Whitworth Sweeps Pacific Lutheran

Rory Buck raced to a new Whitworth school record and Whitworth Aquatic Center record in the 100-yard breaststroke to highlight the Pirates' sweep of visiting Pacific Lutheran in a Northwest Conference swimming dual meet on Friday night. Whitworth's men defeated the Lutes 149-56, while the Whitworth women won 148-57.

Buck (Fr., Dubai, U.A.E.) touched the wall in 57.48, breaking the old Whitworth record of 57.59 set by John Rasmussen at the NAIA Championships in 1997. He also broke the Whitworth Aquatic Center record of 57.51 set by Jakub Jiracek of NCAA Division I Seattle University in January of last season. Buck also won the 200-yard freestyle in a time of 1:45.72, the best mark in the NWC so far this season.

Whitworth's Tom Radtke (Sr., Dinuba, Calif.) posted the conference's best time of year in the 1,650-yard freestyle (17:03.55) and also won the 500-yard freestyle (5:02.49), while Michael Woodward (So., Springfield, Ore.) won the 200-yard individual medley in an NWC-best 1:58.41 and the also won the 100-yard freestyle (48.76). Justin Brandler (Sr., Tacoma, Wash.) was the Pirates' final double-winner, taking both the 50-yard freestyle (23.05) and 100-yard butterfly (56.08).

Whitworth's men opened the meet with a win in the 200-yard medley relay with an NWC-best time of 1:39.13. PLU closed the meet with its only victory in the men's competition, taking the 200-yard freestyle relay in 1:31.89.

Whitworth's women were just as dominant as the men, winning 10 of the 11 events as well. The Pirates won the 200 medley relay in 1:52.94, the best time in the NWC this season by nearly four seconds. They finished the meet with a win in the 200 freestyle relay (1:45.87).

Unlike the Pirate men, however, the Whitworth women spread the wealth with seven swimmers earning the Pirates eight victories in individual events. Ashley Lecoq (So., Renton, Wash.) was the Pirates' only double-winner, taking the 50 freestyle (25.14) and 100 butterfly (1:00.21). Jennifer Benson (Fr., Phoenix, Ariz.) posted the NWC's best time of the year while winning the 100-yard backstroke in 1:01.46, Christine DeHaven (So., Gig Harbor, Wash.) had the conference's best time to-date while winning the 500 freestyle (5:17.63) and Amy Gray (Fr., Clinton, Utah) improved her own NWC-leading time in the 100 breaststroke (1:10.18).

Jessie Klauder earned PLU's only win of the evening when she raced to a 57.01 in the 100 freestyle.

Whitworth will return to action next weekend when the Pirates host the Northwest Invitational on Friday and Saturday in the Aquatic Center. PLU will swim tomorrow afternoon at Whitman.