By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- The Willamette University swimming teams are ready to compete at the 2020 Northwest Conference Swimming Championships, which will be held at the King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way, Washington, from Thursday, Feb. 13 through Sunday, Feb. 16. Action begins with the 200-yard medley relay on Thursday evening, and will continue with preliminary heats each morning and finals heats each evening from Friday through Sunday.

The opening session on Thursday will start at 7 p.m. (PST). On Friday and Saturday, the sessions will begin at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. Sessions on Sunday will start at 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Preliminary heats will be held in every individual event except for the 1,650-yard freestyle, in which swimmers will compete in timed final heats. In other individual events, swimmers with the top eight times in prelims will advance to the championship finals, while swimmers with the ninth through 16th fastest times in the prelims will advance to the consolation finals. With nine men's teams and nine women's teams competing, relays will be held in two final heats against time.

Willamette Head Men's and Women's Swimming Coach Brent Summers and Assistant Coach Erin McVeigh are thrilled about the opportunities for Bearcat swimmers to compete at the NWC Championships. They look forward to close and competitive races throughout the individual and relay events.

"I'm very excited for the Northwest Conference Championships this weekend," Summers said. "We've had a great season and am looking forward to ending it was a good championship meet. We are looking very good right now in practice, and from what I've seen, I think we will have some fantastic swims in the races this weekend."

Six Willamette swimmers are seeded among the top 10 student-athletes in one or more individual events. They are in strong positions to compete for berths in the championships finals.

On the Bearcat women's team, Olivia Frenkel (Fy, Fairfield, CA/Angelo Rodriguez HS), Corinne Pierson (So., Port Townsend, WA/Port Townsend HS), and Niki Kates (Sr., Truckee, CA/Forest Charter School) each hold a top 10 ranking among this week's competitors. Frenkel is ninth in the 200-yard freestyle with a top time of 2:01.53. Pierson is ninth in both the 100-yard backstroke at 1:00.53 and the 200-yard backstroke at 2:13.51. Kates is seeded 10th in the 100-yard backstroke with a time of 1:00.60.

For the Willamette men's team, Ben Hedman (Sr., Davis, CA/Davis HS), Ben Fritz (Jr., Los Gatos, CA/Leigh HS) and Will Compton (Fy., Portage, MI/Portage Northern HS) are listed among the top 10 in at least one event. Hedman is seeded fifth in the 400-yard individual medley after recording a time of 4:18.57, and is seventh among entrants in the 200-yard butterfly at 1:58.80. Hedman also is 10th in the 200-yard individual medley with a time of 2:01.45. Fritz is the sixth seed in the 1,650-yard freestyle at 16:59.70, and ranks 10th in the 200-yard freestyle at 1:47.39. Compton has the eighth-fastest time  in the 1,650 freestyle at 17:17.33.

A total of 11 Bearcats are ranked between 11th and 16th in one or more events, providing them with a significant change to reach the championship finals or the consolation finals.

Women's swimmers listed from 11th to 16th include Frenkel in the 500-yard freestyle and the 100-yard freestyle, Cameron Taggesell (Jr., Sonoma, CA/Sonoma Valley HS) in the 100-yard breaststroke and the 200-yard breaststroke, Jensine Rasmussen (Sr., Tacoma, WA/Stadium HS) in the 100-yard backstroke, and Min Wei (So., Fushun, China/Cascade HS) in the 100-yard breaststroke.

Members of the Willamette men's team who will swim with rankings from 11th to 16th are Compton, Daniel Fang (Jr., Rancho Santa Margarita, CA/Catholic HS), Fritz, Colin Hakeman (Sr., Bellingham, WA/Sehome HS), Derek Ludwig (Sr., Moraga, CA/Campolindo HS), Ben Nickell (Fy., Boulder, CO/Fairview HS), and Will Reeves (Fy., Kirkland, WA/Home Schooled).

Compton holds his top 16 ranking in the 200-yard butterfly, while Fang is listed in the 200-yard freestyle and Fritz is listed in the 500-yard freestyle. Top 16 rankings are owned by Hakeman the 400-yard individual medley and the 200-yard backstroke, and Ludwig is ranked in the 100-yard butterfly, 200-yard butterfly and 200-yard individual medley. Nickell is listed among the top 16 in the 200-yard breaststroke. Reeves is listed in the 200-yard backstroke and the 100-yard backstroke.

In addition, the Bearcats have several swimmers ranked just outside the top 16 in individuals events. They will be looking to make int into the finals with strong finishes in the prelims.

"We have many swimmers seeded in the top 16 places (scoring positions) with more in position to move into the top 16. Regardless of seeding I'm excited to see how all our swimmers do," Summers commented. "This meet always brings out the best in our conference, and we are in a great position to make some noise this year for both the women's and men's teams."

Whitworth University is the defending men's team champion. Whitman College is the defending women's team champion. Both of Willamette's teams placed seventh a year ago.