Pacific Lutheran University finished fifth in the men’s team scoring and seventh in the women’s division at the recently completed Northwest Conference Swimming Championships hosted by the Lutes at the King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way.
Whitworth won both titles, ending the University of Puget Sound’s run of 11 straight women’s team championships, while also winning the men’s crown for the sixth straight year.
Jay Jones provided Pacific Lutheran’s primary highlight, beating defending champion Yusuke Kobayashi of Linfield by 1.38 seconds to win the 200 butterfly in a time of 1:56.61. The victory by Jones was PLU’s first NWC men’s individual event title since Mike Simmons won the 100 breaststroke in 1999. On the meet’s first day, Jones finished fourth in the 200 individual medley final with a time of 1:57.05, breaking the record of 1:57.85 set by Mike Simmons in 1997. Jones also placed third in the 400 individual medley.
Andy Stetzler swam in the championship final in three events (200, 500 and 1650 freestyles) for the third straight year, finishing fifth in the 200 and third in both the 500 and 1650. On the women's side, senior captain
Tara Johnson finished her career with a great race in the 1650 freestyle, placing seventh, while
Jessie Klauder had the top event finish for the PLU women in the 200 breaststroke, placing third.
