UW-L Wins WIAC Championship; Medendorp, Hoff and Pein Honored

For Immediate Release: Saturday, February 23, 2008

Oshkosh, Wis. - The UW-La Crosse women's swimming & diving team captured its 10th WIAC Championship in school history Saturday night at UW-Oshkosh's Albee Hall. The Eagles, who have won five of the last seven conference crowns, finished with 993 team points Saturday while two-time defending champion UW-Stevens Point placed second with 905 points.

UW-Eau Claire was third (529.5) followed by UW-Whitewater (390), UW-Oshkosh (257) and UW-River Falls (188).

UW-L head coach Rich Pein was named the WIAC Women's Coach of the Year for the ninth time in his career. He has also been named the WIAC Men's Coach of the Year five times in his career.

The Eagles' Amanda Medendorp was selected the WIAC Diver of the Meet for the third consecutive season while UW-L's Chelsea Hoff earned WIAC Swimmer of the Meet honors.

In Saturday's action, Medendorp captured the 3-meter diving title (442.30 points) while Hoff won the 100 freestyle (52.26). Hoff set an NCAA Division III "B" qualifying time with her victory in the 100 freestyle.

Hoff was also a member of the Eagles' winning 400 freestyle relay. The relay of Hoff, Brianna Peyer, Danielle Rux and Clare Hathaway won with a national "B" qualifying time of 3:32.53.

Other top finishes for UW-L Saturday included the Eagles taking four of the top-five places in the 3-meter diving. Along with Medendorp finishing first, Kristina Wanous was second (432.05 points), Shannon Doyle fourth (393.40) and Samantha Koch fifth (375.30).

UW-L's Kristi Parker finished second in the 200 backstroke (2:06.74) while Kacie O'Brien was second in the 200 breaststroke (2:26.86). Parker and O'Brien both earned a "B" qualifying mark for the NCAA III Championships.

In the 1,650 freestyle, Jennifer Bryson placed third (18:13.44) and Anita Talavera fifth (18:14.39) for the Eagles. Talavera was also fifth in the 200 butterfly (2:18.42) while teammate Erica Knuesel placed fourth (2:15.96). Peyer finished third (53.93) and Hathaway fifth (55.05) in the 100 freestyle while Melissa Klotz was fifth in the 200 breaststroke (2:30.99) and Elisabeth Misener third in the 200 backstroke (2:11.85).

For complete results, click here.

UW-L returns to action Thursday, March 13 at the NCAA III Championships in Oxford, Ohio.