2008-09 Swimming Outlook

The 2008-09 Pacific Lutheran swim team will have a new look, and it won’t have anything to do with the team’s suits or warm-ups. Yes, there are a lot of new faces on a team that has no seniors and only five juniors, all on the men’s team. Where the new look comes, primarily, is in the coaching staff. For the first time in 31 seasons, the Lutes will open the season without head coach Jim Johnson at poolside. Johnson remains the head coach, though he is currently on medical leave. Former assistant coach Allison Kolp is serving as the team’s interim coach. Her staff of assistant coaches includes a trio of individuals who completed their PLU careers last year – Tara Johnson, Patrick Carlisle and Mike Turcott.

Jay Jones

MEN’S OUTLOOK

Pacific Lutheran returns seven letter winners from last year’s team that placed fifth in the Northwest Conference meet. Sophomore Jay Jones was a standout at the NWC meet, winning the 200-yard butterfly event, becoming the first PLU male swimmer since Mike Simmons in 1999 to win an event title at conference. He also placed third in the 400 individual medley and fourth in the 200 individual medley. Junior Ben Lilley placed fifth in the 1650 yard freestyle at the NWC meet. Both of these swimmers, in addition to the returning swimmers, will make a huge impact in this year’s push for a strong performance at the conference meet.

There are no seniors this year for the PLU men, and exactly half of the Lute men are sophomores and juniors, but those upperclassmen will have to make a big impact. In addition to Jones and Lilley, the Lutes will relay on the stroke of swimmers like Bryce Manso, Jon Pedack, Alex Limoges, Matt Kim, and Adam Michels to do the job. Limoges was a conference meet placer last year, finishing sixth in the 200 backstroke and seventh in the 100 butterfly.

The Lute men are packed with newcomers and youth this year, bringing in seven freshman recruits. Rayan Carter, Forrest Crain, Chase Mesford and James Tonellato are some of the bigger names in that group. If the Lutes are to be successful, they will need to tap into their youthful talent as the season progresses.

Since the Lutes have no returning seniors, PLU could be a powerhouse in the near future, if not this year.

Jessie Klauder

WOMEN’S OUTLOOK

The Lute women are also packed with youth, and even more so, with all 20 of the Lutes having freshman or sophomore eligibility. Though it’s probably needless to say, the team’s success will be based on how the young Lutes swim.

The Lutes are very deep, but will depend a lot on two sophomores who were top-eight finishers in their events at the 2008 conference meet. Jessie Klauder had the best conference meet finish for the Lute women last year, placing third in the 200 breaststroke. She also finished sixth in the 400 individual medley and ninth in the 500 freestyle. Casey Jackson also had a solid first year, placing seventh in the 200 backstroke and eighth in the 100 backstroke. Other sophomores who will lead the team are Kasey Dorcas in the freestyle and IM, Gina Wittman in the breaststroke and freestyle, Dayna Blauvelt in the freestyle and Stacey Crider in the freestyle. Look for them to make the difference in those tight situations down the stretch.

One of the key newcomers is freshman Elizabeth Althauser, she should be a threat in the breaststroke and freestyle events, swimming in the state meet all four years at Mt. Rainier High School.