80, while Joel Coyne won the 500-yard freestyle with a performance of 4:44.96 and Anthony Schmidt claimed the 200-yard individual medley with a clocking of 1:55.72.

The Eagles’ 200-yard freestyle relay team of Diehl, Christopher Boyle, Adam Carlson and Anthony Wolff established a NCAA “B” qualifying time of 1:23.55 en route to winning the event.

UW-Eau Claire’s Bryan Dykstra claimed the one-meter diving competition with 480.10 points.

UW-Stevens Point’s Matt Meyer, Ben Gensler, Rob Donisch and Chase Gross earned a NCAA “B” qualifying time in winning the 400-yard medley relay with a performance of 3:26.86.

In the women’s contest, defending champion UW-Stevens Point claimed three individual titles and one relay crown during the opening day of events.  Caitlin Hake defended her title in the 50-yard freestyle with a NCAA “B” qualifying time of 24.14, while Abby Strobel protected her crown in the 200-yard individual medley with a performance of 2:12.15 and Kari Slawson claimed the 500-yard freestyle with a time of 5:12.49.

UW-Stevens Point’s 400-yard medley relay team of Strobel, Trish Nye, Meghan Walsh and Hake finished first,
posting a NCAA “B” qualifying performance of 3:57.97.

UW-La Crosse’s Amanda Medendorp won the three-meter diving competition for the second straight year with a score of 480.25, while Clare Hathaway, Brianna Peyer, Danielle Rux and Heather Vogts teamed to win the 200-yard freestyle relay in 1:38.46.

Results of the 2007 WIAC Swimming and Diving Championship can be found at http://www.uwsp.edu/athletics/swimming/WIACCHMP.htm

The Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference women’s swimming and diving championships have come down to a tightly-contested battle between UW-Stevens Point and UW-La Crosse the past five years and all indications are to expect more of the same at the 2007 championships.

The Pointers and Eagles combined to win all but one event last year and bring the top times in every event into this year’s championships, which are set for this weekend (Feb. 15-17) in Stevens Point. The Pointers won last year’s league title, snapping UW-La Crosse’s four-year reign in a rivalry that has featured five straight trophies decided by narrow margins of less than 51 points.

UW-Eau Claire is likely the nearest challenger to the Pointers and Eagles after four straight third-place finishes and 18 consecutive titles from 1980-97. Defending champion UW-Stevens Point won both regular season meetings with UW-La Crosse, taking the team title at the UW-Stevens Point Invite and winning a dual meet on Jan. 27. The Pointers also captured the WIAC relays crown in November.

UW-Stevens Point returns a pair of two-event champions from last year in sophomore Abby Strobel, who won the 200-yard backstroke and 200-yard individual medley, and senior Meghan Walsh, who captured her second straight 100-yard butterfly title in addition to the 200-yard event. Both competitors will be challenged by UW-La Crosse senior Kelly Hackbarth, who has beaten Walsh twice this year head-to-head in the 200-yard butterfly. Strobel owns the league’s fastest times in both individual medley events this year, but has lost to Hackbarth in both events.

Meanwhile, UW-Stevens Point senior Beth Bard carries the conference’s best 100-yard butterfly time and returns as part of the Pointers’ 200-yard medley relay that set a conference record last year. Bard also teamed with senior Jerica Crook, sophomore Caitlin Hake and senior Kelsey Crunstedt to set a meet record in the 200-yard freestyle relay and claim the 400-yard freestyle relay last season. The quartet is intact again this year as the Pointers own the conference’s best times in both events as well as the 800-yard freestyle relay.

Hake is the defending champion in the 50-yard freestyle and has posted the fastest time in the league this season, while Crunstedt has the league’s best 100-yard freestyle time after a third-place finish last year. Crook is the top contender in the 200-yard freestyle after placing second last year. Pointers’ freshman Kari Slawson has the conference’s best time in the 500-yard freestyle, while senior Alissa Colbert is the returning runner-up in the 1,650-yard freestyle and swam the fastest regular season time.

Sophomore Kristen Bennett has the conference’s best 200-yard breaststroke time, while senior Trish Nye owns the top 100-yard breaststroke time and was third in the event a year ago.

UW-La Crosse returns junior diver Amanda Medendorp, who was the diver of the meet last season after winning both events, and has compiled the highest scores in the conference this season. The Eagles also feature junior backstroker Kristi Parker, who was the runner-up to Strobel in the 200-yard event last year, but has beaten her twice this season. Parker also was third last year in the 100-yard backstroke and owns the conference’s top time this season. Senior Heather Vogts returns after a runner-up finish in the 100-yard backstroke last year.

Clare Hathaway was a top-five finisher in all three sprints and Sarah Russart was runner-up in both breaststroke events last year. The sophomore tandem also teams with Hackbarth and Parker on the 400-yard medley relay.

