Bearcat Swimmers Earn All-Northwest Conference Honors

By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director

SALEM, Ore. -- Six Willamette University swimmers have earned All-Northwest Conference recognition for their efforts during the 2016 NWC Swimming Championships on Feb. 12-14 at the King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way, Washington.

Athletes received First Team All-NWC honors by placing in the top three of an individual event or by participating on a winning relay team. Second Team All-NWC recognition went to swimmers who placed fourth through eighth in an individual event or competed on a relay team that finished second or third.

The Bearcats achieved 13 total awards. Cassie Tallman (So., Seattle, WA/Roosevelt HS) attained First Team All-NWC honors by finishing second in the women's 200-yard breaststroke. She was named Second Team All-NWC twice after taking fourth place in the 100-yard breaststroke and fifth place  in the 200-yard individual medley.

Five other Bearcats were selected Second Team All-NWC. They were Malia Santos (Sr., Kailua-Kona, HI/Kealakehe HS), Kiley Lin (Fr., Palo Alto, CA/Henry M. Gunn HS), Ashlyn Witherwax (So., Honolulu, HI/Punahou School), Alika Masei (Jr., Salem, OR/West Salem HS) and Mark Yuvienco (So., San Jose, CA/Bellarmine College Prep). See the complete list below.

Willamette set school records in seven events during the NWC Championships.

Tallman established new records in the women's 100-yard breaststroke at 1:07.02 and in the women's 200-yard breaststroke at 2:25.58. Lin also set a pair of records, earning Willamette's top time in the 100-yard backstroke in 57.88 seconds and in the 200-yard backstroke in 2:05.73.

Santos registered a school record in the women's 100-yard butterfly. Her record-setting time was 58.91 seconds.

Lin, Tallman and Santos contributed to two Willamette records while swimming in relay events. In the 200-yard medley relay, Lin, Tallman, Santos and Michaela Zuber (Sr., Sacramento, CA/Sheldon HS) broke the record with a time of 1:49.35. In the women's 400-yard medley relay, Lin, Tallman, Santos and Jamie Johnson established a new record at 3:58.13.

Willamette Women's Swimming
First Team All-NWC

Cassie Tallman (So., Seattle, WA/Roosevelt HS)
200-yard breaststroke, 2nd place, 2:25.58 (school record)

Willamette Women's Swimming
Second Team All-NWC

Cassie Tallman (So., Seattle, WA/Roosevelt HS)
100-yard breaststroke, 4th place, 1:07.02 (school record)
200-yard individual medley, 5th place, 2:11.13

Kiley Lin (Fr., Palo Alto, CA/Henry M. Gunn HS)
100-yard backstroke, 4th place, 58.74 (set school record at 57.88 in 400 medley relay)
200-yard backstroke, 6th place, 2:07.81 (set school record at 2:05.73 in prelims)
100-yard butterfly, 8th place, 1:00.82

Malia Santos (Sr., Kailua-Kona, HI/Kealakehe HS)
100-yard butterfly, 5th place, 58.91 (school record)
50-yard freestyle, 7th place, 24.62
200-yard butterfly, 8th place, 2:16.85

Ashlyn Witherwax (So., Honolulu, HI/Punahou School)
200-yard breaststroke, 6th place, 2:28.46

Willamette Men's Swimming
Second Team All-NWC

Alika Masei (Jr., Salem, OR/West Salem HS)
200-yard backstroke, 6th place, 1:56.47
100-yard backstroke, 8th place, 53.87

Mark Yuvienco (So., San Jose, CA/Bellarmine College Prep)
200-yard butterfly, 7th place, 1:55.80