McMINNVILLE, Ore. – Fueled by strong individual performances, plus victories in three of the four relay events, the Linfield Wildcats took both sides of a Northwest Conference dual swimming meet from Whitman Friday night at the Linfield Aquatics Center.
 
The Linfield men scratched out a narrow 110-94 victory over their Whitman counterparts. The women's dual was not as close with the Wildcat women taking down the Blues by a 136-69 count.
 
Both Linfield squads improved to 6-0 in NWC dual meets this winter.
 
MEN
Though Linfield had just five individual winners, the team's superior depth allowed the Wildcats to edge the Blues in the points column.
 
First-year Wildcat Rocco Velie prevailed in the 400 individual medley (4:22.37) and was the top placer in the 500 freestyle (4:59.58). Simpson was second in 5:02.87.
 
Edan Donaldson blazed to a winning time in the 100 backstroke (51.61). Garrett Sutton won the 50 freestyle in a tight battle with Donaldson, 21.59 to 21.82.
 
Ben Simpson finished the 100 butterfly in 51.51 seconds to take top honors in that event.
 
The Wildcats' 200 freestyle relay enjoyed a comfortable win. Sutton, Daniel Olson, Carson Washburn and Donaldson teamed up to finish in 1:26.41, nearly five full seconds ahead of a second Wildcat foursome comprised of Velie, Cameron Wheeler, Andrew Lee and Noah Norris (1:31.30).
 
WOMEN
Whitney Averill sped to a clear victory in the 50 freestyle (25.63) and captured the 100 breaststroke title (1:07.45).
 
Kate Walkup claimed the 100 butterfly crown, clocking 59.97 to prevail by nearly two seconds. Walkup out-touched teammate Avery Campbell at the wall in the 100 backstroke, winning by a mere half second, 1:01.19 to 1:01.74.
 
Kalea Mullins was the top finisher in the 400 individual medley (4:45.79) and won the 500 freestyle (5:27.55), edging teammate Kirsti Keppo (5:30.49).  
 
Sarah Arpag clocked 2:00.73 in the 200 freestyle, winning that race by nearly three full seconds. Claudia Velie was third in 2:03.34.
 
Arpag returned later to win the 100 freestyle in 55.10. Maggie Kelley placed third in 56.57.
 
Keppo nipped Mullins in the grueling 1,650 freestyle event, winning by a tight five-second margin, 18:37.17 to 18:42.31.
 
In the 200 medley relay, Campbell, Averill, Walkup and Lauren Bobo-Shisler combined for a three-second win (1:51.09). Arpag, Campbell, Kelley and Bobo-Shisler earned the women's final points with a victory in the 200 freestyle relay (1:41.82).
 
NEXT
Linfield hosts Whitworth for a Senior Day matinee at the Linfield Aquatics Center starting at 1 p.m. Linfield's eight graduating seniors, plus four fifth-year graduate students, will be recognized prior to the first race.