UW-Eau Claire junior breaststroker Emily Diehl was a top-six finisher in three events at last year’s meet and could contend again this year. Senior Emily Viau and freshman Jackie Blank have also posted solid times in distance events and junior Sarah Myers has posted high diving scores this year for the Blugolds.

UW-Whitewater’s top contenders are likely senior diver Eva Miller, junior sprinter Casey Alf, junior backstroker Danyelle Jenkins and sophomore breaststroker Julie Berg.

UW-Oshkosh will look to sprinter Julie Zahour (So. • Cedarburg) for its top performances. Zahour will compete in the 50, 100 and 200-yard freestyle events. The Titans will also look for top finishes from Sharon Redlich (So. • Lac du Flambeau) in the 100-yard backstroke and 200-yard individual medley and Brittany Tobakos (Jr. • DeForest) in the 200, 500 and 1,650-yard freestyle events.

Sprinter Danielle Mandich has turned in the top times for UW-River Falls this season.

Results of the 2007 WIAC Swimming and Diving Championship can be found at http://www.uwsp.edu/athletics/swimming/WIACCHMP.htm

The UW-Oshkosh women's swimming and diving team had only one event winner in a 173-66 loss to UW-Eau Claire in a dual meet held Saturday (Feb. 3) in Eau Claire.

Brittany Tobakos (Jr. • DeForest) swam to a first place time of 2:21.14 in the 200-yard butterfly to pace the Titans. Tobakos also swam to a third place finish in the 200-yard freestyle in a time of 2:03.61.

UW-Oshkosh received second place performances from Leah Klaybor (Jr. • Hales Corners) in the 1,000-yard freestyle in a time of 11:46.04, Julie Zahour (So. • Cedarburg) in the 100-yard freestyle in a time of 57.37 and Sharon Redlich (So. • Lac du Flambeau) in the 200-yard backstroke in a time of 2:22.19.

Third-place listings for the Titans went to Danielle Smith (So. • Andover, Minn.) in the 1,000-yard freestyle in a time of 12:10.88, Zahour in the 50-yard freestyle in a time of 26.50 and Leah Krajco (Fr. • Verona) in the 100-yard freestyle in a time of 57.62.

Molly Willis (Fr. • Brookfield) also took third place in the 1-meter and 3-meter diving events with 149.00 and 148.90 points, respectively.

Fourth-place performances for UW-Oshkosh included Krajco in the 200-yard freestyle in a time of 2:04.99, Emma Nametz (Fr. • Madison) in the 400-yard individual medley in a time of 5:32.28 and Klaybor in the 500-yard freestyle in a time of 5:47.70.

Lynnea Krajco (Fr. • Verona) won two events and Julie Zahour (So. • Cedarburg) took a first and second as the UW-Oshkosh women's swimming and diving team scored 91 points at a triangular meet on Friday (Jan. 19) in Oshkosh. Northern Michigan University won the event with 118 points and Lawrence University, who were represented by only their diving team tallied 25.

Krajco won the 50-yard freestyle in a time of 26.07 and the 100-yard backstroke in a time of 1:03.81 to pace the Titans. Zahour captured the 100-yard freestyle in a time of 55.44 and took runner-up honors in the 1,000-yard freestyle in a time of 11:32.08.

Also taking first place for UW-Oshkosh were Brittany Tobakos (Jr. • DeForest) in the 500-yard freestyle in a time of 5:34.20 and the 200-yard freestyle relay team consisting of Susan Curtis (Fr. • Cambridge, Minn.), Krajco, Tobakos and Zahour in a time of 1:45.29.

Taking second place for the Titans were Sharon Redlich (So. • Lac du Flambeau) in the 200-yard individual medley in a time of 2:26.06, Jana Oelrich (Fr. • Marathon) in the 100-yard breaststroke in a time of 1:17.46 and Molly Willis (Fr. • Brookfield) in the 3-meter dive with a score of 149.45. Redlich also took third place in the 100-yard backstroke in a time of 1:06.07.

The UW-La Crosse women's swimming and diving team spoiled UW-Oshkosh's first home meet of the 2006-07 season by ousting the Titans, 196-47, on Saturday (Jan. 13) in Albee Hall.

UW-Oshkosh had two first-place performances in the meet as Brittany Tobakos (Jr. • DeForest) won the 500-yard freestyle with a time of 5:31.63 while Julie Zahour (So. • Cedarburg) captured the 100-yard freestyle with a time of 56.68.

Taking second place for the Titans in two events was Lynnea Krajco (Fr. • Verona). She was runner-up in the 100-yard freestyle with a time of 56.69 and the 200-yard freestyle with a time of 2:01.98.

Other UW-Oshkosh second-place listings went to Sharon Redlich (So. • Lac du Flambeau) in the 200-yard backstroke with a time of 2:24.12 and Zahour in the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 25.63.

UW-Oshkosh's 400-yard medley relay team of Redlich, Tobakos, Zahour and Jana Oelrich (Fr. • Marathon) also took second with a time of 4:19.63.

