Jan. 17, 2007

SWIMMING: Lutes Close Out NWC Schedule at Home

THIS WEEK: Pacific Lutheran Hosts Whitworth, Friday, 6 p.m.; PLU hosts Whitman, Saturday, 1 p.m.

UPCOMING ACTION: After coming off a positive performance by both teams last week, the Lutes will finish up the Northwest Conference regular season this weekend with a 6 p.m. Friday dual against Whitworth and a 1 p.m. Saturday meet against Whitman. Whitworth is among the powerhouses in Northwest Conference swimming. The Pirates are 5-0 in both women’s and men’s conference swimming duals. Whitman’s women are 2-3 in NWC duals and its men are 3-2. The PLU men’s squad has a record of 4-1 and is tied for second place in the NWC standings. The women’s team is in fourth place in the NWC with a record of 3-2.

MEN’S HIGHLIGHTS: The men’s squad won both meets last weekend in dominating fashion. Last Friday night, the Lutes knocked off the host Lewis & Clark Pioneers, 145-45, followed on Saturday afternoon by a 134-66 victory over the visiting Willamette Bearcats. In the Lewis & Clark meet, senior Jason Helsa and sophomore Andy Stetzler were both double-event winners for the Lutes. Hesla swam to victory in the 400 individual medley (4:44.40) and the 100 breaststroke (1:04.63), while Stetzler took the 200 freestyle (1:50.52) and the 100 freestyle (49.90). Other Lute swimmers winning men's events were senior David Pedack in the 500 freestyle (5:32.89), freshman Matt Kim in the 50 free (24.11), and freshman Kyle Maxwell in the 100 butterfly (58.65). The Lutes also won both relay events. In the Willamette meet, Stetzler was again a double-event winner with victories in the 1000 freestyle (10:18.97) and the 100 freestyle (49.87). Other PLU event winners were Luke Weinbrecht in the 50 freestyle (23.03), Hesla in the 200 individual medley (2:09.47), Pedack in the 200 backstroke (2:14.99) and Ben Lilley in the 500 freestyle (5:09.60). The Lutes also won the 400 medley relay (3:58.99) and the 400 freestyle relay (3:32.47).

WOMEN’S HIGHLIGHTS: The Lute women couldn’t complete the sweep last weekend after dropping the meet to Lewis & Clark, 133-72, followed by a 126-76 triumph over Willamette. In the Lewis & Clark meet the Lutes had a pair of event winners in freshmen Mica Bailey, who won the 50 freestyle (25.95), and Jessie Donovan, victorious in the 100 backstroke (59.74). The Willamette meet saw a much better performance by the Lutes with PLU winning eight of the 11 events, with Tara Johnson, Bailey and Donovan each winning a pair of individual events for PLU. Johnson took the 200 freestyle (2:10.98) and the 500 freestyle (5:52.29), Bailey won the 50 freestyle (25.81) and the 100 freestyle (57.45), and Donovan took the 200 individual medley (2:17.75) and the 200 backstroke (2:15.62). Other PLU winners were Jaisa Farleigh in the 1000 freestyle (11:58.51) and the team of Bailey, Johnson, Katie Crawford and Donovan in the 400 freestyle relay (3:59.19).

DONOVAN HITS THE MARK: The biggest news of the weekend for the Lutes was the winning women's 100 backstroke time recorded by Jessie Donovan in the Lewis & Clark meet. The freshman out of Mount Vernon clocked 59.74, the third fastest time in PLU women's history. In addition, her time is a provisional qualifying time for the NCAA Division III national meet scheduled for March in Houston, Texas. Donovan was honored as the NWC Female Swimmer of the Week for her performance, making it the second time she has received the honor this season.

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