Jan. 26, 2008

Lute Swim Teams Handle Willamette, Nail Down Third-Place Finishes

Meet Results

Laura Brade - senior wins two events

PARKLAND, Wash. – Pacific Lutheran nailed down third-place finishes in both the men’s and women’s Northwest Conference standings with easy victories over the visiting Willamette Bearcats on Saturday afternoon at the PLU Pool.

The Lute women won nine of 11 events to defeat the Bearcats, 134-69, and as a result finished the regular season with a 5-2 record in conference duals and a 6-4 overall record. The PLU men won eight of 11 events in taking a 132-62 triumph, and they ended up 5-2 in the conference and 6-2 overall. Willamette is now 2-5 in women’s conference meets while the Bearcat men fall to 0-7 in the NWC.

PLU senior Laura Brade had a strong performance in her final dual meet. After finishing second in the grueling 1650 freestyle (19:40.44), she came back to win the 400 individual medley (5:03.60), followed immediately by another win in the 100 butterfly (1:03.79). Brade rallied in the final 25 yards to beat Willamette’s Bridget Sutherland by .29 seconds.

Also winning two events for the Lutes was Jessie Klauder in the 1650 freestyle (19:06.54) and the 100 freestyle (57.10). Tara Johnson, one of the team’s senior captains, won the 200 freestyle (2:08.01). Other Lute winners included Casey Jackson in the 100 backstroke (1:03.86) and Lacey Wear the 100 breaststroke (1:13.10). The PLU women also won the 200 medley relay (2:00.17) and the 200 freestyle relay (1:47.97).

Willamette’s winners included Brittany Thiemens in the 50 freestyle (25.96) and Hanna Connette in the 500 freestyle (5:37.31).

Jay Jones had two wins for the PLU men, taking the 100 butterfly in a time of 52.80, less than a second off of the school record, and the 500 freestyle (5:18.42). Other PLU winners were Andy Stetzler in the 1650 freestyle (16:53.69), Luke Thomas in the 50 freestyle (23.34), Alex Limoges in the 400 individual medley (4:46.04) and Kyle Maxwell in the 100 backstroke (59.88). The Lutes also won both the 200 medley relay (1:46.98) and the 200 freestyle relay (1:35.35).

Willamette winners included John Schmidtbauer in the 200 freestyle (1:53.84) and 100 freestyle (51.62) and James Huang in the 100 breaststroke (1:09.62).

The next action for both teams comes Friday through Sunday, Feb. 8-10, when they compete in the Northwest Conference Championships scheduled for the King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way, Wash. Pacific Lutheran will serve as meet host.

- PLU -