The Linfield swim teams head to Federal Way, Washington, this week with their eyes set on a pair of top-three finishes at the Northwest Conference Swimming Championships. Action begins Thursday evening with a pair of relay events starting at 5 p.m.
 
The meet continues Friday, Saturday and Sunday with morning sessions beginning at 9:30 a.m. Championship finals Friday and Saturday start at 6 p.m. and at 5 p.m. on Sunday.
 
The annual meet, which brings together all nine NWC schools for four days of competition, will be staged at the Weyerhaueser King County Aquatic Center. Willamette University is serving as meet host.
 
The Linfield women seek to defend their team championship from a year ago while the Wildcat men are aiming to finish among the top two positions for the first time since the 2019-20 season.
 
COVERAGE
The meet will be live streamed on the Northwest Conference network. As each session progresses, live results will also be published.
 
WOMEN
Wildcats sophomores Kirsti Keppo and Sarah Arpag lead the Wildcats into the championship meet, both boasting top times in the conference.
 
Keppo leads the NWC rankings in the 1,650 freestyle and is second overall in the 500 freestyle.
 
Arpag ranks second in the 200 butterfly and sixth in the 100 butterfly.
 
Avery Campbell is a likely finalist in the 200 freestyle and the 100 and 200 backstroke.
 
Whitney Averill will challenge for a top-eight result in the 200 IM and the 100 and 200 breaststroke.
 
MEN
The men aim to elevate from last season's third-place team finish. Though winning a team championship has eluded Kyle Kimball during his prior nine seasons as head coach, the Wildcats are riding a string of five consecutive top-three finishes.
 
Linfield faces strong opposition from defending champion Whitman as well as perennial adversaries Whitworth and Puget Sound.
 
Linfield senior Edan Donaldson will challenge for the top spot in the 50 freestyle, 100 backstroke and in the 100 freestyle, where he is among the top three seeds.
 
Gavin Smith seeks to defend his NWC crown in the 1,650 freestyle and the 400 individual medley, where he's slotted fourth.
 
Sophomore Rocco Velie is expected to score key points in the 200 IM, where he leads the conference.
 
Jack Gallo and  Ivan Tontchev are also capable of adding important scoring depth.