FOREST GROVE, Ore. – Showing no rust after a five-week lull in the schedule, Linfield won both sides of a Northwest Conference dual meet with Pacific on Saturday at the Boxers' home pool.
 
Though the Wildcat had not competed in more than a month due to a series of COVID-related postponements and cancelations, Linfield showed no signs of rust. The Wildcat men breezed to a 135-46 team victory while the Linfield women prevailed by a much closer 126-94 count.
 
WOMEN
Linfield opened with a close win over Pacific in the 200 medley relay as the foursome of Samantha Zurcher, Claudia Velie, Kate Walkup and Molly Shields won the event in 1:57.65, just ahead of the Pacific quartet's time of 1:58.12.
 
Lauren Bobo-Shisler took top honors in the 200 freestyle (2:17.49) and the 100 breaststroke (1:16.39). Walkup also was the top finisher in two events, taking the 200 backstroke (2:13.01) and the 200 butterfly (2:12.81). Avery Campbell won both the 100 freestyle (56.65) and the 100 butterfly (1:03.88).
 
Other event winners included Shields in the 400 individual medley (5:05.13), Annelise Hed in the 50 freestyle (26.75), Whitney Averill in the 200 breaststroke (2:35.58),
 
MEN
Ben Simpson won a pair of events, prevailing in the 100 freestyle (50.13) and the 200 butterfly (1:57.72). Gavin Smith claimed two events, reaching the wall first in the 500 freestyle (5:14.50) and the 100 backstroke (59.98).  
 
Edan Donaldson won the 50 freestyle by nearly four seconds (21.99).
 
Other event winners included Nathan Herde in the 200 freestyle (1:56.10), Jake Maher in the 100 breaststroke (1:01.49), Casey Wong in the 200 backstroke (2:12.58), Alex Landry in the 200 breaststroke (2:15.07) and Jack Gallo in the 400 IM (4:30.52).
 
NEXT
Linfield hosts Puget Sound Sunday at 11 a.m. in a makeup meet from Jan. 15. It marks the final home swimming meet for 10 Linfield seniors and is the final tuneup prior to next month's Northwest Conference Championships Feb. 10-13 at Federal Way, Washington.