Friday, January 17, 2003

The Valparaiso women's swim team won the final four events of the meet and rallied from an early deficit to defeat IUPUI 147-115 at the Athletics-Recreation Center pool on Friday evening.

The Jaguars won seven of the meet's first ten events, but the Crusaders swept the top three spots in two of the final four to record the victory.

Maggie Kroemer (Brown Deer, Wis./Milwaukee Lutheran H.S.) picked up the Brown and Gold's first win of the meet with a three-second victory in the 1000 freestyle, touching the wall in 11:18.66.

Britt Nelson (Cortland, N.Y./Homer H.S.) won the next event, the 200 free, in convincing fashion, finishing with a time of 2:01.51, 2.75 seconds ahead of her closest competitor.

Katie Urbas (Ballwin, Mo./Marquette H.S.) won a pair of events on the evening. She began with a victory in the 200 butterfly, cruising to a five-second win in a time of 2:13.80. Four events later, after IUPUI posted victories in each one, the junior responded with another win in the 500 free (5:29.66). Urbas touched the wall nearly five seconds ahead of her nearest competitor to begin Valpo's run. Jennifer Penninga (DeMotte, Ind./Kankakee Valley H.S.) was second for Valpo, while Daniella Trombatore (Redding, Calif./Shasta H.S.) finished third.

Ashley Seale (Maryville, Tenn./Maryville H.S.) took home top honors in the next event the 100 fly with a time of 1:01.90.

Leah Schneider (Sussex, Wis./Arrowhead H.S.) won the third straight event for the Crusaders leading the sweep in the 200 individual medley. The freshman's time of 2:21.67 topped Julie Fisher (Valparaiso, Ind./Valparaiso H.S.) by just under a half of a second. Urbas finished third to complete the trio.

Valpo closed out the meet with a 1.15 second victory in the 400 free relay, as Nelson, Lauren Bambach (Dublin, Ohio/Dublin Coffman H.S.), Trombatore, and Penninga finished in a time of 3:46.64.

The Crusaders will return to the pool on Saturday morning hosting Lewis. The meet will begin at 1 p.m. at the Athletics-Recreation Center.