Willamette Wins Five Events in Dual Swimming Meet against Lewis & Clark

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- The Willamette University men's and women's swimming teams won a total of five events during a Northwest Conference dual meet against Lewis & Clark College on Saturday, April 3 at the WU Natatorium. L&C won the women's team competition, 144-65. The Pioneers took first place in the men's competition, 153-59. It was the final swimming meet of the season for both Willamette and L&C.

With Saturday's results, the Bearcat men's team finished 2-2 overall and 2-2 in the NWC. The Willamette women's team ended the season at 0-4 overall, 0-4 in the NWC. Both teams from Lewis & Clark concluded the schedule with a 3-1 record on the season, 3-1 in the NWC.

Willamette won the first men's event of the day in the 200-yard medley relay. The Bearcats, with Will Compton (So., Portage, MI/Portage Northern HS), Logan Copeland (Fy., Sparks, NV/Spanish Springs HS), Gabriel Owen (Fy., Durham, CA/Durham HS), and Julius Wilhelmi (Fy., Roseville, Ca/Woodcreek HS) swimming, registered a time of 1:43.81. WU took first by 2.57 seconds, as L&C's team completed the race in 1:46.38.

Copeland also grabbed first place in the men's 100-yard breaststroke with a time of 1:06.69. Zachary Lebovic from Lewis & Clark was second at 1:11.50.

Britney Muralt (Fy., Portland, OR/Tualatin HS) of WU earned victories in the women's 50-yard breaststroke and the women's 50-yard butterfly. Her winning time in the 50-yard breaststroke was 32.73 seconds. Teammate Min Wei (Jr., Fushun, China/Cascade HS) placed second in 32.85 seconds, while Alys Chang of L&C was third at 34.45 seconds. In the 50-yard butterfly, Muralt prevailed in 29.68 seconds and Wei took second in 29.00 seconds. Kiana Teh of the Pioneers placed third in 29.62 seconds.

Also for the Willamette women's team, Kat Cory earned first place in the 50-yard backstroke. She was timed at 30.74 seconds, while Ciara Orness of L&C placed second in 31.43 seconds.

The Bearcats also registered several additional strong swims for second place or third place finishes.

For the men's team, Copeland was second in the 50-yard breaststroke at 30.15 seconds. He was narrowly edged out by the winner, Camden Searcy of Lewis & Clark, who achieved a time of 30.07 seconds. Compton took second in the 500-yard freestyle with a time of 5:12.88. The 500 was won by Colin Monge of L&C at 5:11.14. Compton also placed second in the 200-yard individual medley at 2:12.71.

Wilhelmi placed second in the men's 50-yard butterfly in 26.42 seconds, while Owen was third in the event at 26.48 seconds. Andrew Butcher won the 50-yard butterfly for the Pioneers in 25.47 seconds.

In addition, Wilhelmi placed third in the 50-yard freestyle and the 100-yard freestyle. Wilhelmi's time in the 50 free was 22.02 seconds. He was just 0.10 out of second place, which went to JP Greener of L&C at 22.02 seconds. Kylee Monteleone from Lewis & Clark won the 50 free in 21.70 seconds. In the 100 free, Wilhelmi registered a mark of 48.92 seconds. Monteleone won the 100 free at 47.71 seconds and Greener was second at 48.07.

Muralt earned second place in the women's 500-yard freestyle in 5:35.47. Sabrina Murray of L&C won the 500 free with a time of 5:32.08. Wei placed second and Cory was third in the women's 100-yard breaststroke. Orness won the 100 breaststroke at 1;11.53, followed by Wei at 1:11.82 and Cory at 1:11.92.