Lute Salute Series

TACOMA, Wash. - From nearby DuPont, Washington, senior Seth Koivisto thrived as a member of the Pacific Lutheran University men's swimming team. 
 
Koivisto's favorite swimming memory is his junior year training trip to California Lutheran University in Oxnard, California. He particularly enjoyed bonding with his teammates playing football and frisbee on the beach.
 

Hometown: DuPont, Wash.

Highlights: 9-Time All-NWC 2021 PLU Career Achievement Award 2021 GF Scholar Athlete Award

 
His time as a Lute athlete has prepared him for life after graduation by forcing him to learn time-management. Juggling a full academic course load with 2-5 hours of practice a day is a challenge, but Koivisto stepped up to the plate and learned how to be self-motivated to achieve his goals. 
 
Koivisto is grateful for his teammates who have become some of his best friends. He enjoys living with some of his fellow seniors in a house off-campus and is motivated by his teammates every practice. Koivisto is also thankful to the PLU swim coaching staff.

"They have really fast-tracked my development as a breaststroker and made me realize a lot of my potential in the sport," Koivisto said. 

In the water, Koivisto was a nine-time All-Northwest Conference selection, earning First Team honors twice and Second Team accolades on seven occasions. During the shortened 2021 season, the DuPont native won six races and was named the Team MVP. His career at PLU included setting three school records and ranked in the top ten in four more events. This spring he was named the PLU Athletic Department's George Fisher Scholar Athlete Award winner in addition to the Career Achievement Award. This summer he was named an NWC First Team Scholar Athlete. 

In the classroom, Koivisto thrived. A biochemistry major, he was the Analytical Chemistry Student of the Year and the Physical Chemistry Student of the Year in 2020, was the Organic Chemistry Student of the Year in 2019, and the General Chemistry Student of the Year in 2018. Koivisto has been a volunteer with Special Olympics, a swim instructor at Faith Lutheran, and a high school meet referee. 

Koivisto is a member of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee and works as a tutor at PLU. His favorite memory outside of athletics is attending LollaPLUza his sophomore year.

Koivisto graduates with a degree in Biochemistry and minors in Biology and Religion. He plans to apply to medical school to become a doctor.