Bearcat Men, George Fox Women, Earn Wins in First Meet of the Season

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

NEWBERG, Ore. -- Willamette University and George Fox University began the 2020-21 swimming season on Saturday, March 6 in Newberg, Oregon. Willamette won the men's competition, 90-68, and George Fox won the women's battle, 150-40. The Bearcats participated with limited squad sizes.

WU won six men's events and two women's events. Julius Wilhelmi (Fy., Roseville, CA/Woodcreek HS) took first place in the men's 100-yard freestyle in 48.52 seconds. Wilhelmi also won the men's 50-yard freestyle in 22.55 seconds. Will Mathews (Fy., St. Louis Park, MN/St. Louis Park HS) took first place in the 100-yard backstroke in 1:09.10 and also won the 50-yard backstroke. Logan Copeland (Fy., Sparks, NV/Spanish Springs HS) won the men's 100-yard breaststroke in 1:07.79 with Kyle Sayre of George Fox finishing second at 1:08.53. WU also won the 200-yard medley relay in 1:45.74, with Will Compton (So., Portage, MI/Portage Northern HS), Copeland, Wilhelmi, and Keaton Adams (Jr., Colorado Springs, CO/Doherty HS) swimming for the Bearcats.

Britney Muralt (Fy., Portland, OR/Tualatin HS) was the winner of the women's 50-yard breaststroke in 33.36 seconds. Ellie Opdahl of GFU placed second in 33.66 seconds. Muralt also won the 100-yard breaststroke with a time of 111.89, with Opdahl following for the Bruins at 1:13.65.

Although both teams swam exhibition in the men's 200-yard freestyle relay, it was a very close race, with George Fox earning a time of 1:38.66 and the Bearcats finishing in 1:39.65. Swimming for WU were Adams, Gabriel Owen (Fy., Durham, CA/Durham HS), Mathews, and Copeland.

Willamette is set to swim again on Saturday, March 16 at Linfield University in McMinnville, Oregon. Meet time is slated for 10 a.m. (PST).