Whitworth Defeats Willamette in Swimming to Start NWC Schedule

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

SPOKANE, WASH. -- Whitworth University defeated Willamette University in men's and women's swimming to start the Northwest Conference dual match season on Friday, Nov. 7 at the Whitworth Aquatic Center. The Pirates won the men's competition, 155-49, and triumphed in the women's competition, 143-61.

The Pirates are 1-0 in both men's and women's swimming, while both Willamette teams are 0-1.

Malia Santos (Jr., Kailua-Kona, HI/Kealakehe HS) led the Bearcats by winning the women's 50-yard freestyle and taking second in the 100-yard butterfly.

Santos was victorious in the 50 free with a time of 25.83 seconds. Jane Holmes of Whitworth placed second at 26.04 seconds. In the 100 fly, Santos earned a time of 1:02.63, just 0.11 behind Heather Spall, who won the event for Whitworth in 1:02.52.

Kate Harvey (Fr., Atlantic Beach, FL/Duncan Fletcher HS) of Willamette took second place in two events. She was second in the women's 1,000-yard freestyle in 12:28.34. The Bearcats earned a 2-3 finish in the event, as Margo Coxon (Fr., Lake Forest Park, WA/Shorecrest HS) placed third in 12:31.20. Megan Thompson of Whitworth won the 1,000 in 11:15.41.

Harvey also was second in the 500-yard freestyle in 6:01.22. Bridget Louis won the event for the Pirates in 5:21.05. The Bearcats claimed another 2-3 finish, with Coxon in third at 6:0179.

Also for the Willamette women's team, Cassie Tallman (Fr., Seattle, WA/Roosevelt HS) placed second in the 400-yard individual medley and Ashlyn Witherwax (Fr., Honolulu, HI/Punahou School) was second in the 100-yard breaststroke.

Tallman's time in the 400 I.M. was 4:57.77, as she trailed only Louis of Whitworth, who prevailed in 4:44.86. In the 100 breaststroke, Witherwax was timed at 1:11.18. Jerusha Dressell won the event for the Pirates in 1:08.54. Tallman earned third place with a time of 1:12.42.

Four members of the Bearcat men's team placed second in at least one event.

Mark Yuvienco (Fr., San Jose, CA/Bellarmine College Prep) achieved second in both the 400-yard individual medley and the 100-yard butterfly. He registered a time of 4:20.32 in the 400 I.M. and was timed at 54.75 seconds in the 100 fly. Jake McCollough of Whitworth won the 400 I.M. in 4:15.92, while Wesley Tatum of the Pirates took first place in the 100 fly at 52.13 seconds.

Alika Masei (So., Salem, OR/West Salem HS) was second in the 100-yard breaststroke after touching out in 1:04.18. Trevor Case won the event for Whitworth in 58.81 seconds. Kulananalu Tarnas (So., Kamuela, HI/Hawaii Preparatory Academy) placed third with a time of 1:05.58.

Masei also attained a third place finish in the 100-yard backstroke. Patrick Wilber of Whitworth took first place at 53.93 seconds, while Jason Smith from Whitworth was second in 54.37. Masei followed with a time of 55.59.

Shelby Merrill (So., Thousand Oaks, CA/Westlake HS) of Willamette achieved second place in the 1,000-yard freestyle. He completed the race in 10:39.50. Benjamin Gustafson of the Pirates recorded first place in 10:09.77.

Willamette's swimming team will be in action again on Saturday, Nov. 8. They will take on Whitman College in Walla Walla, Wash., starting at 1 p.m. (PST).