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

SALEM, Ore. -- The Willamette University men's and women's swimming teams will open the 2015-16 season this weekend by competing at the Northwest Conference Sprint Pentathlon and the Northwest Conference Relays. All of the action will be hosted by Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington.

Starting the weekend will be the NWC Sprint Pentathlon on Friday, Oct. 30, with the first event set for 5 p.m. (PDT).

The NWC Sprint Pentathlon features five individual events. Swimmers can participate in the 100-yard individual medley as well as 50-yard races in the butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke and freestyle. Athletes who swim in all five races are eligible to place in the pentathlon.

In 2014, Willamette's Cassie Tallman (So., Seattle, WA/Roosevelt HS) placed fourth in the sprint pentathlon with a combined time of 2:59.22. Her top event finish was second place in the 50-yard backstroke.

On Saturday, the NWC Relays will be held, starting at 11 a.m. (PDT). The meet will feature men's, women's and coed relays. Team standings will include points from all of the events. Last year, Pacific Lutheran University won the NWC relays title by one point over Whitman College. The Bearcats took fifth place.

The Bearcats enter the season with six returning All-Northwest Conference swimmers from a year ago. Tallman earned First Team All-NWC honors in the 200-yard individual medley and the 200-yard breaststroke. She received Second Team All-NWC recognition in the 100-yard breaststroke.

Ashlyn Witherwax (So., Honolulu, HI/Punahou School) was Second Team All-NWC in the 100-yard and 200-yard breaststroke events. Malia Santos (Sr., Kailua-Kona, HI/Kealakehe HS) added Second Team All-NWC honors in the 100-yard and 200-yard butterfly events.

Mark Yuvienco (So., San Jose, CA/Bellarmine College Prep) qualified for Second Team All-NWC recognition in three events. The three events were the 500-yard freestyle, 100-yard butterfly and 200-yard butterfly.

Also for the WU men's team, Alika Masei (Jr., Salem, OR/West Salem HS) was rewarded with Second Team All-NWC status in the 100-yard and 200-yard backstroke events. Reuben White (So., Portland, OR/Westview HS) recorded Second Team All-NWC honors in the 200-yard freestyle.

Willamette has six seniors competing for the Bearcats this year. Seniors on the men's team are Andrew Lum (Sr., Honolulu, HI/Punahou School) and Colin Sievers (Sr., Lynnwood, WA/Bishop Blanchet HS). Seniors for the women's team include Santos, Leah Freeborn (Sr., Federal Way, WA/Todd Beamer HS), Cara Jack (Sr./Jr., Woodside, CA/Woodside HS), and Michaela Zuber (Sr., Sacramento, CA/Sheldon HS).