Bearcats Earn All-Northwest Conference Honors in Swimming
By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
SALEM, Ore. -- A total of seven Willamette University swimmers received All-Northwest Conference recognition for their efforts during the 2017 NWC Swimming Championships on Feb. 10-12 at the Weyerhaeuser 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 amassed 14 awards overall. Cassie Tallman (Jr., Seattle, WA/Roosevelt HS)and Mark Yuvienco (Jr., San Jose, CA/Bellarmine College Prep) each earned three awards
Tallman attained First Team All-NWC honors in two events by finishing second in the women's 200-yard breaststroke and third in the women's 200-yard individual medley. She missed winning the 200-yard breaststroke by 0.01. Tallman was named Second Team All-NWC after recording a fourth place finish in the women's 100-yard breaststroke.
Yuvienco grabbed First Team All-NWC recognition by taking third place in the men's 200-yard butterfly. He earned Second Team All-NWC honors twice after placing sixth in the men's 200-yard individual medley and sixth in the men's 100-yard butterfly.
Ashlyn Witherwax (Jr., Honolulu, HI/Punahou School) registered First Team All-NWC accolades for her third place result in the women's 200-yard breaststroke, as she was the next finisher behind Tallman in second.
Two other Bearcats garnered a pair of Second Team All-NWC honors. Ben Hedman (Fr., Davis, CA/Davis HS) was Second Team All-NWC after taking fourth place in the men's 400-yard individual medley and eighth place in the men's 200-yard butterfly. Niki Kates (Fr., Truckee, CA/Forest Charter School) achieved Second Team All-NWC recognition with seventh place in the women's 100-yard backstroke and eighth place in the women's 200-yard backstroke.
Jason Bayang (Sr., Wahiawa, HI/Hoala School), Alika Masei (Sr., Salem, OR/West Salem HS) and Reuben White (Sr./Jr., Portland, OR/Westview HS) each was chosen Second Team All-NWC in one event. Bayang placed seventh in the men's 100-yard backstroke, while White took seventh place in the men's 200-yard freestyle, and Masei was seventh in the men's 200-yard breastroke.
Willamette swimmers set school records in six events at this year's NWC Championships. Tallman and Yuvienco each set two individual records, while Witherwax set one individual mark. Yuivienco and three other members of the men's team set a relay record.
Willamette Women's Swimming
First Team All-NWC
Cassie Tallman (Jr., Seattle, WA/Roosevelt HS)
200-yard breaststroke, 2nd place, 2:23.16 (school record)
200-yard individual medley, 3rd place, 2:10.25 (school record)
Ashlyn Witherwax (Jr., Honolulu, HI/Punahou School)
200-yard breaststroke, 3rd place, 2:24.35
Willamette Women's Swimming
Second Team All-NWC
Niki Kates (Fr., Truckee, CA/Forest Charter School)
100-yard backstroke, 7th place, 1:00.14
200-yard backstroke, 8th place, 2:10.03
Cassie Tallman (Jr., Seattle, WA/Roosevelt HS)
100-yard breaststroke, 4th place, 1:07.15
Willamette Men's Swimming
First Team All-NWC
Mark Yuvienco (Jr., San Jose, CA/Bellarmine College Prep)
200-yard butterfly, 3rd place, 1:53.46 (school record)
Willamette Men's Swimming
Second Team All-NWC
Ben Hedman (Fr., Davis, CA/Davis HS)
400-yard individual medley, 4th place, 4:12.91
200-yard butterfly, 8th place, 1:57.09
Mark Yuvienco (Jr., San Jose, CA/Bellarmine College Prep)
200-yard individual medley, 6th place, 1:56.29 (school record)
100-yard butterfly, 6th place, 51.54
Jason Bayang (Sr., Wahiawa, HI/Hoala School)
100-yard backstroke, 7th place, 53.90
Alika Masei (Sr., Salem, OR/West Salem HS)
200-yard breaststroke, 7th place, 2:10.50
Reuben White (Sr./Jr., Portland, OR/Westview HS)
200-yard freestyle, 7th place, 1:47.27