Jan. 18, 2008

Lute Women Upset Lewis & Clark to Seal Swim Sweep

Meet Results

Lacey Wear - big win for Lutes

PARKLAND, Wash. - The Pacific Lutheran women's swimming team posted an exciting 103-102 Northwest Conference victory over visiting Lewis & Clark on Friday night at the PLU pool. The win assured the Lutes of a sweep of the Pioneers as the PLU men swam to an easy 156-40 victory.

"That's as good an upset win on the women's side as I can remember for a long time," said PLU head coach Jim Johnson, who is in his 30th year at the school.

The meet started well for the PLU women as they raced to an easy win in the 200 medley relay, winning by nearly six seconds. After a Lewis & Clark victory from Claire Jordan in the 1000 freestyle (11:27.28), Jessie Klauder posted a PLU win in the 200 freestyle (1:59.49). That's when the Lutes turned to their depth, staying with the Pioneers despite the visitors winning the 50 freestyle, 400 individual medley, 100 butterfly and 100 freestyle in succession. Lindsay Nixon won the 400 IM (4:46.47) and the 100 butterfly (1:02.11) and Koy Collier took the 50 freestyle (26.14) and the 100 freestyle (57.05).

PLU's Casey Jackson broke the string with a victory in the 100 backstroke (1:05.05), and Klauder came back with a victory in the 500 freestyle (5:24.28). The next event proved pivotal as Lacey Wear took a victory in the 100 breaststroke (1:12.85), giving the Lutes enough of an edge to hold off the Pioneers in the final event, the 200 freestyle relay. Lewis & Clark placed first and third in the event, but the Lutes came away with the team victory.

The men's meet was never close as the Lutes won all 10 of the 11 events despite the swimmers competing in "off" events. PLU started with a win in the 200 medley relay (1:44.62) and closed with a triumph in the 200 freestyle relay (1:32.18). Individual event winners included Alex Limoges in the 1000 freestyle (10:50.53) and 100 butterfly (56.83), Trevor Olson in the 200 freestyle (1:54.38), John Pedack in the 400 individual medley (4:55.14), Ben Lilley in the 100 freestyle (50.59), Andy Stetzler in the 100 backstroke (1:01.11), Luke Thomas in the 500 freestyle (5:11.43) and Jay Jones in the 100 breaststroke (1:02.26).

Pacific Lutheran returns to acton at 1 p.m. Saturday when it hosts the Whitworth Pirates in another Northwest Conference meet. The Pirates are making the trip west across the mountains after sweeping the Whitman Missionaries in a conference meet held Friday night in Walla Walla.

- PLU -