This upcoming weekend, Feb. 13-15, Whitman’s swim teams will take part in the culminating event of their season, the Northwest Conference Championships. A three-day competition, the meet will be held at King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way, Wash.

In one last chance to showcase a season’s worth of effort, the Championships will undoubtedly mark the teams’ most important event of the year. Coming off third and fourth place finishes, respectively, at last year’s competition, both the women’s and men’s squads are looking to finish this season on a high note.

“This is the one meet we’ve been preparing for all season, since September” said sophomore Lauren Flynn, a captain for the women’s team and one of Whitman’s top swimmers. “To see your teammates on the podium, to see the rivalries played out: it’s exciting. I think it’s going to be really special.”

For the men’s team in particular, this weekend may prove to be a defining moment in the program’s history.

“We have a great men’s team, maybe the best we’ve ever had,” said captain George Stanton, a junior, who suggested that at least one swimmer had a shot at advancing to this year’s Division III Nationals. “Some records could definitely fall.”

Along with Stanton, other swimmers to watch for on the men’s side are seniors Noel Sollom-Brotherton and captain Ysbrand Nusse, junior Eric Molnar, sophomore Jamie Nusse and standout first-year Chris Bendix.

After several significant losses to graduation, and with only one senior currently on the roster, the women’s team is looking to gain experience and lay a foundation for future success.

“This year we’re building,” Flynn said. “It’ll be about exposure.”

The women, led by Flynn, have top performers in juniors Kendi Thomas and Sidney Kohls, senior Courtney Fitzpatrick and first-year Linnea Scott.

Over the course of this coming weekend, swimmers will take part in three preliminary races, held on the tournament mornings. Depending on their results in these heats, they may then swim in event finals during the afternoons.

Coming into the championships, the men hold fourth place in the conference standings and the women sixth, with Whitworth leading on both sides. Stanton highlighted a rivalry with third place Pacific Lutheran, and Flynn mentioned Lewis and Clark. But with so many schools together at once, every team will be fighting for their own place on the leaderboard.

With the meet fast approaching, team energy is running high. In addition to the months of physical preparation, the captains described the large mental and emotional investment that goes into the conference championships.

“After conference last year, I was more emotionally exhausted than physically tired,” Flynn said. “I’m excited, but equal parts nervous and terrified.”

Stanton echoed her sentiment.

“You’ve been working on a project from September to February, and now you’re going to see if your work paid off. So it’s extremely emotional. There’s big pressure.”

But it’s also evident that these swimmers are ready and raring to go.

“This is the last chance for swimmers to show their stuff,” Stanton said. “So everyone really gives everything they’ve got.”
“It’s hard not to get excited,” said Flynn.