Pacific Swimmers Outscore Bearcats in NWC Action

By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

FOREST GROVE, ORE. -- The Pacific University swimming teams defeated Willamette University in a Northwest Conference dual meet on Friday, Jan. 28 at the Forest Grove Aquatic Center. Pacific's women downed the Bearcats, 124-50, while the Boxers won the men's competition, 110-36. The Boxers prevailed in eight women's events and also won eight men's events.

Pacific's women improved to 3-4 overall, 1-4 in the NWC, while the Willamette women dropped to 1-6 overall, 0-5 in the NWC. The Pacific men moved to 3-4 overall, 1-4 in the NWC. The WU men's team fell to 0-6 on the season, 0-5 in the conference.

Lauren Ballinger (So., Wenatchee, WA/Wenatchee HS) of Willamette and Cherice Cochrane of Pacific each won two individual events in the women's competition. Ballinger was victorious in the 100-yard and 200-yard freestyle events, while Cocharane took first place in the 50-yard freestyle and the 100-yard backstroke.

The winning time for Ballinger in the 100 freestyle was 56.88 seconds. She won the race by 2.20 seconds over Nicole Koch of Pacific, who finished second 59.08. In the 200 freestyle, Ballinger registered a time of 2:02.21 two win by about one-half second. Alex Bing placed second for the Boxers in 2:02.78.

Cochrane finished first in the 50 freestyle by earning a time of 25.97 seconds. WU's top swimmer in the event was Chelsea Ibarra (Sr., Santa Cruz, CA/Georgiana Bruce Kirby Prep), who placed second after clocking in at 28.58 seconds. Cochrane won the 100 backstroke in 1:06.85, while Kayla Kosaki (So., Hilo, HI/Waiakea HS) of WU was second at 1:13.17.

Erin Parkinson (Fr., Everson, WA/Ferndale HS) also recorded a second place finish for the Bearcat women's team. She was second in the longest race of the evening, the 1,000-yard freestyle, as she achieved a time of 11:37.20. Bonnie Carroll of Pacific won the race in 11:22.86.

In addition, Willamette claimed second place in the women's 200-yard medley relay. Kosaki, Parkinson, Kara Koetje (Jr., Arlington, WA/Stanwood HS) and Ballinger achieved WU's time of 2:03.54. Pacific's team of Cochrane, Bing, Laura Ross and Kelli Kronsberg placed first with a time of 2:00.96.

Ian McGahan (So., Tacoma, WA/Stadium HS) of WU won the men's 500-yard freestyle. He completed the race in 5:48.92, just over one second before Pacific's Chris Wyrick, competing exhibition, touched out at 5:49.96.

Chris Whitehead (Fr., Sherwood, OR/Sherwood HS) took first place in the men's 100-yard breaststroke for the Bearcats. Whitehead earned a time of 1:08.13. Pacific had two swimmers competing exhibition in the event.

Whitehead also placed third in the 50-yard freestyle, missing second place by 0.26 seconds. Scott Kimura of Pacific was victorious in the 50 freestyle, as he reached the finish in 23.22 seconds. Ben Griffin placed second for the Boxers at 24.76 seconds and Whitehead followed closely at 25.02 seconds.

Kimura was one of two Pacific swimmers to win a pair of individual men's events. In addition to the win in the 50 free, Kimura earned first place in the 100-yard freestyle in 50.49 seconds. Michael Hargitt attained wins for the Boxers with a time of 56.70 seconds in the 100-yard butterfly and a time of 59.96 seconds in the 100-yard backstroke.

Willamette will be back in action on Saturday, Jan. 29, with the final home swim meet of the season. The Bearcats will take on Lewis & Clark College with the action getting underway at the WU Natatorium at 1 p.m. (PST). During the meet, Willamette will honor senior swimmer Chelsea Ibarra for her contributions to the Bearcats over the past four seasons.

NOTE: The linked results page is currently in a format that is difficult to read. An updated results page should be received by sometime on Saturday.