Pirate Men Aim for 8th Straight Conference Title
SPOKANE, Wash. -- The 2010 Northwest Conference swimming championships arrive this week and the Whitworth University teams are ready to race for individual and team titles during the three-day competition at the King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way, Washington. The Pirate men head into the weekend aiming to win their eighth straight conference championship. The current seven-year streak is the second-longest in conference history behind only Pacific Lutheran’s ten men’s titles in a row between 1969-1978. Junior Michael Woodward returns as the defending NWC Men’s Outstanding Swimmer of the Meet. He won the 100-yard, 200-yard, and 500-yard freestyles last season, all in meet record time. Woodward also helped the Pirate men win two freestyle relays. Sophomore Rory Buck enters the meet as the favorite in both the 100-yard and 200-yard breaststroke events. His 200 time of 2:03.10 remains the fastest in Division III this season. Junior Kalen Darling has the conference’s fastest time in five individual events this year. But he can only swim in three individual events at the championship meet so Darling will have to choose between the 500 and 1,650-yard freestyles, the 200-yard backstroke and the 200-yard and 400-yard individual medlies. Senior Quinton Darling was the conference runner-up in the 400 I.M. last season and has the NWC’s second-fastest time this year. He also has the second-fastest time in the 100-yard breaststroke. Seniors Daniel Bergman and Kris Asleson, sophomore Matt Ross and freshman Michael Locatel all have a chance to score highly for the Pirates as well. The Whitworth women hope to return to the top of the team standings, a position the Pirates held in 2008 before finishing second last winter in the second-closest meet in NWC women’s history. The Pirates will once again be strong in the freestyle events and bring added depth in other races. Natalie Turner will lead the Whitworth women for the final time. The senior and three-time NWC Women’s Outstanding Swimmer of the Meet has never lost in the 200, 500 and 1,650 freestyles in three previous championship meets. She is the meet record-holder and NWC all-time record-holder in all three events. Junior Ashley Lecoq returns as the defending NWC champion in the 100-yard and 200-yard butterflies. She also has the conference’s best time in the 50-yard freestyle. Fellow junior Christine DeHaven will score highly in three freestyle events, and sophomore Jennifer Benson will be a factor in both backstroke races along with the 50 Free. Abby Pavelko and Danielle Douvikas, a pair of outstanding freshmen, will score highly in three individual events. Pavelko has the conference’s best time in the 400 I.M. Another freshman, Melissa Barringer, could score highly in the breaststroke races. The meet will run from Friday through Sunday. Preliminary races begin each day at 10:00 a.m. Championship finals will begin at 6:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday. Ticket prices are $8 per session for adults, $3 for youth (2-18) and children under two are free. All-session passes are $20 for adults and $15 for youth. Go to Athletics Home Page > Swimming > Sports Releases > |
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