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Day 1 Results
The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater men's and women's swimming and diving teams posted several impressive results Friday on the first day of the two-day Wheaton (Ill.) Invitational.
The Warhawks collected 249 points on the women's side and 233 points on the men's side through the first day of finals.
On the women's side, three UW-Whitewater swimmers finished among the top eight in the 200-yard individual medley.
Gabby Sponseller (Goshen, Ind./Concord) led the group with a 2:15.29, good for fourth, and was followed by
Gianna Gnewuch (Madison, Wis./Verona Area), who placed seventh with a 2:19.57 (2:18.29 in prelims), and
Abby Thompson (De Pere, Wis./De Pere), who finished eighth with her 2:20.61 (2:19.16 in prelims).
Thompson posted the highest finish of any Warhawk women Friday, placing third in the 200-yard butterfly in 2:15.97, just under one-tenth off her lifetime best pace. Sponseller earned sixth place in the 100-yard breaststroke, completing the race in 1:09.91, and Gnewuch finished seventh in the 200-yard backstroke with a mark of 2:17.58 (2:14.64 in prelims).
UW-W's 800-yard freestyle relay team finished fifth in the event as
Morgan Nabors (Spring Green, Wis./River Valley), Sponseller, Gnewuch and
Brianna Zimdars (Whitewater, Wis./Whitewater) teamed up for a time of 8:23.42. The team's 400-yard medley relay combination of Gnewuch, Sponseller, Thompson and Nabors registered a 4:11.17, good for sixth place.
Hunter Hayberger (Sandusky, Ohio/Sandusky) led the men with a runner-up finish in the 500-yard freestyle, touching the wall in a career-best 4:41.71.
UW-Whitewater placed two among the top eight in the 200-yard backstroke and the 100-yard breaststroke.
Ethan Coons (Neenah, Wis./Neenah) earned a seventh place in the 200 back with a time of 2:00.00, and
Joe Wenszell (Milwaukee, Wis./Wisconsin Virtual Learning) placed eighth in the race with a 2:06.34 after posting a 2:00.36 in the preliminary race.
Tyler Popke (Sun Prairie, Wis./Sun Prairie) tallied times of 58.30 (prelim) and 58.88 (final) in the 100 breast to finish fifth overall.
Donny Gramer (Sycamore, Ill./Sycamore) collected a 1:00.42 (prelim) and 1:00.89 (final) to touch the wall in eighth.
Two Warhawk relays placed among the top five. the 800-yard freestyle relay team of
Zach Miller (Saukville, Wis./Port Washington),
Anthony Mrozowski (Northbrook, Ill./Glenbrook North), Hayberger and Gramer recorded a time of 7:10.26 to finish fifth, and the combination of Wenszell, Popke,
Ethan Coons (Neenah, Wis./Neenah) and Hayberger placed fifth in the 400-yard medley relay in 3:33.22.
Competition continues Saturday with prelims at 10 a.m. followed by finals at 5 p.m.
See below for top UW-Whitewater finishers and top-eight placers in each event.
Women
200-Yard Backstroke:
Gianna Gnewuch (Madison, Wis./Verona Area) – 2:17.58 (2:14.64 in prelims), 7th
100-Yard Breaststroke:
Gabby Sponseller (Goshen, Ind./Concord) – 1:09.91, 6th
200-Yard Butterfly:
Abby Thompson (De Pere, Wis./De Pere) – 2:15.97, 3rd
100-Yard Freestyle:
Morgan Nabors (Spring Green, Wis./River Valley) – 55.18, 9th
500-Yard Freestyle:
Brianna Zimdars (Whitewater, Wis./Whitewater) – 5:55.24, 15th (5:42.51 in prelims)
200-Yard Individual Medley:
Gabby Sponseller (Goshen, Ind./Concord) – 2:15.29, 4th;
Gianna Gnewuch (Madison, Wis./Verona Area) – 2:19.57 (2:18.29 in prelims), 7th;
Abby Thompson (De Pere, Wis./De Pere) – 2:20.61 (2:19.16 in prelims), 8th
200-Yard Freestyle Relay: Clark/Hynes/Connell/Nabors – 1:42.04, 8th
800-Yard Freestyle Relay: Nabors/Sponseller/Gnewuch/Zimdars – 8:23.42, 5th
400-Yard Medley Relay: Gnewuch/Sponseller/Thompson/Nabors – 4:11.17, 6th
Men
200-Yard Backstroke:
Ethan Coons (Neenah, Wis./Neenah) – 2:00.00, 7th; Joey Wenszell – 2:06.34 (2:00.36 in prelims), 8th
100-Yard Breaststroke:
Tyler Popke (Sun Prairie, Wis./Sun Prairie) – 58.88 (58.30 in prelims), 5th;
Donny Gramer (Sycamore, Ill./Sycamore) – 1:00.89 (1:00.42 in prelims), 8th
200-Yard Butterfly:
Jalen Stimes (Roscoe, Ill./Hononegah) – 2:13.78 (2:07.31 in prelims), 15th
100-Yard Freestyle:
Zach Miller (Saukville, Wis./Port Washington) – 48.45, 12th
500-Yard Freestyle:
Hunter Hayberger (Sandusky, Ohio/Sandusky) – 4:41.71, 2nd
200-Yard Freestyle Relay: Hayberger/Mrozowski/Wenszell/Gramer – 1:27.77, 7th
800-Yard Freestyle Relay: Miller/Mrozowski/Hayberger/Gramer – 7:10.26, 5th
400-Yard Medley Relay: Wenszell/Popke/Coons/Hayberger – 3:33.22, 5th
