By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
PORTLAND, Ore. -- Lewis & Clark College defeated Willamette University in a Northwest Conference swimming meet on Friday, Jan. 19. The Pioneers won the men's competition, 115-90, and claimed the women's competition, 142-63.
Cassie Tallman (Sr., Seattle, WA/Roosevelt HS) won the 100-yard breaststroke for the WU women's team, while Ben Hedman (So., Davis, CA/Davis HS) took first place in the 400-yard individual medley and Mark Yuvienco (Sr., San Jose, CA/Bellarmine College Prep) prevailed in the 100-yard butterfly for the Bearcat men's team. WU also won the men's 200-yard medley relay.
The Pioneers improved to 1-4 overall and 1-4 in the NWC in men's swimming. Lewis & Clark advanced to 2-3 on the season and 2-3 in the NWC in women's swimming. Both of Willamette's team fell to 0-6 overall and 0-5 in the NWC.
Willamette and L&C began the evening with the 200-yard medley relay events. Both featured close finishes.
In the women's race, L&C took first place in 1:56.33, edging out the Bearcats by just 0.06. Willamette's time of 1:56.39 was achieved by Kiley Lin (Jr./So., Palo Alto, CA/Henry M. Gunn HS), Ashlyn Witherwax (Sr., Honolulu, HI/Punahou School), Tallman and Rachel Harvill (Jr., Alamo, CA/Monte Vista HS). Winning for L&C were Sam Duran, Alex Raphael, Marogt Chirayath and Erin Khong.
The Bearcats grabbed first place in the men's race by another short margin. Willamette finished in 1:42.02, just 0.18 in front of the Pioneers, who earned a time of 1:42.20. Swimming for Willamette were Derek Ludwig (So., Moraga, CA/Campolindo HS), Mykah Fujiwara (Jr., Kaneohe, HI/Punahou School), Yuvienco and Daniel Fang (Fr., Rancho Santa Margarita/Catholic HS). The L&C team included Ian Shepel, Miles French, Kevin Fox and Sam Raphael.
Tallman won the women's 100-yard breaststroke in a time of 1:11.64. She placed first by 0.69, with Khong taking second for Lewis & Clark in 1:12.33. Witherwax was third for the Bearcats in 1:13.30. Tallman also earned second place in the women's 200-yard freestyle in 2:06.61.
Hedman's winning time in the men's 400-yard individual medley was 4:26.21. Teammate Colin Hakeman (So., Bellingham, WA/Sehome HS) placed second in 4:28.94.
Willamette registered a 1-2-3 finish in the men's 100-yard butterfly. Yuvienco led the way with a winning time of 53.14 seconds. Hedman was second at 53.82 and Ludwig was third at 54.95. In addition to winning the 400 I.M. and placing second in the 100 butterfly, Hedman also took second place in the men's 100-yard backstroke in 59.21 seconds.
Other Top Performances by the Bearcat Women's Team
Kate Harvey (Sr., Atlantic Beach, FL/Duncan Fletcher HS) placed second in the 1,000-yard freestyle with a time of 11:52.70. Harvey also finished second in the 500-yard freestyle at 5:47.07.
In the 100-yard backstroke, Lin achieved second place in 1:03.62. Duran won the event for the Pioneers in 1:01.97. Niki Kates (So., Truckee, CA/Forest Charter School) was third for WU in 1:05.42.
Jamie Johnson (Sr., Seattle, WA/Nathan Hale HS) was third in the 100-yard freestyle, as she missed second place by 0.05. Kassie Kometani of L&C was first in 54.84 seconds, while Claire Green took second for the Pioneers in 59.06 seconds. Johnson touched just after Green for a time of 59.11.
Other Top Performances by the Bearcat Women's Team
Ben Fritz (Fr., Los Gatos, CA/Leigh HS) was second in the 1,000-yard freestyle, as he completed the race just 1.59 out of first place. Kyle Monteleone won the 1,000 in 10;31.02, while Fritz was timed at 10:32.61.
Fang added second place in the 200-yard freestyle with a time of 1:49.71. Yuvienco was third in 1:51.98. Fang also placed second in the 100-yard freestyle in 49.63.
Hakeman earned second place for the Bearcats in the 500 yard freestyle. He recorded a time of 5:09.15. Fritz was third in the event in 5:15.62.
Up Next for the Bearcats
Willamette will host Pacific University on Saturday, Jan. 20 in a Northwest Conference dual meet at the WU Natatorium. The action is set to get underway at 1 p.m. (PST).
