Horizon League Swimming and Diving Championship Set To Begin In Milwaukee Feb. 23-26

Feb. 22, 2005

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INDIANAPOLIS - The Schroeder YMCA in Brown Deer, Wis., a suburb a few miles  north of Milwaukee, is the site of the 2005 Horizon League Men and Women's Swimming and Diving Championship.

Six men's teams and seven women's teams will vie for the League titles beginning Wednesday, February 23 and continuing through Saturday, February 26.

MEN'S PREVIEW

Wright State became the first team since Cleveland State (1998-99) to win back-to-back Horizon League Championships after taking the 2004 crown last season at the UIC Natatorium in Chicago, Ill. The Raiders have captured the League trophy five-times in the past nine years, including 2001, 1997 and 1996. A title this year would tie Wright State with former member Notre Dame for the most championships in Horizon League history with six. The Irish, after taking the title in 1986, won five consecutive championships from 1988 to 1992.

In addition to Wright State, UW-Green Bay (2002), UW-Milwaukee (2000), and Cleveland State (1998-99) are the only other current League schools that have been crowned champion. UIC and Butler are the other participating teams.

The defending champion Raiders return four individual champions from last season. Elvis Cirikovic returns this season to defend his 50 and 100 freestyle titles, while teammate Rafael Candido, the 2004 Newcomer of the Year, looks to defend his 100 and 200 breaststroke crowns from a year ago.  Other returning champions for the Raiders include Will Ehresman (1650 freestyle) and Alex Dolgov (400 IM). Wright State is also the defending champion in the 200 medley relay, 200 freestyle relay and 400 freestyle relay from 2004. 

Cleveland State is the only other school which returns champions from last season. The Vikings are led by the returning 100 backstroke and the two-time 200 backststroke champion Pieter Pelser. Luke Wilkens (500 freestyle) and Daniel Thomasson (1000 free) also return this season to defend their titles from a year ago. Cleveland State is the defending 400 medley relay and 800 freestyle relay champions from 2004.

WOMEN'S PREVIEW

Wright State become only the second team in Horizon League history to win three consecutive championships after taking the crown last year at the UIC Natatorium in Chicago, Ill. Notre Dame's dynasty from 1988-96 is the only team to achieve the feat. The Raiders have won the crown five times since joining the Horizon League in 1995.

Two former champions, UW-Green Bay (1998, 2000) and UW-Milwaukee (2001), highlight the rest of the field. Cleveland State, UIC, Butler and Youngstown State complete the participants.

Wright State returns only two-time 200 individual medley champion Milda Zilinskaite, who won the title in 2002 and 2003, but will defend its four-year title run in the 200 medley relay, three-year run in the 800 freestyle relay and last year's crown in the 400 freesytle relay.

UW-Green Bay returns a pair of three-time champions in Laura Brager and Sarah Ciganek. Brager has captured the 200 backstroke three consecutive seasons , while Ciganek has conquered the same feat in the 200 butterfly. Also returning for the Phoenix is Abby Mayer, who won the 200 individual medley crown last season. UW-Green Bay also returns a pair of 2003 champions in Allison Kreb (100 breaststroke) and Amy Christopherson (200 breaststroke). UW-Green Bay will defend its three-consecutive titles in the 400 medly relay along with its title in the 200 freestyle relay last year.

Cleveland State's Samantha Jones and Marianne Lionell return for the Vikings in hopes of defending their titles from 2004. Jones grabbed the crown in the 100 backstroke last season, while Lionell swam to a victory in the 100 breaststroke.

Youngstown State also returns two champions this year in Kalyn Leveto and Erin Carter. Leveto grabbed the title the past two seasons in the three-meter diving event , while Carter returns to defend her 400 individual medley championship from a year ago.

Butler is the only other school returning a previous champion, as Mary Beth Arnold returns to defend her crown in the 200 breaststroke.

The 2005 Swimming and Diving championship will begin on Wednesday, February 23 at 1:00 p.m. CT, starting with the women's three-meter diving event, and will conclude on Saturday, February 26 with the finals of the 1650 free, 200 back, 200 breast, 200 fly and 400 free relay at 6:30 p.m. CT.

Wednesday, February 23

1:00 p.m.                3-Meter Diving - Women's Trials (11 Dives)

3:00 p.m.                1-Meter Diving - Men's Trials (6 Dives)

6:30 p.m.                Day 1 Finals (200 Free Relay, 1000 Free, 200 Medley Relay)

Thursday, February 24

10:30 p.m.              Day 2 Preliminaries (500 Free, 200 IM, 50 Free)

                               3-Meter Diving - Women's Finals (6 Dives)

3:30 p.m.                1-Meter Diving - Men's Finals (6 Dives)

6:30 p.m.                Day 2 Finals (500 Free, 200 IM, 50 Free, 400 Medley Relay)

Friday, February 25

10:30 p.m.              Day 3 Preliminaries (400 IM, 100 Fly, 200 Free, 100 Breast, 100 Back)

2:00 p.m.                3-Meter Diving - Men's Trials (11 Dives)

4:00 p.m.                1-Meter Diving - Women's Trials (6 Dives)

6:30 p.m.                Day 3 Finals (400 IM, 100 Fly, 200 Free, 100 Breast, 100 Back, 800 Free Relay)

Saturday, February 26

10:30 p.m.              Day 4 Preliminaries (200 Back, 100 Free, 200 Breast, 200 Fly)

3:30 p.m.                1-Meter Diving - Women's Finals (6 Dives)

                               3-Meter Diving - Men's Finals (6 Dives)

6:30 p.m.                Day 4 Finals (1650 Free, 200 Back, 100 Free, 200 Breast, 200 Fly, 400 Free Relay)

(All Times are Central)