Jan. 24, 2007

SWIMMING: Lutes Have A Tune Up Before Conference Meet

THIS WEEK: Pacific Lutheran travels to Caldwell, Idaho, to battle Albertson College of Idaho at 1 p.m. Saturday.

Andy Stetzler

LUTES TRAVEL TO IDAHO FOR DUAL: The Lutes will have one final dual meet before the conference championship scheduled for Feb. 9-11 at Whitman College in Walla Walla. Albertson College will host the Lutes in a non-conference meet this Saturday in Caldwell, Idaho. While the Lutes have hosted six dual meets this year – all against NWC opponents – the Coyote swim teams will host their lone meet of the season at the J.A. Albertson Aquatics Center. Pacific Lutheran will make its first appearance in the Treasure Valley, though this is the second dual between the schools. Last season, PLU hosted ACI, the PLU men topping the Yotes, 83-71, and the women winning 132-44. PLU's men finished 5-2 in the final NWC standings, good for third place, while the women were tied with Whitman for fourth with a 3-4 dual record.

WHITS GET THE BEST OF PLU: The Lute swim team took on Whitworth and Whitman last week with the Whits taking three of the four duals. Last Friday, Whitworth swept PLU, taking the women’s meet 126-76 and the men’s 141.5-58.5. Being swept by the Pirates is not unusual, however, as both Whitworth teams finished the 2006-07 NWC dual season unbeaten in seven competitions. The following day the Lutes were able to split with Whitman with the men winning 125-77 and the Missionaries coming out on top, 109-96, over the PLU women.

MEN’S HIGHLIGHTS: There wasn’t much to write home to mom about in the Whitworth meet with sophomore Andy Stetzler (Kent, Wash. / Kentwood HS) being the only event winner for PLU. Stetzler won the 500 freestyle in a time of 5:00.85. The Lutes found more success in the Whitman meet. Stetzler won both the 200 freestyle (1:48.96) and the 100 freestyle (50.18). Other individual event winners included freshman Luke Weinbrecht (Kent, Wash. / Kentlake HS) in the 50 yard freestyle (23.12), freshman Ben Lilley (Astoria, Ore. / Astoria HS) in the 500 yard freestyle (5:09.17), and senior Jason Hesla (Huntington Beach, Calif. / Auburn Jefferson HS) in the 200 yard breaststroke (2:21.27).

Jessie Donovan

WOMEN’S HIGHLIGHTS: The highlight of the Whitworth meet came from Jessie Donovan (Mount Vernon, Wash. / Mount Vernon HS). The freshman out of Mount Vernon clocked 59.49 in the 100 backstroke, moving her up to second all-time in PLU women’s history. Other event winners included freshman Mica Bailey (Burien, Wash. / Highline HS) in the 100 freestyle (56.39) and junior Tara Johnson (Gig Harbor, Wash. / Gig Harbor HS) in the 1000 freestyle (12:01.31). The Whitman meet was full of familiar names with both Donovan and Bailey being multi-event winners. Donovan won the 200 backstroke (2:11.05), 200 freestyle (2:05.21) and 200 individual medley (2:18.91), while Bailey won the 50 freestyle (26.20) and the 100 freestyle (3:57.71).

DONOVAN AND STETZLER HONORED: Jessie Donovan and Andy Stetzler were both honorable mention selections for Northwest Conference Swimmer of the Week based on their performances this past week.

- PLU -