Nov. 20, 2007

SWIMMING: Lutes Top Whitman; Limoges and Donovan Honored

THIS WEEK: Pacific Lutheran does not compete this week. The Lutes return to action Friday, Nov. 30 and Saturday, Dec. 1, at the Northwest Conference Invitational hosted by Linfield College in McMinnville, Ore.

Alex Limoges

Jessie Donovan

Jay Jones

WHAT’S AHEAD: With the Thanksgiving break coming this week, Pacific Lutheran has a short practice week. The team returns to the pool next Monday for workouts in preparation for the annual Northwest Conference Invitational.

LUTES SWEEP WHITMAN: Pacific Lutheran defeated Whitman in a men's dual swimming meet for the 30th straight time when the Lutes recorded a 126-79 Northwest Conference win last Saturday at the PLU Pool. The Lutes also won the women's meet, ending a three-year Missionaries' winning streak by taking a 111-94 decision. With the victories, both PLU teams improve to 3-1 overall and also in NWC competition. "We thought it would be a close one," Pacific Lutheran coach Jim Johnson said of the men's meet. Instead, the Lutes won the meet-opening 400 medley relay (3:46.48) and went on to take first in nine of the 11 events. Alex Limoges, who swam the opening leg on the medley relay winner, also won the 400 individual medley (4:41.24) and the 200 backstroke (2:05.98). Andy Stetzler was a triple winner as well, taking the 1000 freestyle (10:25.33) and the 500 freestyle (4:57.58) in addition to capping off PLU's victory in the meet-concluding 400 freestyle relay (3:21.83). Other PLU event winners were Trevor Olson in the 50 freestyle (23.01), Jay Jones in the 200 butterfly (2:02.85) and Ben Lilley in the 100 freestyle (51.04). Johnson called his women's victory over Whitman "a surprise." The Missionaries took an early 26-10 lead with wins in the 400 medley relay and in the 1000 freestyle, but Dayna Blauvelt started the Lutes on the road to the team victory by winning the 200 freestyle (2:06.23). Jessie Donovan followed with a win in the 50 freestyle (26.35) and Jessie Klauder led a 1-2 PLU finish in the 400 individual medley (4:57.82) to put the hosts ahead for good, 50-43. Blauvelt later added a win in the 100 freestyle (57.66), as did Donovan in the 200 backstroke (2:15.59). Blauvelt, Donovan, Katie Knee and Klauder closed the meet with a triumph in the 400 freestyle relay (3:52.23).

NWC HONORS LIMOGES AND DONOVAN: A pair of PLU swimmers earned Northwest Conference Swimmer of the Week honors. Alex Limoges, a freshman from Hudson’s Bay High school in Vancouver, was picked as Men’s Swimmer of the Week after winning two individual events and swimming a leg on the winning 400 medley relay team. Jessie Donovan, a sophomore from Mount Vernon High School, received Women’s Swimmer of the Week recognition for the same accomplishment, winning two individual events and swimming a leg on a winning relay, in this case the 400 freestyle. Donovan’s winning time in the 200 backstroke is the best time in the Northwest Conference thus far this season.

WHERE THEY RANK: Several PLU swimmers and relay teams are ranked among the conference leaders heading into the Thanksgiving break.
Andy Stetzler: 3rd in the 1000 freestyle, 4th in the 500 freestyle
Alex Limoges: 6th in the 200 backstroke
Jay Jones: 2nd in the 100 breaststroke, 4th in the 200 breaststroke, 2nd in the 100 butterfly, 3rd in the 200 butterfly, 5th in the 400 IM
Men’s 200 Freestyle Relay (Trevor Olson, Stetzler, Ben Lilley, Jones): 1st
Men’s 400 Medley Relay (Limoges, Olson, Jones, Lilley): 2nd
Jessie Donovan: 2nd in the 100 backstroke, 2nd in the 200 backstroke, 5th in the 50 freestyle
Jessie Klauder: 3rd in the 200 breaststroke, 4th in the 200 freestyle, 5th in the 100 freestyle
Lacey Wear: 4th in the 100 breaststroke
400 Freestyle Relay (Dayna Blauvelt, Donovan, Katie Knee, Klauder): 2nd

- PLU -