By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- The Willamette University men's swimming team built a big lead on its way to defeating George Fox University, 110-75, on Friday, Jan. 17 at the WU Natatorium. George Fox won the women's competition by just six points, as the Bruins outscored the Bearcats, 105-99.

Willamette men improved to 1-4 overall and to 1-3 in the Northwest Conference. The Bearcat women's team fell to 0-5 on the season, 0-4 in the NWC. George Fox's men fell to 0-5 on the season, 0-5 in the NWC, while the GFU women moved to 2-3 overall, 2-3 in the NWC. The Bearcats won six men's events and five women's events.

For the men's team, five of the wins were in individual events. Ben Hedman (Sr., Davis, CA/Davis HS) won the 200-yard individual medley and the 200-yard butterfly, while Ben Fritz (Jr., Los Gatos, CA/Leigh HS) took first place in the 200-yard freestyle and the 500-yard freestyle. Will Compton (Fy., Portage, MI/Portage Northern HS) won the 1,000-yard freestyle. Willamette achieved first place in the 400-yard medley relay, but swam exhibition in the 400-yard freestyle relay with the team victory already secured.

The WU women's team registered victories in three individual events, as Min Wei (So., Fushun, China/Cascade HS) prevailed in the 200-yard individual medley, Olivia Frenkel (Fy, Fairfield, CA/Angelo Rodriguez HS) won the 100-yard freestyle, and Cameron Taggesell (So., Sonoma, CA/Sanoma Valley HS) took first place in the 200-yard breaststroke. The Bearcats won the 400-yard medley relay and the 400-yard freestyle relay.

Hedman's triumph in the men's 200 I.M. was achieved with a time of 2:07.85. He won by 0.38 over teammate Derek Ludwig (Sr., Moraga, CA/Campolindo HS), who took second for the Bearcats in 2:08.23. WU's Colin Hakeman (Sr., Bellingham, WA/Sehome HS) completed a 1-2-3 sweep for the Bearcats, as he placed third in 2:11.18. Hakeman edged out Hunter Bartoo from George Fox, who finished fourth in 2:11.33.

In the men's 200-yard butterfly, Hedman won the race at 2:03.63. Compton grabbed second place in 2:04.91. The Bearcats gained another 1-2-3 result, with Daniel Fang (Jr., Rancho Santa Margarita, CA/Catholic HS) in third at 2:06.54.

Fritz registered a winning time of 1:50.73 in the men's 200-yard freestyle. He won by 0.85 over Caleb Dean of GFU, who placed second in 1:51.38. Fang was third in 1:53.48. Fritz and Fang placed 1-2 in the men's 500-yard freestyle. Fritz claimed the victory in 5:06.29. Fang was second at 5:20.82, as he finished 1.34 seconds in front of Bartoo, who took third for the Bruins in 5:22.16. The win by Compton in the men's 1,000-yard freestyle featured a time of 10:19.43.

Willamette's winning relay unit in the men's 400-yard medley relay included Ludwig, Ben Nickell (Fy., Boulder, CO/Fairview HS), Hedman and Greg Wells (So., Roseville, CA/Woodcreek HS). They're time of 3:47.64 allowed the Bearcats to narrowly defeat the Bruins, who completed the 400 meters in 3:48.75.

Wei took first place for Willamette in the women's 200-yard individual medley with a time of 2:25.40. She held off Annabelle Hynes of GFU by 0.54. Hynes was second at 2:25.94. Jensine Rasmussen (Sr., Tacoma, WA/Stadium HS) of WU placed third at 2:26.25. Frenkel won the women's 100-yard freestyle in 58.32 seconds. Joanna Zuckerman took second place for George Fox in 1:00.65.

In the women's 200-yard breaststroke, Taggesell won by 1.35 seconds, as she completed the race in 2:37.27. GFU's Gabby Wood claimed second place at 2:38.62. Wei garnered third place for WU in 2:41.27.

The Bearcats won by almost five second in the women's 400-yard medley relay. Corinne Pierson (So., Port Townsend, WA/Port Townsend HS), Taggesell, Wei, and Niki Kates (Sr., Truckee, CA/Forest Charter School) combined for a time of 4:17.66. George Fox placed second in 4:22.60. In the women's 400-yard freestyle relay, the winning team for Willamette included Frenkel, Kates, Rasmussen, and Pierson. WU's time in the 400 free relay was 3:55.69. GFU was second in 4:01.88.

Willamette will remain at home to take on Lewis & Clark College at the WU Natatorium on Saturday, Jan. 18. Meet time is scheduled for 1 p.m. (PST).