By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director

SALEM, Ore. -- As the Willamette University swimming teams look forward to the Holiday Break, the Bearcats are ranked in the top 10 in the Northwest Conference in many individual events. In addition, Willamette is listed in the top three in two women's relays.

The Willamette women's team holds a total of 10 individual times that rank in the top 10. The Bearcat men's team also has 10 individual times listed among the top 10.

"This has been our best fall season since I've been here," said Willamette Head Swimming Coach Leslie Shevlin. "I'm really looking forward to winter training in San Diego. This is also a very strong year for the Northwest Conference, and to have men and women ranked in the top 10 in the NWC -- and two women ranked nationally -- is exceptional. I'm looking forward to seeing what kind of success we will have at the end of the season."

Willamette will return to action against Oregon State University and Southwestern Oregon Community College on Jan. 16 in Corvallis, Oregon. The Bearcats will resume NWC dual matches on Jan. 22, when Willamette will host Pacific University at the WU Natatorium.

Cassie Tallman (So., Seattle, WA/Roosevelt HS) from the women's team leads the Bearcats with five times in the top 10. She is ranked third in both the 200-yard breaststroke in 2:28.83 and the 200-yard individual medley in 2:15.64. She is fourth in the 100-yard breaststroke with a top time of 1:08.92 and is fourth in the 100-yard individual medley at 1:02.51. Tallman is 10th in the 200-yard freestyle at 2:02.43.

Kiley Lin (Fr., Palo Alto, CA/Henry M. Gunn HS) holds three high listings in the NWC. She is the conference leader in the 200-yard backstroke with a time of 2:09.02. She is second in the 100-yard backstroke with a school record time of 59.92 seconds. She is sixth in the 100-yard butterly at 1:01.46.

Also for the WU women, Ashlyn Witherwax (So., Honolulu, HI/Punahou School) is listed fifth in the 100-yard breaststroke and Michaela Zuber (Sr., Sacramento, CA/Sheldon HS) is ranked eighth in the 100-yard backstroke. Witherwax recorded a top time of 1:08.93 in the 100 breaststroke, while Zuber earned a time of 1:01.94 in the 100 backstroke..

For the men's team, Mark Yuvienco (So., San Jose, CA/Bellarmine College Prep) leads the way with four top 10 rankings. He is second in the 200-yard butterfly at 1:56.28. He is fifth in two events with times of 53.03 seconds in the 100-yard butterfly and 4:24.10 in the 400-yard individual medley. Yuvienco is seventh in the 500-yard freestyle at 4:54.44.

Baker Armstrong (Fr., Fresno, CA/Bullard HS) is listed in the top 10 of all three distance events. He is fifth in the 1,000-yard freestyle with a best time fo 10:13.49. He holds sixth place on the 1,650-yard freestyle rankings at 17:03.66. He is eighth in the 500-yard freestyle at 4:55.07.

Alika Masei (Jr., Salem, OR/West Salem HS) is among the leaders in two men's events and Reuben White (So., Portland, OR/Westview HS) is in the top 10 of one men's event.

Masei is seventh in the 200-yard backstroke. His top time in the event is 2:00.89. He is ninth in the 200-yard individual medley at 2:03.08. White has the eighth fastest time in the 200-yard freestyle in 1:47.80.

The Willamette women's team is ranked second in the 400-yard medley relay and is third in the 200-yard medley relay. WU's top time in the 400-yard medley relay is 4:10.12, and was achieved by Lin, Witherwax, Tallman and Rachel Harvill (Fr., Alamo, CA/Monte Vista HS). In the 200-yard medley relay, Willamette's team of Lin, Witherwax, Tallman and Jamie Johnson (So., Seattle, WA/Nathan Hale HS) have achieved a time of 1:53.27.