HILLSBORO, Ore. – Five Linfield swimmers earned first-team honors to headline the Wildcats on the 2022 All-Northwest Conference Men's Swimming Team, announced by the conference office on Tuesday.
 
Junior Edan Donaldson and senior Daisuke Fitial led the way with First Team All-NWC nods in three events apiece. Donaldson was an honoree in the 100-yard butterfly, 100-yard backstroke and 100-yard freestyle while Fitial made the list in the 200-yard individual medley, 100-yard backstroke and 200-yard backstroke. Junior Ben Simpson took honors in the 100 and 200 butterfly while senior Garrett Sutton represented the Wildcats in the 50-yard freestyle.
 
Three Linfield relay teams also earned their ways to the All-NWC First Team. The foursome of Donaldson, Fitial, Sutton and Jake Maher earned a first-team nod in the 200-yard medley relay. Donaldson, Fitial and Maher were joined by Simpson in the 400-yard medley relay while Donaldson, Fitial, Simpson and Sutton reeled in a third honor in the 200-yard freestyle relay.
 
A total of 12 swimmers were named to the All-Conference team. Donaldson, Fitial, Simpson and Sutton were selected as second-teamers in other events. They were joined on the second team by Levi Buker, Colby Evenson, Jack Gallo, Alex Landry, Daniel Olson, Gavin Smith and Cam Wheeler.
 
Linfield joined Whitworth as the only teams with undefeated dual meet seasons. The 'Cats finished the season with a 6-0 NWC dual record to enter the NWC Championships as the second-ranked team behind the Pirates.
 
Whitman's Tanner Filion and Whitworth's Ryan Grady were tabbed as the NWC Male Co-Swimmers of the Year while the Pirates' Zachary Washburn was named the Freshman of the Year. Steve Schadt of Whitworth was voted on by his peers as the Coach of the Year after leading the Pirates to another NWC team title.