The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee swim team prepared all year for their final moments at the Horizon League Championships, which were held in Cleveland and Akron, Ohio last week.

On Wednesday, the first day of the championships, UWM placed first out of the other six schools competing in the Horizon League with the men earning 145 points. The defending champion Wright St. placed second and came up short with 143 points. Cleveland St., Green Bay, UIC and Valparaiso came up with 20 points or less behind Wright St.

Robby Leibold and PJ Rongitsch led the way for Milwaukee on Wednesday, helping the team gain the top four of seven spots in the 1,000 freestyle. Leibold clocking 9:29.29, claimed a new school record.

On the women’s side, UWM claimed second place for their first day with 104 points, trailing behind Wright St. holding 135 points.

Leibold was not the only teammate to break a school record in the 1,000 freestyle, Danielle Wenger declared the record as well with a time of 10:17.43, going head-to-head against Wright St. competitor Catalina Martinez and gaining the win.

Although finishing second in the 200 medley relay against Green Bay, UWM set another Panther record with teammates Kerry Rossow, Amanda Nelson and Jess Kelly clocking in at 1:46.93.

On Thursday, last years defending champions Wright St. reclaimed their lead with 295 points, but the Panthers still stayed close behind with 274 points.

Milwaukee kept setting records in Cleveland, Chase Gravengood tying his own record in the 200 IM with a time of 1:50.06, but coming up short of the win.

UWM also had a season best time of 3:23.85 in the 400 medley and placing fifth with Tyler Jefferson, Jeremy Seibel, Jake Kalinowski and Gravengood leading the way.

On the other hand, the women gained three school records and remained tied with Wright St. in second place with 292 points, and Green Bay took the lead with 320 on Thursday.

The Panthers kept pushing as Michelle Kornder and Megan McLoone obtained the top two spots in the consolation finals, Bailey Nennig in the championship heat for 200 IM, and having four swimmers in the 500 freestyle finals and Wenger placing seventh.

Moving from Cleveland to Akron due to a water main break at the Cleveland St. pool, the UWM men’s team remained in the top three with 444 points just trailing behind Cleveland St. 447 points and Wright St. leading with 535 points.

UWM had three of the top eight finishers in the 100 backstroke. Tyler Jefferson placed fifth with his top time career time of 51.28, Matt Kluczinske placed seventh with 52.02, and Ross Bittner finishing eighth clocking in at 52.33.

The Panther women, just like the men, placed in third with 476 points just behind Wright St. with 505 points and Green Bay leading with 569 points.

Rossow conquered in the 100 breaststroke clocking in with 1:04.10 and just finishing ahead of her teammate Shannon Berndt, who was the previous champion and finished only .004 of a second behind Rossow.

Also, the 800 freestyle relay team set a new UWM pool record clocking 7:39.78, but taking third with Wright St. and Green Bay finishing ahead.

The final day of the Horizon League Championship held the Panthers strong in third place as they finished the tournament with 732 points, just behind Wright State at 771 and 2008 league champion Green Bay with 832.

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