Nov. 14, 2006

Lutes Host Oregon Schools in NWC Action

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

TUNE UP: The Lutes swim against a pair of Northwest Conference foes this weekend. Linfield will be in town on Friday, followed by Pacific on Saturday. Linfield comes into the meet 1-0 in NWC men's action and 0-1 on the women's side of things (both against Lewis & Clark last Friday). Pacific has yet to swim a dual this season against a Northwest Conference opponent. This weekend's action should be a tune up for the Northwest Invitational, which will be hosted by PLU on Dec. 1-2. The meet will pit some of the top teams in the Northwest Conference, plus a couple of non-conference schools, against each other.

STETZLER LEADS YOUTH MOVEMENT: There is a strong showing from the underclassmen on this year's swimming teams. Freshmen and sophomores won seven of the individual events from last weeks dual meet against UPS. Sophomore Andy Stetzler won two individual events and swam the anchor leg on the winning 400 freestyle relay team, as a result earning NWC Men's Swimmer of the Week honors. Freshman Mica Bailey was an honorable mention for Women's Swimmer of the Week after she also won two events last week.

LUTES STUN LOGGERS: Last week, the Lute men pulled a surprising upset over the visiting Puget Sound Loggers. For only the second time in head coach Jim Johnson’s 29-tenure, the PLU men defeated Puget Sound, this time by the narrowest of margins – 103-102. “That’s the biggest win of my career,” said Johnson, who praised his team for strong individual and team performances. The Lutes were led by sophomore Andy Stetzler who won the 1000 freestyle (10:30.14) and the 500 freestyle (5:00.64). Freshman Ben Lilley swam on the winning freestyle relay and also won the 200 freestyle (1:54.01). Senior Jason Hesla won the 200 individual medley (2:06.11) and brought the Lutes to within striking distance of the Loggers by winning the second-to-last event, the 200 breaststroke (2:19.93). In the process he defeated the defending conference champion. The women’s team did not fair as well against the Loggers, falling 126-79. There were some great individual performances, however, highlighted by the freshman duo of Jessie Donovan and Mica Bailey. Bailey won the 50 freestyle (25.87) and the 100 freestyle (56.52), and her strong anchor leg pulled out the victory for PLU in the 400 freestyle relay (3:50.30). Donovan also won two individual events, the 200 individual medley (2:18.81) and the 200 backstroke (2:14.13), in addition to swimming the opening leg on the winning 400 freestyle relay team.

- PLU -