Whitman Downs Willamette in NWC Swimming

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

WALLA WALLA, WASH. -- Whitman College rolled past Willamette University in men's and women's swimming on Saturday, Nov. 3, as the Missionaries claimed a 146-55 win in the men's competition and a 160-40 triumph in the women's events. The Whitman teams improved to 2-0 overall, 2-0 in the NWC. Willamette's teams fell to 0-2 overall, 0-2 in the conference.

Willamette achieved one first place finish and five second place finishes in the men's events.

Alex Guffey (Fr., Seattle, WA/Roosevelt HS) won the men's 200-yard freestyle for Willamette, as he reached the finish in 1:49.70. He won by one-half second over Sam Starr from Whitman, who clocked in at 1:50.20.

Zander Le Bel (So., Dallas, TX/Richardson HS) placed second in the meet's two longest races, the 1,000-yard freestyle and the 500-yard freestyle. Le Bel's time in the 1,000 free was 11:10.35. He completed the 500 free in 5:25.71. Galen Sollom-Brotherton, a talented senior for Whitman, won both distance races, logging a time of 9:58.55 in the 1,000 and earning a time of 4:49.93.

In the 200-yard butterfly, Andrew Lum (Fr., Honolulu, HI/Punahou School) of Willamette took second place in 2:12.19. Karl Mering from Whitman won the race in 1:55.44.

WU finished second in both of the men's relays. In the 400-yard medley relay, Whitman won in 3:35.63 and Willamette followed in 3:49.20. In the 400-yard freestyle relay, the Missionaries earned a time of 3:20.13 and Willamette finished in 3:40.26. Whitman also took third place in both relays.

The 400-yard medley relay team for Willamette featured Sean Piper (So, Normandy Park, WA/John F. Kennedy HS), Chris Whitehead (Jr., Sherwood, OR/Sherwood HS), Lum and Guffey. Swimming for WU in the 400-yard freestyle relay were Le Bel, Alex Burkhart (So., Los Gatos, CA/Los Gatos HS), Colin Sievers (Fr., Lynnwood, WA/Bishop Blanchet HS) and Nick Barton (So., Oregon City, OR/Clackamas HS).

Members of the Bearcat women's team earned second place finishes in three events against the Missionaries.

Michaela Zuber (Fr., Sacramento, CA/Sheldon HS) was second in the 200-yard backstroke. She attained a time of 2:23.81. Cameo Hlebasko won the event in 2:12.39. Hope Nelson placed second in the 500-yard freestyle in 5:46.00, as she finished behind Charlotte Graham, who won the race in 5:36.41.

Malia Santos (Fr., Kailua-Kona, HI/Kealakehe HS) was second in the 200-yard butterfly, as she registered a time of 2:28.42. Kendtra Clinton of Whitman won the 200 fly in 2:20.03.

Although Whitman won the meet, Willamette Head Coach Leslie Shevlin was pleased with the Bearcats' progress.

"The upperclassmen are bringing the leadership that they need to, and the freshmen are bringing an added competitiveness and quickness that are going to lead us to a great season," Shevlin said.

Up next for Willamette is another NWC dual match, as the Bearcats will host University of Puget Sound on Friday, Nov. 9. Meet time is set for 6 p.m. (PST).