Two Bearcat Men's Swimmers Receive Academic All-District Honors

Academic All-District logo from the College Sports Communicators with the Willamette University Natatorium in the background
March 2, 2023

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- Willamette University swimmers Cole Lindberg (So., Moses Lake, WA/Moses Lake Christian Academy) and Julius Wilhelmi (Jr., Roseville, CA/Woodcreek HS) have been named to the 2022-23 NCAA Division III Academic All-District Men's Swimming Team, as determined by the College Sports Communicators (CSC, formerly CoSIDA). All of the Academic All-District selections are eligible to be chosen for the College Sports Communicators NCAA Division III Academic All-America Team.

Players nominated for the CSC All-District Team were starters or key reserves with cumulative grade point averages of 3.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale. Each nominated student-athlete was at their current college or university for at least one academic year.

The Willamette men's swimming team placed sixth at the 2023 Northwest Conference Swimming Championships. Lindberg earned First Team All-NWC recognition in the 200-yard butterfly and was Second Team All-NWC in the 100-yard butterfly. Wilhelmi was named Second Team All-NWC in the 50-yard freestyle, 100-yard freestyle, and 200-yard freestyle.

NCAA Division III Academic All-District

Headshot of Cole Lindberg Cole Lindberg (So.) set school records this season in the 100-yard butterfly and the 200-yard butterfly. In the 100 butterfly, he placed third at the 2023 NWC Championships while earning a time of 49.91 seconds, as he became the first Bearcat swimmer to break the 50-second mark in the event. In the 200 butterfly, he placed fourth at the NWC Meet while establishing a school record in 1:53.40. Also at the NWC Championships, he won the consolation final in the 100-yard backstroke to place ninth overall. His career bests include 50.78 seconds in the 100-yard freestyle, 2:11.49 in the 200-yard backstroke, and 2:03.25 in the 200-yard individual medley. Lindberg is majoring in Strategic Communications and Marketing. He owns a 3.91 cumulative GPA.

Headshot of Julius Wilhelmi Julius Wilhelmi (Jr.) placed fourth at the 2023 NWC Championships in the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 21.23 seconds while moving into a tie for fourth on WU's all-time list. He became only the second Bearcat swimmer, joining Steve Koga, to achieve a top five time for the Bearcats in the 50 free. Later at the NWC Meet, he improved his time in the 50 freestyle to 21.15 seconds as the lead swimmer in the 200-yard freestyle relay, moving him into sole possession of four place all-time for the Bearcats. Also at the NWC Meet, he placed fifth in the 200-yard freestyle in 1:44.10 and finished sixth in the 100-yard freestyle in 46.90 seconds. At the 2022 NWC Championships, Wilhelmi helped set a school record in the 400-yard medley relay in 3:31.28 as he swam the anchor leg. He is majoring in Computer Science at Willamette and has a 3.73 cumulative GPA.