Pointer women's swimming, diving team reaches highest national finish UW-SP achieved its highest women's national finish in school history last weekend by finishing eighth overall at the NCAA Division III championships in Buffalo, N.Y. The Pointers amassed 146 team points, including 124 points through five relay teams to finish eighth. UW-SP's eighth-place finish bettered its previous best of 11th place from last season. Alissa Bartz (Beloit), Amy Rockwell (Zeeland, Mich.) and Jen Randall (Wisconsin Rapids) were each on four relays. Erica Janssen (Oshkosh) and Mary Thone (Minneapolis, Minn.) were each on three relays, while Christine Sammons (Hastings, Minn.) was on both medley relays. The 400 medley relay finished third in 3:57.54, the 200 freestyle relay was fourth in 1:37.60 and the 200 medley relay was fourth in 1:48.78. The 400 freestyle relay was eighth in 3:35.65 and the 800 freestyle relay was 12th in 7:51.59. Sammons finished seventh in the 200 breaststroke with a time of 2:26.81 and placed 10th in the 100 breaststroke at 1:06.06. Randall finished 14th in the 50 freestyle with a time of 24.62. Denison (Ohio) won the team title, edging Kenyon (Ohio), which had won 17 straight national championships. Track and Field It was a huge weekend for the Pointers as the men's and women's teams both had their highest indoor finishes in school history with fourth place performances at the NCAA Division III championships in Oshkosh. The men also finished fourth last season, while the women were 24th a year ago and bettered their previous best of eighth place in 1994. The Pointers had three national champions as Jesse Drake (Rhinelander) won the men's 5,000 meters in 14:27.89, Chris Horvat (Menomonee Falls) won the men's 800 meters in 1:52.39 and Leah Juno (Brillion) won the women's 800 meters in 2:12.11. Horvat is the first WIAC athlete ever to win the men's 800 and Juno is the first Pointer female to win a national title since Jessie Bushman in 1994. For the men, Mike Mead (Neenah) was second in the high jump at 6-9.75, Noah Eschenbach (Rosholt) was fourth in the weight throw at 57-9.5, Craig Gunderson (Waupaca) was fifth in the 400 meters at 49.10 seconds and Cory Lesperance (Sheboygan) was sixth in the long jump at 22-9.5. On the women's side, the distance medley relay team of Juno, Becky Lebak (Burlington), Laura LaCrosse (Wisconsin Rapids) and April Raykowski (Stevens Point) was third in 12:01.45. Jody Butkowski (Stevens Point) was fourth in the triple jump at 37-5.75 and Lebak was sixth in the 5,000 meters at 17:28.81. The WIAC dominated the awards as UW-La Crosse won the men's title and UW-Oshkosh was second. Wheaton (Mass.) won the women's title and UW-La Crosse was second. The WIAC had four of the top seven men's teams and three of the top six women's teams. There's no rest for the Pointers as they open their outdoor season this week at Occidental College in Los Angeles Friday. Baseball The Pointers are ranked 28th in the NCAA Division III preseason poll and begin their season with 12 games this week in Fort Myers, Fla.. UW-SP has a challenging slate in Florida, opening with Bethel (Minn.) on March 17. The schedule includes games against fourth-ranked Allegheny (Pa.), fifth-ranked Southern Maine, 15th-ranked Salisbury State (Md.) and 21st ranked Rowan (N.J.). Softball The Pointers enter the season ranked 22nd in the NCAA Division III preseason poll and open with 10 games in Fort Myers, Fla. UW-SP begins its season Monday, March 19, against Kalamazoo (Mich.) and Division II Franklin Pierce (N.H.). The Pointers will also face Division II Hillsdale (Mich.) during the trip.