Nov. 9, 2006

Swim Team Opens Dual Meet Portion of Schedule

THIS WEEK: Pacific Lutheran hosts Puget Sound, Friday, 6 p.m.

HOME AND DUAL OPENER: Pacific Lutheran does a bit of a triple dip in Friday, swimming in its first dual meet of the 2006-07 season, opening its conference season, and also making its first competitive appearance at home. The Lutes host the Puget Sound Loggers starting at 6 p.m. in the PLU Pool.

SCHEDULE IS HOME HEAVY: The Lutes should benefit from a 2006-07 schedule that features six home meets against Northwest Conference foes. The original schedule had Puget Sound (Nov. 10, Linfield (Nov. 17), Pacific (Nov. 18), Whitworth (Jan. 19) and Whitman (Jan. 20) here for duals. The dual versus Willamette (Jan. 13) has since been moved from Salem, Ore., to the PLU Pool. In addition to these six duals, the Lutes also host the Northwest Invitational on Dec. 1-2.

EARLY SEASON ACTION: The Lutes have competed in three events to this point in the season. They opened at the NWC Sprint Pentathlon in Portland and the NWC Sprint Relays in McMinnville on successive days during the last weekend in October. Last weekend, they competed at the Pomona-Pitzer Invitational in Claremont, Calif. The Lute men placed fourth in the 11-team competition and the women were seventh among 10 teams.

POMONA-PITZER INVITATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS: Senior Jason Hesla (Huntington Beach, Calif. / Auburn Riverside HS) had a particularly good day at the Pomona-Pitzer Invitational held Saturday, Nov. 4, in Claremont, Calif. Hesla earned honorable mention recognition as the Northwest Conference Male Swimmer of the Week after placing second in both the 100 breaststroke (1:03.03) and 200 breaststroke (2:20.67). He placed 10th in the 200 individual medley (2:08.11) and also swam on the 800 freestyle relay that placed third and the 200 medley relay and 400 freestyle relay that placed fourth. Sophomore Andy Stetzler (Kent, Wash. / Kentwood HS) was fourth in the 200 freestyle (1:49.56) and fifth in the 500 freestyle (5:01.83) and also swam on the freestyle relay teams. Highlights on the women’s side came from freshman Jessie Donovan (Mount Vernon, Wash. / Mount Vernon HS), who was second in the 100 backstroke (1:01.05) and 200 backstroke (2:16.87).

THE COACH: Head coach Jim Johnson is in his 29th season at PLU, by far the longest active tenure of any Northwest Conference swimming coach.

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