Men's & Women's Swimming & Diving Championship
Hosted by: UW-River Falls
February 9-11, 2006 • U of M Aquatic Center • Minneapolis, MN

2006 WIAC Men's and Women's Swimming and Diving Championships Preview By Matt Stanek WIAC Sports Information Director Minneapolis, Minn.--University of Wisconsin-River Falls will host the 2006 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Men's and Women's Swimming and Diving Championships on Thursday-Saturday, February 9-11 at the University of Minnesota Aquatic Center.   This will mark the first time that UW-River Falls has hosted the league swimming festival and just the second time in conference history that a championship will be held outside of state boundaries.   UW-Superior hosted the 2001 women's softball championship in Duluth, Minn. In the 35 th edition of the women's swimming and diving championships, UW-La Crosse is seeking its fifth straight title and 10 th in school history.   The Eagles have claimed crowns in 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 1998, 1978, 1977, 1973 and 1972.   UW-La Crosse's four consecutive league crowns is the longest streak since UW-Eau Claire claimed 18 straight titles from 1980-97. UW-La Crosse's Carlene Empanger claimed the 200-yard freestyle, 500-yard freestyle and 1,650-yard freestyle titles at last year's meet.   It marked the third straight season that she secured the 500-yard and 1,650-yard events.   Empanger was also a member of last season's 400-yard freestyle and 800-yard freestyle relay championship teams.   She is a seven-time individual conference champion, a three-time relay winner and was named the Swimmer of the Meet during the 2004 championship. The Eagles' Kelly Hackbarth secured the 400-yard individual medley crown a season ago and was a member of the winning 800-yard freestyle relay team. Additional conference champions from last season that are returning in 2006 include UW-Stevens Point's Jennie Roskopf, Jenna Gilbertson and Meghan Walsh. Roskopf captured the 100-yard breaststroke and 200-yard breaststroke crowns last year for the second straight season and was a member of the victorious 200-yard medley and 400-yard medley relay teams.   She is a four-time individual champion and has been a member of four winning relay teams. Gilbertson claimed the 200-yard backstroke crown in 2005, while Walsh solidified the 100-yard butterfly title.   Walsh was also a member of the 400-yard medley relay team that claimed the title. In the 44 th version of the men's championships, all but one individual champion returns and UW-Stevens Point is looking for its seventh straight title and 10 th in school history.   The Pointers have captured conference championships in 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1998, 1997 and 1977.   UW-Stevens Point's six consecutive crowns are the most in the league since UW-Eau Claire won 19 straight from 1978-96. UW-Stevens Point's Alex Anderson claimed the 100-yard breaststroke, 200-yard breaststroke and 200-yard individual medley titles last season and was member of the winning 200-yard freestyle, 400-yard freestyle, 200-yard medley and 400-yard medley relay teams.   It marked the third straight year he was victorious in the 200-yard individual medley.   Anderson is a six-time individual champion and an eight-time relay winner. The Pointers' Tyler Eloranta received the Swimmer of the Meet award after winning the 50-yard freestyle, 100-yard freestyle and 200-yard freestyle events and contributing to the victorious 200-yard freestyle, 400-yard freestyle, 800-yard freestyle and 400-yard medley relay teams in 2005. UW-Stevens Point's Garth Newport secured the 100-yard butterfly crown for the second consecutive year, while Matt Grunwald was victorious in the 200-yard butterfly for the third straight season.   Newport was also a member of the winning 200-yard medley and 400-yard medley relay teams, while Grunwald contributed to the winning 400-yard freestyle and 800-yard freestyle relay squads. Additional conference champions returning this year include UW-La Crosse's Karl Richters and Anthony Schmidt.   Richters captured the 500-yard freestyle and 1,650-yard freestyle titles, while Schmidt won the 100-yard backstroke and 400-yard individual medley crowns. UW-Eau Claire's Scott Heatwole claimed the one-meter and three-meter diving competitions on the way to winning the Diver of the Meet award. The top six finishers in each event at the conference championship receive a medal, while the top two individuals also claim first and second team all-conference accolades.