The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee men’s and women’s swimming teams both went down to the Wheaton Invitational in Wheaton, Ill., this weekend and achieved success.

The women dominated their meet, winning the title with 877.5 points. They had to look far back for second-place UW-Stevens Point, which finished with 623 points, 250 points behind the Panthers.

The men’s team finished in a respectable third, scoring 671 points. Host Wheaton College slipped by the Panthers with 673 points, while Washington University won the men’s event with a team score of 742.5 points.

The women’s team set numerous meet, pool and school records at the two-day event, as junior Lindsay Caldwell led the way with a very impressive showing.

“Pretty much everything you could ask for happened,” Milwaukee head coach Dave Clark said. “It seemed like almost everything we did on the women’s side was some sort of record.”

Caldwell made two NCAA B cuts, won three individual events and was a part of four other relay teams that finished in first place for the Panthers.

Caldwell won the 50 freestyle in a time of 23.48 seconds, just under the NCAA B cut standard of 23.56.

She also chipped in with a victory in the 100 free, with a time of 51.30. In that event, she set a meet, pool and new school record with a time of 50.67 in the preliminaries, which beats out the NCAA B cut qualifying mark of 50.97. In the process, Caldwell lowered her own school record of 51.08. Caldwell also took first in the 100 breaststroke at the meet.

Caldwell’s lead-off time of 23.54 in the 200 free relay also met the NCAA B cut and helped UWM set a meet and pool record in the event with a time of 1:37.22. Joining Caldwell in the victory was the sophomore trio of Heidi Goetsch, Kristin Skiba and Jess Kelly.

Freshman Molly Finn also broke some records, claiming individual victories in the 200 individual medley, 400 IM and 200 butterfly.

For the men, sophomore Chase Gravengood posted his season-best times in three events, winning the 100 butterfly in 50.48 and the 200 butterfly in 1:52.27 and placing second in the 200 IM in 1:53.40.

Senior Kyle Fyock had an all-around good event, placing fourth in the 50 freestyle and third in the 100 breaststroke, and winning the 200 breaststroke event in a time of 2:05.88. He also led-off the 200 freestyle relay team with a season-best time of 20.89.

Freshman Robby Leibold continued his successful season, winning the 1650 freestyle with a meet, pool and Milwaukee freshman record time of 16:05.47.

“The men had a great meet overall,” Clark said. “The top three teams were very close. Just a few events made the difference.”

The men do not return to action until early January. The women will also stay put until their annual Florida trip over winter break.

The Panthers will compete at the Time Trial 100s in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on Jan. 4.

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