Feb. 7, 2008

Lutes Look for Improvements at NWC Championship Meet

NWC CHAMPIONSHIPS AT KCAC: Pacific Lutheran will host the Northwest Conference Swimming Championships this Friday through Sunday, Feb. 8-10, at the King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way. There will be a morning and evening session each day. All three morning sessions will start at 10, while the Friday and Saturday evening sessions are scheduled to start at 6. The Sunday evening sessions gets underway at 5. Tickets for the championship meet are available at the door for the following prices: $20 - adult weekend pass; $15 – youth weekend pass; $5 – adult single session; $3 – youth single session.

DEFENDING CHAMPIONS: The Puget Sound women and the Whitworth men have enjoyed a long stranglehold on their respective Northwest Conference swim crowns. The question entering this year’s meet is whether or not those teams can again rise above the rest of the conference competition. One thing that seems to be a given is that the times should be fast. That’s because, of the 26 individual events to be contested (there are also 10 relays), the conference champion returns in 25 of them.

WOMEN’S MEET NOTES: Last year, Puget Sound used superior depth to win its 11th consecutive Northwest Conference women’s championship, scoring 703 points to beat Whitworth’s 654 points in what essentially was a two-team race. While Whitworth won eight individual events and four of the five relays, Puget Sound’s ability to put numerous swimmers in finals proved to be the difference. Last year, the Loggers had only three event wins – Amy Polansky’s victories in the 100 and 200 breaststrokes, and the 200 medley relay. Polansky is back again this year and currently holds the NWC’s top times in the 100 and 200 breaststrokes and the 200 individual medley. Whitworth’s Natalie Turner, named the meet’s outstanding female swimmer last year, leads a strong contingent of Pirates who hope to scuttle Puget Sound’s long string of victories.

ABOUT THE LUTES: Pacific Lutheran finished sixth in the women’s meet last year, but based on this season’s performances stand a good chance of moving up this year. The Lutes were third in the conference dual meet standings this season. Freshman Jessie Klauder has had a strong season for the Lutes and is capable of qualifying for the championship final in the maximum three individual events. She is ranked among the top swimmers in several events, including fourth in the 400 individual medley. Another PLU newcomer, Lacey Wear, ranks in the top six in both the 100 and 200 breaststrokes.

MEN’S MEET NOTES: Whitworth had to stave off a strong Linfield challenge to win its fifth straight men’s title in 2007. The Pirates overcame a 17-point deficit on the final day to finish first with 627 points, followed by Linfield with 609 points. This year’s competition figures to be a duplicate. Three swimmers each won three men's events to share most outstanding swimmer honors last year, and all three return to defend those titles.
Linfield’s Kevin Caple took titles in the 200 and 400 individual medleys and the 200 backstroke last year, while teammate Dom Rieniets won the 50 and 100 freestyles and the 100 butterfly last year. Whitworth’s David Dolphay took victories in the 200, 500 and 1650 freestyles. One of the top newcomers to the Northwest Conference is Whitworth’s Michael Woodward, who has the NWC’s best marks in the 100 and 200 freestyles and the 200 individual medley.

ABOUT THE LUTES: Pacific Lutheran finished a disappointing fifth in last year’s NWC title meet, but they figure to have a stronger performance this season. PLU ended up third in the conference dual meet standings, though that doesn’t necessarily transfer over to a championship meet format. Freshman Jay Jones is one of the NWC’s top newcomers who figure to make a splash at this year’s championship meet. He is ranked first in both the 200 butterfly and 400 individual medley. For two straight years, junior Andy Stetzler has ranked among the top distance freestyle swimmers, and this year should be no different. Look for him to finish among the top six in the 200, 500 and 1650 freestyles.

- PLU -