The Linfield swimming team is looking to make more waves this season following a strong finish to the 2022-23 season. The men finished third out of nine teams at the Northwest Conference Championships, while the women took home the team title for the first time in 30 years.
 
Both sides have significant contributors returning this season, including some conference champions and school record holders. Head coach Kyle Kimball enters his 10th season with the program fresh off an NWC Women's Coach of the Year award.
 
WOMEN
Linfield was projected to repeat as team champions according to an NWC coach poll in October. The Wildcats return some heavy hitters, including seniors Whitney Averill (Breast/IM/Sprint Free), Kalea Mullins (IM/Free) and Maggie Kelly (Sprint Free).
 
Juniors Lauren Bobo-Shisler (Sprints) and Avery Campbell (Back/Sprint Free) will also be leaned on as upperclassmen with both having scored significant points in last season's NWC Championship Meet.
 
Linfield has already made a splash in the season's opening meet. The Wildcats had five competitors place inside the top 10 and finished first out of five teams in the NWC Sprint Meet.
 
Averill led the way with a second-place finish out of 70 total competitors. Mullins, Campbell, Bobo-Shisler and Aprag rounded out the scoring for Linfield.
 
While the Wildcats have six seniors on their 15-person roster, they hope incoming freshmen Caley Haydu (Freestyle/IM), Ella Quijano (Free) and Kayla Wilson (Breaststroke) can bolster a strong core.
 
MEN
The Linfield men are aiming to build off last season's finish at the conference championships. The Wildcats were slotted to finish in the same position following an NWC preseason coaches poll.
 
School record holder in the 100 freestyle, Egan Donaldson (Sprint Free/Fly/Back) along with Levi Buker (Fly/Free) and Gavin Smith (Distance Free/Back/IM) headline the upperclassmen group for Linfield that includes 10 juniors and seniors.
 
The Wildcats welcome three freshmen that include Ivan Tontchev (Freestyle, Breast), Nikola Jelusic (Freestyle/Breast) and Connor Fery (Sprint Free/Fly).
 
Donaldson is already off to a strong start, taking first overall on the men's side at the NWC Sprint Meet over 56 total competitors. Fery and Tontchev placed inside the top 20 along with sophomore teammates Andrew Lee (IM/Back/Fly/Sprint Free), Rocco Velie (IM/Fly) and Carson Washburn (Free/Breast).
 
ON DECK
The Wildcats return to the pool with a dual meet against Puget Sound on Nov. 4 at 1 p.m.