Boxers Defeat Bearcats in NWC Swimming

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

FOREST GROVE, ORE. -- Pacific University defeated Willamette University in men's and women's Northwest Conference swimming on Friday, Jan. 18 during an evening meet at the Forest Grove Aquatic Center.

In the men's competition, the Boxers registered a 123-74 victory. The Boxers won the women's match-up, 125-76.

The men's team from Pacific improved to 2-4 overall, 1-4 in the NWC, while the women's team for the Boxers upped its record to 3-3 overall, 2-3 in the NWC. Willamette's men fell to 2-6 overall, 0-5 in the NWC. The WU women's team also moved to 2-6 on the season, 0-5 in the conference.

Three Bearcats won individual events. They were Alex Guffey (Fr., Seattle, WA/Roosevelt HS) in the men's 100-yard freestyle, Annie Marinello (Fr., Corvallis, OR/Philomath HS) in the women's 100-yard breaststroke and Erin Parkinson (Jr., Everson, WA/Ferndale HS) in the women's 500-yard freestyle.

Guffey won the 100 freestyle in 49.35 seconds for a margin of victory just under three seconds. Spencer Chandler of Pacific finished second in the race in 52.28 seconds.

Marinello prevailed in the 100 breaststroke by recording her top time of the season. Prior to the race, Pacific's Allison Clark had a slightly better top time at 1:10.96, while Marinello's previous best was 1:11.19. During Fridays' race, Marinello registered a time of 1:10.51, while Clark achieved second place well over a second later at 1:12.26.

Parkinson took first place in the 500 freestyle in 5:38.25. She won by nearly 13 seconds.

In the men's 500-yard freestyle, Gavin Nash of Pacific won the race while setting a school record with a time of 4:58.01. He broke the record of 4:58.27 set by Michael Simmonds for the Boxers in 2011.

Nash also won the 400-yard individual medley against the Bearcats, as he earned a time of 4:33.76.

Also recording two individual wins for Pacific were Dylan Cramer for the men's team and Amanda Clark for the women's team. Cramer achieved first place in the 1,000-yard freestyle in 10:46.10 and in the 100-yard backstroke in 1:00.80. Amanda Clark won the 1,000-yard freestyle at 11:11.46 and the 100-yard freestyle at 55.69 seconds.

The men's 200-yard freestyle featured a close finish, as Jack Lloyd of the Boxers narrowly defeated Guffey from Willamette. Lloyd earned a time of 1:47.77, while Guffey touched out at 1:48.04. Lloyd and Guffey attained their top times so far this season.

Brandon Hand of Pacific won the men's 50-yard freestyle in 23.55 seconds for a margin of victory of 0.67, but the remaining four swimmers in the race were separated by just 0.14.

Aidan Lindsey was second for the Boxers at 24.22 seconds and Nick Barton (Fr., Oregon City, OR/Clackamas HS) of WU placed third at 22.24. Kulananalu Tarnas (Fr., Kamuela, HI/Hawaii Preparatory Academy) took fourth for the Bearcats in 24.31, while Andrew Lum (Fr., Honolulu, HI/Punahou School) of Willamette was timed at 24.36 for fifth place.

Willamette will return to action on Saturday, Jan. 19, when the Bearcats host Lewis & Clark College at the WU Natatorium. Meet time in Salem, Ore., is scheduled for 1 p.m. (PST). It will be Senior Day for the Bearcats, who will honor senior swimmers Kayla Kosaki (Sr., Hilo, HI/Waiakea HS) and Austin Williams (Sr., University Place, WA/Curtis HS) prior to the first race.