McMINNVILLE, Ore. – History was made Saturday the Linfield Aquatics Center.
 
The Linfield Wildcats men's and women's swimming teams swept Northwest Conference nemesis Whitworth on both sides of a key dual meet. On the strength of a closely contested victory in the 400-yard freestyle relay, the Linfield men edged Whitworth by a scant two points, 103.5 to 101.5, snapping the Pirates' 50-meet conference dual winning streak dating back to the 2014-15 season.
 
The Wildcat women left nothing to chance, trouncing the Pirates by a 143-55 count.
 
Saturday's result marked the first time in Kyle Kimball's nine seasons as coach that the Linfield men knocked off perennial NWC kingpin Whitworth in a dual meet. Both Wildcat squads improved to 7-0 against NWC competition this winter. With the Northwest Conference Championship meet now just 2½ weeks away, the Wildcats seem primed to reap a bounty of success in Federal Way.
 
The meet also marked the final home event for the eight graduating seniors and four fifth-year graduate students: Alexis Matthiesen-Johnson, Claudia Velie, Kate Walkup, Cam Butler, Grant Cutler, Edan Donaldson, Omri Forte, Nathan Herde, Alex Landry, Ben Simpson, Garrett Sutton and Casey Wong.
 
MEN
The day's final race was the most exciting one. Linfield's 400 freestyle relay grouping of Garrett Sutton, Ben Simpson, Carson Washburn and Edan Donaldson outdueled the Pirates foursome by nearly five seconds, 3:08.45 to 3:09.29.
 
Not to be overlooked was the effort of the Wildcats' No. 2 400 freestyle relay, comprised of Daniel Olson, Cam Wheeler, Andrew Lee and Noah Norris, that lifted the Wildcats past the Pirates. It was their two team points that provided the winning margin of victory, touching off a wild celebration.
 
In the 1,000 freestyle, Jack Gallo battled Whitworth's Connor Florey to the wall, ultimately finishing second, 10:15.35 to 10:15.53. The same two competitors battled in the 500 freestyle with Florey topping Gallo in a tight finish, 4:58.46 to 4:59.66.
 
Simpson nailed down first place in the 200 freestyle, holding off Whitworth's Isiah Ross by a half-second, 1:45.06 to 1:45.56. Simpson later prevailed in the 200 butterfly (1:56.54), just ahead of Gallo, the runner-up (1:58.13).
 
Rocco Velie captured the 200 individual medley title in 1:58.22 and Donaldson was the leading finisher in the 200 backstroke (1:57.37).
 
Alex Landry picked up four important team points for the 'Cats with a runner-up finish in the 200 breaststroke (2:13.03).
 
WOMEN
Kalea Mullins (11:17.08), Kaylee Elsom (11:37.65) and Emma Campbell (12:34.42) picked up 16 team points in the 1,000 freestyle, taking an uncontested 1-2-3 finish. Mullins went on to secure a second victory in the 200 breaststroke (2:35.36), two seconds ahead of teammate Claudia Velie.
 
Kate Walkup, Lauren Bobo-Shisler and Maggie Kelley earned a 1-2-3 result in the 200 freestyle. Walkup nipped Bobo-Shisler by a narrow margin, 2:00.81 to 2:00.90.
 
Walkup returned to the pool to claim the 200 backstroke race in 2:11.50. Avery Campbell was second in 2:20.38 and Abbi Karsseboom was third (2:23.47).
 
Sarah Arpag pocketed a victory in the 200 individual medley (2:16.31) with Karsseboom close behind in second place (2:22.47).
 
Kirsti Keppo easily took top honors in the 500 freestyle (5:33.68). Alexis Matthiesen-Johnson was third (5:51.56).
 
In the 400 freestyle relay, the quartet of Whitney Averill, Bobo-Shisler, Kelley and Walkup outpaced their Whitworth counterparts by a 10-second margin.
 
Campbell, Averill, Arpag and Bobo-Shisler combined for a winning outcome in the 400 medley relay (3:32.89), also winning that race by a full 10 seconds.
 
NEXT
Linfield heads to Forest Grove to battle Pacific on Saturday in the final NWC dual meet of the 2022-23 season. First races begin at 11 a.m.