The Titans also had Tobakos finish third in the 200-yard freestyle with a time of 2:02.01 and Samantha Mand (Fr. • Fond du Lac) place fourth in the 400-yard individual medley with a time of 5:20.37.

The UW-Oshkosh women's swimming and diving team captured 10 top-six individual places and two top-three team results to finish in fourth place at the UW-Oshkosh Invitational held Friday and Saturday (Dec. 1-2) at Lawrence University in Appleton.

Highlighting the day for UW-Oshkosh was Brittany Tobakos (Jr. • De Forest) who won the 200-yard butterfly in a time of 2:24.31 and teamed up with Genesis Gruenke (So. • New Berlin), Sharon Redlich (So. • Lac du Flambeau) and Julie Zahour (So. • Cedarburg) to win the 200-yard medley relay in a time of 1:58.27. Redlich also won the 100-yard backstroke in a time of 1:03.61 to round out the UW-Oshkosh first place finishers.

UW-Oshkosh counted 648 points in the five-team event. UW-Eau Claire won the invitational with 989 points followed by Lawrence University with 753, UW-Whitewater with 730.5, UW-Oshkosh and Ripon College with 302.5.

Zahour also had a strong weekend for the Titans by taking second place in the 50-yard freestyle in a time of 25.90 and the 100-yard freestyle in a time of 56.00. Zahour finalized her top-six performances by capturing third place with the trio of Gruenke, Lynnea Krajco (Fr. • Verona) and Tobakos in the 400-yard freestyle relay in a time of 3:51.20 and taking fifth place in the 500-yard freestyle in a time of 5:38.60.

Taking third place for UW-Oshkosh was Redlich in the 200-yard backstroke in a time of 2:20.93 and Krajco in the 100-yard backstroke in a time of 1:04.88

Finishing sixth were Gruenke in the 100-yard freestyle in a time of 58.86, Tobakos in both the 1,650-yard freestyle in a time of 19:40.33 and the 500-yard freestyle in a time of 5:39.00.

The UW-Oshkosh women's swimming and diving team took fifth place with 50 points at the WIAC relays held Saturday (Nov. 18) in Eau Claire. UW-Stevens Point won the meet with 162 points followed by UW-La Crosse with 134.

Highlighting the day for the Titans were fourth place performances in the 400-yard medley relay, the 300-yard medley individual relay, the 1,500-yard freestyle relay, the 300-yard backstroke relay and the 850-yard freestyle crescendo relay.

Members of the 400-yard medley relay included Genesis Gruenke (So. • New Berlin), Sharon Redlich (So. • Lac du Flambeau), Brittany Tobakos (Jr. • DeForest) and Julie Zahour (So. • Cedarburg) and the 300-yard medley individual relay consisted of Lynnea Krajco (Fr. • Verona), Redlich and Zahour.

Jana Krautkramer (Fr. • Marathon), Samantha Mand (Fr. • Fond du Lac) and Tobakos swam the 1,500-yard freestyle relay, the trio of Krajco, Mand and Relich competed in the 300-yard backstroke and Susan Curtis (Fr. • Cambridge, Minn.), Krautkramer, Tobakos and Zahour competed in the 850-yard freestyle crescendo relay.

Last season the women took fifth place with 46 points at the WIAC relays. No WIAC relay records were broken during the event.

Julie Zahour (So. • Cedarburg) led the UW-Oshkosh women's swimming and diving team to a sixth place finish at the University of Chicago Invitational held Friday and Saturday (Nov. 10-11) in Chicago, Ill. UW-Oshkosh scored 331 points in the 10-team event. Luther College (Iowa) won the meet with 730 points.

Zahour took fifth place in three individual events and was a part of a fourth place relay team for UW-Oshkosh. Zahour captured fifth place in the 50-yard freestyle in a time of 25.74, in the 100-yard freestyle in a time of 56.37 and the 200-yard freestyle in a time of 2:02.40. She also teamed up with Lynnea Krajco (Fr. • Verona), Jana Krautkramer (Fr. • Marathon) and Brittany Tobakos (Jr. • DeForest) in the 800-yard freestyle relay in a fourth place time of 8:32.29.

Tobakos also finished fourth in the 1,650-yard freestyle in a time of 19:25.05, ninth in the 100-yard butterfly in a time of 1:05.90 and tenth in the 200-yard butterfly in a time of 2:24.65.

Capturing fourth place for the Titans in the 200-yard backstroke was Sharon Redlich (So. • Lac du Flambeau) with a time of 2:22.78. She added an eighth place swim in the 100-yard backstroke with a time of 1:05.68.

Rounding out the UW-Oshkosh top ten individual finishes were Krautkramer in the 1,650-yard freestyle with a ninth-place time of 20:16.01 and in the 500-yard freestyle with a ninth place time of 5:53.45. Molly Willis (Fr. • Brookfield) also had a ninth place performance in the 3-meter dive with 126.85 points.