2007-08 Swimming Outlook

MEN’S OUTLOOK
Pacific Lutheran returns 10 letter winners from last year’s team that placed fifth in the conference meet, just 17 points out of fourth place. Junior Andy Stetzler has been one of the conference’s best in the distance freestyle events over the past two seasons, and he is the Lutes’ top returning swimmer. As a freshman he placed third in the 200, 500 and 1650, and last year he finished third in the 500 and 1650 and was fifth in the 200. Sophomore Ben Lilley is the only other returning Lute to make a conference meet championship final, placing eighth in the 1650 freestyle, though he also added 10th-place finishes in the 200 and 500 freestyles.

The Lutes also return a large handful of swimmers who made the NWC consolation finals in at least one, and in as many as three, events: sophomores Eric Brauser, Bryce Manso, Kyle Maxwell, Adam Michels and John Pedack; and seniors Patrick Carlisle and Mike Turcott. Senior Adam Fuller, a two-year letter winner, also brings experience to the squad.

Jay Jones, a freshman from Mt. View High School in Vancouver, is one of PLU’s top male newcomers in recent years. Joining him on the list of other top recruits are freshmen Alex Limoges, Trevor Olson and Luke Thomas.

Pacific Lutheran’s squad is heavy on youth with only three seniors counted among the 15 swimmers, but the strength of the squad comes from the underclassmen.

WOMEN’S OUTLOOK
Jessie Donovan made a huge mark on the Northwest Conference one season ago, and the sophomore out of Mount Vernon continues to show the ability to be a national meet participant. In fact, she swam a provisional qualifying mark in the 100 butterfly last year but did not receive an invitation to the national meet. She is not the only Jessie on the women’s team with that kind of talent, however, as freshman Jessie Klauder also figures to get plenty of first-place finishes this year.

Last season, Donovan reached the conference meet championship finals in three events, placing second in the 100 backstroke, fourth in the 200 backstroke and sixth in the 200 individual medley, that in addition to swimming on PLU relay teams.

Klauder should be the Lutes’ top swimmer in the freestyle and individual medley, and she figures to be a conference finalist in three individual events as well, in addition to joining Donovan on the relays.

There are four other letter winners returning from last year’s PLU women’s team, including senior Tara Johnson, who placed eighth in the 1650 freestyle in addition to swimming in the consolation final in the 200 and 500 freestyles. Joining Johnson on that list are junior Laura Brade and sophomores Shallae Eugley and Molly Tonder. The Lute women finished sixth in the 2007 conference championship meet.

Other top newcomers besides Klauder are freshmen Dayna Blauvelt, Kasey Dorcas, Kasey Jackson and Lacey Wear.