WHITEWATER, Wis. (Blugolds.com) - The UW-Eau Claire women's swimming & diving team came to UW-Whitewater ready to win as they defeated the Warhawks 135-107 today. The Blugolds finished in the top three 21 times and nailed eight victories.
Last week's WIAC Athlete of the Week Nicole Dorvinen (Jr.-Green Bay, Wis./Bay Port) continued her success by nabbing another two wins today. Dorvinen's time of 1:59.39 picked up the win in the 200-yard freestyle while her 59.42 just edged out Julia Olson (Jr.-Faribault, Minn.) and Maggie Reilly (Fr.-Saint Michael, Minn./St. Michael-Albertville) in the 100-yard butterfly competition. The Blugolds also swept the top three spots in the 50-yard freestyle event, led by Olson's 24.90 and fellow Eau Claire swimmers Megan Lindner (Sr.-Muskego, Wis.) and Megan Finley (Sr.-Waunakee, Wis.).
Finley and Casey Preissel (Sr.-Wisconsin Dells, Wis.) notched victories in the 100-yard backstroke and the 100-yard freestyle events. Preissel also picked up second in the 200 Individual Medley race with a time of 2:18.89. Alaina Guns (Jr.-Conrath, Wis./Flambeau) also had a strong day, winning the 500-yard freestyle in 5:28.69 and recording third in the 1,000-yard freestyle.
Keeley Bensen (Fr.-Maple Grove, Minn.) picked up two third place finishes in the one and three-meter diving events. In relay competition, the Eau Claire A team won both the 200-yard medley and the 200-yard freestyle events with respective times of 1:53.16 and 1:42.13. The Eau Claire B team finished third in both of the relay competitions.
Next weekend, only the Blugold divers will compete in the Minnesota Challenge. The two-day event kicks of 6 p.m. Friday in Minneapolis. Blugold swimmers and divers will both compete Feb. 17-19 for the WIAC Championship.
