Puget Sound Swims Past Bearcats in NWC Opener

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

TACOMA, WASH. -- The University of Puget Sound defeated Willamette University in men's and women's swimming on Friday, Nov. 11 at Wallace Pool, as the Bearcats began Northwest Conference play against the Loggers.

Puget Sound won the men's competition, 119-50, and downed Willamette in the women's competition, 133-50. Both of the Bearcat teams fell to to 0-1 on the season, 0-1 in the NWC. Both teams for the Loggers moved to 1-0 overall, 1-0 in the NWC. All of the races were contested over metric distances, since Wallace Pool features metric dimensions.

Two swimmers on the UPS men's team each won a pair of events. Jere Jeremikj took first place in the 200-meter butterfly with a time of 2:19.51 and won the 200-meter freestyle in 2:00.76. He also helped UPS win the 400-meter medley relay. Max Cohen was victorious in the 200-meter individual medley at 2:21.38 and the 100-meter freestyle in 57.16 seconds.

Sean Piper (Fr., Normandy Park, WA/John F. Kennedy HS) took second place in two events for the Bearcats. He was second in the 200-meter individual medley in 2:23.86, as he finished 2.48 seconds behind Cohen. Piper also placed second in the 200-meter backstroke at 2:20.48.

Zandar Le Bel (Fr., Dallas, TX/Richardson HS) of WU placed second in the men's 400-meter freestyle. His time was 4:47.32, just 1.76 seconds behind Zach Walker of UPS, who won the event with a time of 4:45.66.

Willamette took first place in the final two men's events, as Puget Sound competed exhibition. Chris Whitehead (So., Sherwood, OR/Sherwood HS) claimed first place in the 200-meter breaststroke at 2:49.09. Willamette also was credited with first place in the 400-meter freestyle relay.

Two Bearcats achieved second place in women's events. Kayla Kosaki (Jr., Hilo, HI/Waiakea HS) was the second swimmer to finish the 200-meter butterfly, as she touched out at 2:46.56. Kersey Bars (Fr., Springfield, OR/Seaside HS) was second in the 200-meter backstroke. Her time was 2:51.27.

Hope Nelson (Fr., Providence, R.I./South Kingstown HS) of WU placed third in the 100-meter freestyle with a time of 1:07.49, missing second place by just one-quarter of a second. Kenzie Kitson of Puget Sound won the race in 1:05.90, while Michaela Metzler, also from UPS, finished second in 1:07.24.

Bearcat swimmers placed first in each of the final two events, with UPS competing exhibition. Erin Parkinson (So., Everson, WA/Ferndale HS) took first place in the 200-meter breaststroke in 3:00.81. The WU 400-meter freestyle relay also placed first, as the Bearcats completed all four legs of the race in 4:37.80.

Willamette will conclude its trip to the Tacoma area with a match against Pacific Lutheran University on Saturday, Nov. 12. Meet time is set for 1 p.m. (PST) in Parkland, Wash.