By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- Willamette University men's swimmers Julius Wilhelmi (Sr., Roseville, CA/Woodcreek HS) and Cole Lindberg (Jr., Moses Lake, WA/Moses Lake Christian Academy) each took first place in two individual events against Southwestern Oregon Community College on Saturday, Oct. 21 at the WU Natatorium. Wilhelmi won the 50-yard backstroke and the 100-yard freestyle. Lindberg was victorious in the 50-yard butterfly and the 100-yard butterfly.

Southwestern Oregon CC won the men's team competition 146-74. The Lakers moved to 1-0 on the season. In the women's competition on Saturday, the Bearcats defeated the Lakers 133-106, leaving SWOCC with a record of 0-1. It was an exciting meet with many close finishes for first place, second place, or third place.

The meet was an exhibition for Willamette, which will open its regular season with the NWC Relays at Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon, on Friday, Oct. 27. Action will get underway at 5 p.m. PDT.

Wilhelmi's winning time in the 50-yard backstroke was 26.00 seconds. He held off two SW Oregon swimmers, as Peter Perucci finished second in 26.20 seconds and Derell Augustine took third place in 26.25 seconds. In the 100 freestyle, Wilhelmi claimed first place in 48.94, as he won by 0.22 seconds. Nils Forster from SWOCC was second at 49.16 seconds.

Lindberg achieved first place in the 50-yard butterfly with a time of 23.37 seconds. He won the 100-yard butterfly in 52.66 seconds. Lindberg placed second in the 100-yard individual medley at 58.70 seconds. He touched out just in front of Colin Stafford from SW Oregon, who was third in 58.78 seconds.

Nicholas Moore (Fy., Moses Lake, WA/Moses Lake HS) from Willamette won the 500-yard freestyle, as he completed the race in 5:10.52. He won by seven seconds, with Mark Jurkat of SWOCC in second place at 5:17.52.