TACOMA, Wash. - The Pacific Lutheran University men's and women's swimming programs return to the water this weekend, opening up its abbreviated 2021 competition season.
 
"The student-athletes have been so resilient and positive through all this. They just love the opportunity to be together as a team. The chance to work out and train and even with all the uncertainty," said Head Coach Matt Sellman. 
 
The swim season will look a little different for the Lutes this winter. With COVID-19 restrictions, the squad will only compete in dual meets against the other three Northwest Conference institutions based in the State of Washington. That dual meet slate starts on Saturday, hosting crosstown rival University of Puget Sound in the lone home competition of the season. The women's meet will get underway at 10 a.m. with the men's meet to follow at 1 p.m.
 
"It's definitely a different year but the goals remain the same. Trying to maintain and build on our tradition and strong culture we have as a program and family, and to compete at a very high level and have fun doing it."
 
On the women's side, the Lutes will look to continue their dual meet dominance, having won six consecutive NWC dual meet titles under the direction of Head Coach Matt Sellman who enters his 11th season at the helm of his alma mater. That included a perfect 9-0 dual meet slate last season that culminated in a third place showing at the NWC Championships in Federal Way, Washington. 
 
For the men, the Lutes compiled a 5-3 record in NWC duals before finishing sixth at the NWC Championships. Both teams will be hungry to compete despite the format changes to the season.
 
"I expect more of the same. This is a team that loves to race. They're very talented. We have an incredible group of freshmen and our senior leadership and returners are great."
 
Anchoring the women's squad is seniors Kiyomi Kishaba and Alex Shannon. Kishaba earned Second Team All-NWC honors in four events last season, including both the 100-yard backstroke and the 200-yard backstroke while Shannon was a three-time All-League honoree, including earning honors in the 400-yard individual medley and the 200-yard backstroke.
 
Bailey Hamilton is the defending NWC Champion in the 100-yard butterfly. The Modesto, California native additionally earned Second Team All-NWC honors in four events, including a runner-up showing as a member of the 200-yard medley relay team.
 
For the men, experience leads the way with five seniors on the squad. Seth Koivisto leads the pack, earning First Team All-NWC honors in two events and Second Team All-NWC in four more at the NWC Championship. That includes a pair of third place finishes in the 100-yard and 200-yard breaststroke. Fellow senior Ethan Trieu was All-Conference in six events, including a fifth place showing in the 200-yard individual medley. Koivisto and Trieu were the nucleus of the Lutes' relay teams that finished runner-up in four events.
 
Other seniors include Christiaan Chandler, Jared Toschi, and Peter Thompson who will be graduating a year early as part of the PLU 3-2 engineering program. Toschi finished 11th in the 1,650-yard freestyle at last year's championship while Thompson was 11th in the 100-yard breaststroke. 
 
"The leadership that seniors bring to any team is priceless. They've been through it, they know the systems, they know the expectations and even in a year when everything gets turned upside down that experience and wisdom and relationships they have with the coaching staff and the teammates helps maintain the consistency and the flow of the family." 


 
Saturday's meet is the first of four meets for the Lutes this winter. Pacific Lutheran heads to Spokane to face Whitworth University on Jan. 30, heads to Walla Walla to face Whitman College on Feb. 13, before squaring off against crosstown rival Puget Sound for a two day meet starting on March 5.
 
"The rookies and returners (came in), excited to go and showed a lot of resiliency and mental toughness in dealing with a lot of uncertainty. They're preparing really well and look great in the water right now. The team's fired up, were really excited and you can tell the energy on the deck has been ramping up this week."
 
Due to COVID-19 protocols, no spectators will be allowed in the facility, but you can follow the live stream on GoLutes.com. If you'd like to have your Lute Pride represented in the stands you can join LanceLute's Cutout Kingdom and purchase a life size fan cutout to be placed in the stands for each PLU home game. Go to GoLutes.com/cutout for more information.