Results
TACOMA, Wash. - The Pacific Lutheran University men's swimming team sent its five seniors out in style on Saturday afternoon, besting crosstown rival University of Puget Sound 146-116 in the Lutes' final Northwest Conference dual meet of the season.
"It's so great to send the seniors into their last taper and championship meet with a big double win against the Loggers," said Head Coach
Matt Sellman. "Those five teammates have been such incredible leaders to their teammates and perfect examples of what is great about PLU swimming. They work their tails off, they are focused and successful with their academics, and they make such a positive impact in what they do in their community."
The Lutes got things started early with
Jacob Goodman,
Seth Koivisto,
Charles Cutter, and
Phillip Hecksel winning the 200-yard medley relay in one minute, 38.38 seconds. Goodman and
Jonah Benigno secured the top two spots in the 100-yard backstroke, clocking times of 55.76 and 58.76, securing 13 points for the Lutes.
Koivisto pulled out the win in the 100-yard breaststroke, finishing in 1:00.08 while
Elijah Singstad and Goodman secured the top two places in the 50-yard freestyle, finishing in 22.29 and 22.36, respectively. Koivisto won his third event of the day in the 200-yard breaststroke (2:17.40), edging the rest of the field by 0.30 seconds. Pacific Lutheran capped off the meet with a victory in the 200-yard freestyle relay with
Bradley Jerome, Singstad, Cutter, and Hecksel finishing in 1:29.11.
Netting runner-up finishes was Jerome in the 1,000-yard freestyle (10:21.90) and 500-yard freestyle (5:05.52), Singstad in the 200-yard freestyle (1:49.17), Goodman in the 200-yard backstroke (2:03.67), and Koivisto in the 200-yard individual medley (2:03.39).
Saturday's meet was the final home dual for five seniors-
Jackson Curtis,
Jacob Goodman,
Bradley Jerome,
Sam Kawakami, and
Elijah Singstad. The five Lutes compiled a 22-7 dual meet record while finishing in the top half of the team standings at the NWC Championships in each of the past three years, including a runner-up finish in 2017 for PLU's best showing since the 1996 season.
"I have loved coaching them and look forward to continuing building great relationships with all of them as they move into the real world."
The Lutes take next weekend off before returning to the pool on Feb. 8 for the opening day of the 2019 NWC Championships in Federal Way, Washington.
