Issued: February 17, 2004

MEN SWIMMERS AND DIVERS TO COMPETE IN WIAC CHAMPIONSHIPS

EAU CLAIRE - The UW-Eau Claire men's swimming and diving team will be competing in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championships this weekend at UW-Oshkosh's Albee Hall.

The Blugold swimmers and divers will be led by Peter Shafe (Fr.-Burlington), John Welch (Sr.-Marshfield) and Adam VonFeldt (So.-Lancaster). Shafe holds the top Blugold time in five events. He holds the top Blugold time in the 200 and 500 freestyle, the 100 and 200 backstroke and the 200 individual medley events.

Welch holds the top Blugold time in the 1000 and 1650 freestyle events and the 400 individual medley with his time of 10:38.21 in the 1000 freestyle good for fifth in conference.

VonFeldt holds the top Blugold scores in the all four diving events with his score of 222.15 in the 3-meter dive good for fourth in the WIAC and his score of 194.00 in the 1-meter dive good for fifth in conference.

Dan Urban (Fr.-Superior) and Matt Schuebel (Jr.-Racine/Horlick) each hold the top Blugold time in two events. Urban holds the top time in the 100 and 200 breaststroke while Schuebel has the top time in the 50 freestyle and 100 butterfly.

UW-Stevens Point returns six of seven members from last year's championship team including four-time winners Matt Sievers and Thad Gunther. UW-La Crosse returns all five members from last year's second place team including top swimmer Shane Ryan who won three individual championships and was part of two relay champions.

Oshkosh returns two individual champions from last year. Chris Hansman won both diving events last year to earn top diver while Yusuke Iimori won the 100-yard breaststroke.

The championships are slated to begin Thursday at 10:30 a.m. Competition resumes Friday at 10:30 a.m. and will conclude Saturday at 10:30 a.m.