Olga Budiansky

EAU CLAIRE, Wis. – The Heidi Voigt Era for Northern Michigan University swimming and diving team began Saturday at UW-Eau Claire.  Led by double-winners Olga Budiansky and Kelli Vander Baan the Wildcats were defeated by a score of 141-101.

The NMU relay of Gaby Alzaga, Budiansky, Gena Haas and Lauren Cockels won the first event of the meet which was the 400-yard medley relay with a time of 4:11.88.  Jessica Linnen won the next event on the schedule the 1,000 freestyle as she touched the wall with a time of 11:37.33.

The 200 freestyle saw the ‘Cast swim to a third and fourth place respectively with Alzaga (2:05.63) and Lindsay Stedman (2:07.22).  Cockels (25.86) was second in the 50 freestyle.  Budiansky then won her first event of the meet, the 200 individual medley with a time of 2:17.92.  Vander Baan captured the 1-meter diving with 215.75 points with teammate Danielle Laimbeer second (204.75). 

Stedman swam a 2:30.56 in the 200 butterfly for a third-place finish.  Cockels (57.49) in the 100 freestyle was fourth.   Alzaga won the next event the 200 backstroke with a time of 2:13.60.  The 500 freestyle saw Linnen swim to a fourth-place finish with a time of 5:44.10. 

Vander Baan picked up her second win for the meet when she registered 243.35 points in taking the 3-meter diving.  Budiansky also won her second event of the day in the next event, the 200 breaststroke, as she finished with a 2:27.73.   The final event of the meet, the 400 freestyle relay, the tandem of Stedman, Stephanie Rogaczewski, Meghan Cepela and Haas placed second with a time of 4:05.75.

The ‘Cats will swim at home next week (Oct. 30) against Hillsdale at 11 a.m.

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